The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-02-13
Entertainments.
BoBBiN's GUILTY CONSCIENCE.

|
Bagman, as narrated IN Bentley. Miscel-
lauy, are occasionally diversified with an
awkward situatiou, drawn of ia a racy
sketch. This is ono that happened to
Bobbin, on his way fr.m Belfast to vlss.
gov. l-EDs. Home Journal.
spent Monday in Belfast, in a very
profitable manner. Another day passed
over with little worthy Of note if | except
purchase made by me, which afterwards
cost me moro in the shape of peace Of
mind than dozen such ventures could
be worth. sllude to six bottles of the
best fSe.ycar-old Irish whiskey, stowca
away carefully in the central recesses of
my largest case, safe, as l hoped, from
the rrying eyes and systcnnatic scent
Of custom. house tide alters or poteen-
hunting exciscmen.
In the evening, having said my alieu
to my late companions. stepped into an
omnibus, and was taken down to the
quay, where the Glasgow boat lay kissing
aud smoking, and groaning ike hsr-
Pooned monster Of the deep. Short time
suficed to ship benjamin Bobbin, the
Commercial Traveller, together with his
baggage; berth was speedily secptsd
and with. mini devoid Of caro- took up
my position near the wheel.
Il was dark before we started not
t"inller "pcepsd through the blanke. Of
the dark" All above WAS black ~ a
fsesbootsrs flag, or the record OF an i'll
spent life on the day Of reckoning.
The air wss rather chilly, and A. the
steward had ju.t informed ms that sup
per was ready, descended leisurely into
the cabin, and was soon absorbed i, the
mysteries Of di.section-the anatomical
portions Of n fried sole undergoing = ps-
cu'iar process beneath. the pressure Of my
eies,ro plated fork. Cold Gsef succeeded,
| enjoyed it heartily. A friend had nd
vsod me never to tempt tho sea with an
empty stomach; So determined to profit
b.. his experience, and acted accordingly.
| "" about having my plato replsni.hed,
when the sudden entrance Of gentleman,
in conjunction with the words lie spoke,
deprived me Ut once Of breath, and apps-
| tite.
"The custom house officers have just
made = seizure on board" he said.
"Of what sir" demanded party
present.
a case in which was suporsticiously
hid some whisksy, for which no duty had
been paid" (Benjamin, like Jonah. only
tit TO be e=st overbosrd.j
"IIavo they detected the owner I"
"No. they Do you think he'd be such
ia fool As to- lay claim to the property, and
Get fiped and. confined for his pains -"
BENJAMIN endsayoriug to look innocent,
with Guilty" stamped, On his forehead }
"Whers Was il found-i9. the hold ="
tBenjamin terribly alive. to tn, answer.
Ills cases ~sre not plscsd in the hold
he arrived too lA.s-they were on deck,
and covered with tarpauIin.)
"No, on deck. in front Of the companion
ladder" (Bsnjsmin, like Joseph in =
pit, for there his Eases had been sst.)
"Whst will they do with it I" (Ben.
jsmin all esrs.)
"Get it into their boat, and take il
away as q seizure to the Queens stores" !"
benjamin feored.),
"Whst noise Is that, Steward I" (Ben-
jamin intensely eager, yet rigid as Lots
wife after she had gratified her cariositv.) }
"Only the officers, sir, putting. the
seizure into their boat a'ong.ide." (Bsn-
jsmin abssnt)
"Hsve they caught the cnntraban-
dist" (Bsnjsmin listening with nightcap
in handy
"No, sir, he does not own 10 tho
goods" (Bsnjsmin dives,ed Of his coat. J
"Ars they likely to pursue their search
down here" Benjrmin like ta.,ercd
sail in high wind
ayes, sir; here they are" (Bsnjsmin
in his berth, with his boots on.)
Some talking in the cabin succeeded
then a noise IS Of men ascending to the
deck-suddon stoppags Of the paddles
voices y, a. lloyd coIloquy-"All right 7"
from alopgside--" Gp ahead r. from the
captsip7,-apd benjamin again on his
i feet getting csasioasly. into III. coat. aud
feeling, mere Ike a, ,re.useitstod mummy
than sssnsetsbIs commercial .ir,ysller.
made my way to the deck, bot. thsss
could lsarn nothing. The goods were all
cov~sd up again. Everything vas quie.
--es-n shs noisy paddles-wken compar.