The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-23

LiyerpColl" exclaimed to myself. What the
devil kept me out II it so longl Every maa, from
the highest to the lowest, seems pleased at seeing
me; and the girls, God bless 'em y unconscious no
douLt OF my being married, are one and all At every
step take, making afecionate overturcs to me, IN
paDtomiTe. with their bright eyes,"
All my previous experience IN faces, as aabrding
insight into the true character and temperament
Of the wearers was here so entirely at fault thai
Logan TO entertain serious apprehension that my
past life had been pretty well thrown away in tins
respect. ! had scarcely reached the angle OF Inc
first street, however, when the whole OF this bright
hearteheelipg vision dissolved like delicate bit OF
very few ard mcagre privileges Of poverty 10 that
Of enjoying jest joke without the slightest re-
serve aud consequently, that which only provoked
smile among the aristocratic residents OF Birkea
| head, whom ! had just net crossing the dock on
their way to the Jerry boat, now vented itself ID
deafenng she nts Of boiserous, ard-coming 50 ui-
! expectedly somewhat annoying rnerriment, from
| the vigorous Threats OF large beyy Of ragged
urchins fruit girls, ard clumsy full grown dockwal
iopeTs by whom WIS literally surrounded. Fortified
to some extenby the consoling reflection that was
personally unknown. coupled with the fact OF
possessing an innate faculty Of making the best OF
everything which can neither avoid or remedy,
determined to stand it with as much philosophic
resignation and seeming Indifference as possible,
even to joining in the laugh, though supposed
some OF the ililooking, note-siving rascals ahead
of and around me, instead ct myself was the object
Of the mcriiment. This mastery move was at
terded with quite as much success as ! had any
stances, and my assailants thus eifectaay de-
priyed by my apparent obtuseness, of that larger
| half oil their sport which was anticipated from my
notification. Placing their disappointment as an
| offset to my annoyance, / felt satisfied with tho
squaieness Of the account so far and in this con-
tented state OF mind kept on my way up in the d.
! rection of the towns centre.
| Suddenly saw number OF youngsters rushing
| from every direction towards common CENTRE and
| that centre evidently myself They were all armed
with pair of backing brushes and box, and had
something hung loosely over their shoulders, which
another instant revealed to be blocks OF wood cut III
| the form of boot sole, but somewhat smaller Than
mans foot. Turn which way would, found II
impossible to proceed without walking over tbela or
iudey showing them aside; and not feeling inclined
to do either, j cane to a dead stand-stl. Not even
| the desire to make the penny, which IT was clear
! each and every one OK them sadly needed, could
| suppress in the Irish portion OF them the outward
exhibition of that ready wit and keen appreciation
OF the humorous so universally characteristic OF tie
race in every Cline and which no calamity or pri-
walton seems sufficient to more than momentarily
! efaee. Being Of the same stock with most OF our
own newspaper boys in New York. it seemed for the
moment as though were in the Sixth ward, and had
repeatedly met nearly every ono Of them before. No
matter in what direction looked lwasreceiyed with
the same senii-nilitaly salute, which consisted OF
| each young scamp first quickly touching his fore.
head with tie back OF his brush and looking me d.
reety in The eye at the time, and then, viii,
all the celebrity and precision of practsed pist0l
shot" about to take the nail joint Of my big toe off,
down went both eye and brush directly on the point
of intended attack, followed by boots cleaned,
sirl'
"Ah, I'm the boy, sir, will make 'em shine for you
Ike an American dollar, or purity girls eye when
she's kissed by the she likes, and hundred sim
lar phrases OF persuasion Being very hard pressed by
the most pertnacious of these boot-black cadets,
singled out one exceedingly rognish looking little
urchin with bright intelligent eye and very dirty
face, and addressing him in an argumentative tone,
said: Cant You see that those are patent leathers
The words were scarcely out of my mouth when do
zen hitherto unseen little bottles and correspond
ing number Of raw cotton wipers, leaped from the
pockets of the surrounding imps, with the words,
I've plenty of sweet OIL sir, and cotton to clane It
ofyou II not know yourself, sir: after I'm done with
you.'
Apprehensive that If / remained much longer in
that predicament the closing declaration in these
len. arks might not remain entirely symbelical, l
gave penny to each Of those who had particularly
distinguished themselves by the readiness of their
Wit, ard finging the few remaining coppers In my
possession down the street to be scrambled foby the
whole crowd, instantly secured free passage for
myself, and iuI guarantee against further inter-
| lupton by the SAME party.
Again at liberty, l sauntcred musingly along,
/ wondering within self what would most likely be
! the character OF the next ordeal through which /
| should have to pass After walking two whole
blocks in this way without interruption of nny kind
save tie passing stare ard sngger, against which
was now 80 entirely proof that it only served to
| anuse me, suddenly heard some one call me eau
tiously by name and turning in the direction from
whence the sound came, recognized young Cape
4
during the passage across peepng tealthy Out from
| behind the screen of q "taproOm' or tavern imme-
diatey abreast of where ! stood. He was good
feiiow-the best New England skipper eyer met
-end came out as passenger on his way to Wales to
take charge of his ship. Stepping in, hailed him
with-"Halio, Cap, what arc you doing herel'
"Dong.a said he, why, hiding away to be sure
and the old chap you cali Patent Medicine who like
myself has an old white hat, came out this morning
totake walk, and afore we got ten PAGES we were
followed by the dandest gang Of blackguard boysand
full grown gals ! ever after two poor fellows;
and Sch hollering never heard aforeN
Where is Patent Medicine now" inquired.
"By goiy, can't say. run away and left him
in the middle OF crowd who was raising the very
devil with him. But say he continued, chow in
the deuce did you work it to get here without a
crowd at your heels: You've got white hat too
To lie sure have" replied. "Wlat, pray, is
| there strange about white hata'
"iord bless me- haint o these ere fellers
or gals spged ont who stole the Donkey arter
! youfn
Assuring him that this was Ill news to me, and
that il must have been something else about his COM
panion besides white hat, which caused the strange
exhibition which he described, proposed walk, to
which, after no little persuasion, and with nndis-
| CURSED reluctance, he finally consented After a
good glass Of ale apiece we started out and dashed
through several by-streets and lanes from whose re-
sidents and wuyfalers we received marked notice
and frequent shouts and salutes, which the skipper
| sought to impress upon my notice by rcmarkiug
! Now do you see il? Now DO you hear i'll"
I On tuning up Wlitechape street We deserted "a
| old chap in white hat, who on nearing little.
We discovered 10 BE Patent Medicine, Struggling
violently, but vainly, TO disengage himself from
number Of sturdy coarsclooking wcnches, who, at
The corner Of Preston street were taking all sorts OF
liberties with him, to the infinite delight Of num-
her Of sailors and loaers Who with roars Of aughter
and every variety of encouraging expression were
stimulating them TO persesere in the work OF annoy
ance. The skipper stoatiy protested against any
further advance, when seeing. an old gentleman
with an umbrella in one hand, bandbox ia the
other, and a Young daughter on either side OF him,
coming along hurliedly, no doubt to catch some
railroad train about starting, promptly pointed out
the impnnity which ciose sa under his lee
promiedus; and on his bTeasting us. / fell into
position, ard my companon-theie being M time
Tor hesitatior- nstinctivciy followed in nv wake.
Just as We were nearing the scene of poor Pateat
Medicines discontinue, reinforcement to his tor.
! mentors arrived. ia the shape OF a tail, brawny
| mhed, Iollickng looking young damsel, who, rush