New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-04-21
Much Ado About Nothing.

= ID
In December, we were travelling through one
of the New England towns, in an old fashioned stage
coach, with a friend, whose powers Of making fun
from the slightest cause were manifest from any pas
sing object that he chose to attack 1t was midnight
and as We approached the village of r lie espied
alarge mansion close by tile road, When we arrived
opposite he asked the driver to stop few minutes
the request was cleerfully complied with, although
We were almost freezing with id--but what new
trick he had in view, none could guess. s
a The funny gentleman marched directly up to the
front door Of the mansion and Knocked with his cane
loud enough to awake all the inhabitants. Imlnedi-
ately window sash was raised, and out popped red
nghtcap, containing the head of the proprietor, who
in a great alarm exclaimed: !, &
!" What's the matter? What's wanted at this time
of night ~ fs& ~ 4 H, IL rs
q Pardon me, sir, for this intrusion; but have a
communication to make to you and as the
stage is waiting rather impatiently for me- you will
be so kind as to hurry to the door for moments i'll
terEiew" ' RE- st'1 "a 5si&
The old gentleman's red nightcap, with its owner
in garment curtailed Of its fair proportions, were
almost Immediately at the door, politely bowling to
the funny stranger who again apoogized for disturb
ing his slumber and thus unayoidaby exposing him
to the chilly winds of aDecember night. n
e" My dear sir" interrupted Mr. Night-cap, don't
mention IT. but pardon me for appearing before you
/ in the plight in which you see me-" i.ri
You are certainly quite excusable, and more es-
pecialy as my great haste prompted this courteous
response to my call upon you
"Be pleased to step into the house, notice some
ladies' in the coach are attracted by my
Never mind them my dear sir; yourfnely located
mansion has arrested the attention of us ALT makes
truly beautiful appearance in the bright moonlight.
Speaking Of the moon, brings tony the question
which has recently agtated the scientific world, and
in which you undoubtedly have been interested, viz
Is this lumnary inhabited or not? The telescope
EXCUSE my interruption, sir, but allow ME to get
a cloak for I am almost frozen, and'- y
| 4 .'ren thousand pardons my dear friend-but the
stage is waiting for me- and must oselno time, fol
of5all things in this world, time that"-
Allow me to remind you, sir that you desired tc
make communication to me. ] am now ready to re
ceive it," said Night-cap, impatienty.
80. All, me how unmindfulI am in the discharge o.
q duty lncumbens upon me, and which has been
already too long protracted, must acknowledge"
Oblige me, sir, by coming directly to the commu.
nication which you desire to make to me"
gain, beg you to forgive my apparent hardness
in doing so. The fact, my dearest sir, which as
scientific man, felt it my duty to diyuge to you for
your own benefit for need not inform You that men
endowed with scientific attainments''2-l
But, sir, demand without further delay, what is
the important fact you desire to communicated
tits simply this Your house being situated on
the apex the hill with sides sloping sufficiently to
allow water to flow therefrom, Ihave stopped the
coach this cold night, and aroused you from your
sumbers oapprse you Of the fact that you can, with
the greatest ease, drain your cellar from four differ
ent directions p ,5s
"You Internal scoundrel!" shrieked the astonished
and infuriated proprietor, ." I'll teach you a trick
worth dozen of this, as he seized the funny gentle
mans cane, who had commenced rapid retreat for
the coach--the red night-cap and abbreviated gar
ment after him. as fast as two spindle shanks could
carry him. But the funny gent gained on his pursuer
jumped into the coach, which was at once put in
full speed up adjoining hill with the enraged coun-
try gentleman in curtailed garment: flutterng in
the breeze in cold pursuit. but whose hot impreca-
ons against us all enough to se the mirth Of
alive Yankee. 5L5 -
On arriving at the top Of the hill, by one of those
singular condolences which sometimes occur at the
crisis, to mar heightenE ones happiness we sud
denly in contact with two opencarriages abreast
loading to overlooking with ladies' and gentlemen,
who were returning from country ball. The atten-
ton of the whole party was soon turned to our red
capped, whte-garmentcd pursuer,-who, not liking
so9many lady spectators, hurled his cane at us,
(Which, however, glanced by and struck among a
family Of pigs by the road side,) and commenced a
rapid retreat for home, followed by dozen squeaing
pigs, barking dogs, and flock Of squacking geese.
The scene presented was the most ludicrous imagi-
nabe, and such wild outburst OF uncomfortable mer-
rment is seldom heard indeed, it was fit subject
for the pencil Of Hogarth