The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-05
Misftllantuns.
THE MURDER AT THE INN.

my father, then young man oi twenty
years OF AGE, frat visited the city in hope
Of obtaining some employment, in a mer-
chants counting room. that nigh. enable
him TO supper, himself decen'ly, and per-
haps, by and by, 10 better his fortunes.
My grandfather was the owner OF small
farm in Troy, N. Y, and having given my
father better education than in those days
generally fell 10 the lot Of farmers sons,
he had al q suitable age placed him in a
s,ore in Albany, and as he grew older,
thinking ,ha, the city Of New York offered
= wider field for man to push his fortune,
he had sen, him thi,her with several letters
OF recommendation 10 eminent merchants
in Albany. and with such a slender stock Of
money as he was able 10 afford.
Fihy.dvs years ago. travel 10 and from
New York was veryldideren, from what il
is at present, and it sometimes occupied a
week or more to efisct the passage in one
OF tho North River sloops, which at that
period carried between the capital Of the
State and the grea, commercial emporium.
On this soccasion there was bu, one passen-
ger on board the sloop besides my ia'her-
an elderly gentleman, whose fino benevo-
len, features at once arrested my fathers
attention, and the old gentleman himself
seemed TO be equally pleased with his
youthful companion.
:, He was ono Of those Kind hearted per-
sons whose minds do not grow aged as their
hair grows gray his heart still possessed
all the fieshness Of youth, although his
once buoysn, disposition was sobered down
10 an habilual, even cheerfulness, which
comporied well with his venerable aspect.
He was one Of those old men whom chill.
dren naturally incline 10, and whose socie-
,y youth seek on, and take pleasure in
Be sure when an inian; looks up ,milngly
in the face Of an aged stranger, and where
children gambol around him, or sit quietly
upon his knee, lis,eding 10 the pretty sto-
ries he loves 10 tell them - be sure that
man has heart form ed for friendship and
love. The reason Of grown men and wo-
men may bc deceived in this respect-bui
that Of children is surely deceived, if ever.
During the weary days that passed on the
journey, my father had made the kind old
gentleman his confdant, and had received
a great deal of friendly advice from him,
and more than that, he had told my father
that he had some influence in New York,
and as he was fully aware that stranger
in large city was exposed 10 many temp
,,lions and difficulties, he would himscl!
endeavor TO provide him with situation in
the house Of one Of his old friends, who 10
in business as merchant in Broad street
The gentleman, whose name was Wi,hers,
was planter from the South, and he was
on hi. annual northern tour, partly for pleas
ure and partly for the purchase Of such
necessities as would be required on his
plantation on his return home. or course
he had considerable amount Of money
with him, and on one occasion, when he
happened to mention this in the hearing Of
the captain OF the slOop, my father says he
observed singular expression pass Over
the mans face, but a, the time thought
nothing Of il, and in due time the vessel
arrived in sigh, Of the city OF New York.
II was getting late in the evening, and as
the wind and the tide were both agains,
the vessel, the captain determined 10 run
her rs close as possible in shore, and then
anchor for tho night. This having been
done, he approached 10 the sea, near the
,affrail Of the sloop, on which the old gen.
,lsman and my father were sitting.
ave are still a soodish Bit from the city,
said ho, "and il you gentlemen think i
will be tedious staying on board the sloop,
my mate and | are going on shore 10 the
inn hard by, to see some old scquain,ances,
and stay Tor the night, and you can 50
along with u.s." 1
"Can we get conveyance into New York
in the morning!" " inquired Mr.. Wi,hers.
"No fear OF that" said the captain, "you
! can take your baggage ashore with you 10
the inn, or can make up your mind to stay
aboard. jus, as you please!
SWELL" said Mr.. Wi,hsrs, eli to my
young friend it's agreeable, vote that we
so ashore, the evening is delightful, and
we shall enjoy walk before bedtime, ai,er
having been cOoped up on board this YES,
sel!n
tof course my father was agreeable 10
any proposition started by the old gentle
man, and the boat was lowered and the
eapiain, tho mate, and two passengers were
in few minutes set on shore somewhere
near the spo, where ,wsn,y.fint street
turns through the eleventh avenue.
will not tell my readers ,ha, New York,
although flourishing and a ,olerably large
city, was very different, from New York oI
the presen, day, and the spot where the
boat landsd her crew and passengers, was
quite a long way in the country.
! Asmall but comfortable old wayside and
waier-side inn, stood there which many
years ago was razed 10 the ground, and to
this inn the passengers were conducted by
the captain, the old gentleman and my "a.
'her each carrying their portmanleaus with
them. Mr. withers ordered good supper
TO bs gOiready, Of which he invited my IA.
'nsr 'opar'afe, and while !. was preparing