The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-03
CHAPTER 1.-THE COURT.

"Ihe Haunted Beer Barrel" DC.
CHAPTER 1.-THE COURT.
Deep night in New York! Night, to the
high and the lowly-the vicious and the
wretch-to all was in deep night! The gas
lamps threw pale and sickly light upon
the now almost vacated streets-for it was
deep night Now and then vigilant watch
man crawled out of his favorite drinking
saloon, though not very often, to see that
nobody had carried off the city. tThe au-
thor intends this as a joke, and the reader
is requested to laugh.)
In fashionable oyster saloon in Five
Points, in a stall, sat two men. One was
the Count Alfred de Flunkey-the other,
Henry Podgers son ofold Podgers. wealthy
retired clam merchant. The Couut de
Flunkey was apparently about twenty eight
years old. He was dressed in armor, wore
a military cap with feathers, and his feet
were encased in russet boots. His COM
panion, Podgers, was about nineteen. He
wore new suit of ready made clothing,
white hat, cloth pumps, and-in word
his appearance spoke the man of fashion.
The ordinarily handsome and ingenious
countenance of the Count de Flunkey was
now covered with frown. He was alb
stracted. He would take spoonful of
oyster soup and raise it to his mouth-then
his coal black eagle eyes rolling wildly the
while, he would slubber, like the Arabian
charger at his oats, and the soup would
drip down upon his mailed breast. At
length, bringing his clenched fist down up
on the table with tremendous force, the
Count cried, ''By Heavens, SarY Tompkins
must be mine Ho, without there Bring
ten cents worth of gin.''
The gin was brought!
1t was drank!
And the Count, telling the barkeeper to
''charge it,'' left the saloon arm in arm with
his friend, the young and accomplished
Podgers.
CHAPTER U.-SARY TOMPKINs.
Fifth Avenue Time, night. Scene,
Tompkins'. the retired lobster dealers
princely mansion. Bright the gas lamps
shone over fair women and brave men, fthis
expression is original with the author,) and
all went merry as several marriage bells.
The spacious and gorgeously furnished
drawing rooms of the princely Tompkins
were thronged with the beauty and chival-
ry of Fifth Avenue. Like pure diamond
amidst trinkets of brass, shone Sary Tomp-
ho nl tha
author must content himself by remarking
that she was supremely beautiful. How
truly and beautifully has Keats said:
ats a tarnal hard thing to describe
lovely woman"
Count Alfred de FIunkey!" cried SER
want in livery.
The Count entered, A smile lit up his
noble countenance. Bowing with exquisite
grace to the assembled elite, he advanced
with lordly strides towards his betrothed,
Sary Tompkins.
The merry night sped on. The silver
winged hours flew by. Still the brilliant
assembly at Tompkins' remained. The
best of feeling prevailed. Wit, sentiment,
beauty and chivalry crowned the glowing
hour. But oh, hark! The bell rings. A
huge man, with a fiery nose, enters the
marble halls of Tompkins. In a voice of
thunder, he cries:
Ladies' and gen'rmen, I'm perliceman,
an nothin' shorter, an I'll AK ye if Count
de Flunkey is in this ere august 'sembly.
Cause if he is, I'm ordered to arrest IN,
unless he Immediately squares up his wash
bill with Mrs. Bridget O'Flannigan."
''Fellow away! Slave, avaunt " cried the
Count de Flunkey, in voice hoarse with
passion and-gin.
''Not by great sight, ole feller; yer
must pay this 'ere bill or go to the
tombs!' And the obdurate policeman laugh
ed loudly and defantly.
Tompkins was bewildered. At length he
became highly indignant. He tore his hair
and foamed at the mouth. He then. with
a terrible jerk, tore off his coat tails, and
danced with rage, like Tuscarora savage.
Rushing to the Count, he yelled
Viper, and this from you! Dog-pol-
troon-puppy-ain't yer ashamed OF yer
selfr'
With cry of despair, sary now rushed
forwards. Raising herself up to her full
height, she said
policeman, how much is this bill %
Two dollars and twenty seven cents, if
you please, mum -
"Then, there-there is the sum, Take
it and away-away! And Sary threw the
money at the pol:ceman's feet and fell into
a swoon. She was pulled out by three SER
wants in livery and the policeman.
Tonpkins was an attentive spectator to
this heart-rending spectacle. Tolnpkins
had heart. Thirty years intimate asso-
citation with Holsters had not entirely crush
ed the finer feelings in his bosom. Tomp-
kins was affected. He wept. Suddenly
starting up, he bounded like gazelle to-
wards Count Alfred de Flunkey.
.'Come to my arms, my noble feller,"