Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-07-07
Selrftfa TaIf.
The Man that Carried his own Bundle.

/ III 1I!l9 iduu iS Slludlcu lue Illll6 uenlI-
semi-fashionable bathing town of-bless
me Il was almost betrayed by the mere
force of habit into the imprudence of call
/ ing it by It's name.
Once upon time there happened to
the said little town, a very dull bathing
season-every town Oh the coast besides
was full of company bathers. walkers,
donkey riders, saunterers and pebble
gatherers, yet the luckless town Of
was comparatively empty. Huge placards
with lodgings to Let stared everybody
IN the face, from every window in every
! direction. Things of course were very
fiat, and all ranks of people were malcon-
tent. The shopkeepers were croaking
the proprietors of lodging houses in des-
pair; aud the few visitors who had ven
tured thither In hopes of making pleasant
acquaintances and dissipating their dull
ness were sick of ennui. As for thai
class of incurables, the resident inhabi-
tants, they, for want of some better amuse-
ment applied themselves with redonbled
ardor to their favorite winter recreations
OF cards, and the most inveterate scandal
of each other.
In this state of utter stagnation were
things at--when, one very hot day
In the middle of August, a stranger was
seen to eater that worthy town corporate
In the dearth of anything in the shape of
news of variety which was felt so sensi-
bly, al, an arrival of the stranger
would have been considered a seasonabe
mercy could he have been approached
without the direful risk of contaminating
gentilIty by bringing it in contact with
something beneath 1t. But this stranger
entered the town in SO questionable a
shape, that the very fourth and fifth rate
castles in---stood aloof, holding them
selves a peg above him. Even the shop
keepers, mantuamakers, and walters al
the taverns felt their noses curl up intui-
lively at the sight of him. The group OF
/ Ioiterers about the doors of the inns, pass
! ed contemptuOus comments on him as he
/ pursued his way, and the few fashionables
/ that were TO be seen in the streets cast
! supcrcIlIOus glalces of careless superiori-
| ty upon him, for he was on foot and alone
attired in a coat, waistcoat. and in short,
a whole suit, Of that sort of mixed cloth
called pepper-and-salt, with blacI, silk
| handkerchief lied about his neck in nau-
ticai s.yle; he wore huge sea boots pulled
over his knees, and to complete the pic
ture, carried large bundle in red sill,
! handkerchief, at the end of Stout oaken
cudgel over his shoulder.
! Such was his dress; vet to a close OBJ
/ server OF character, there was something
/ wholly out Of the common way about the
lonely pedestrian. There was that ex-
preston of cool determined courage in
his large gray eyes, that whatever might
be the prevailing sentiments of the COM
munity towards him few would have been
bold enough to offer him actual insult,
even il he had not grasped so substantial
a weapon Of defence as the stout oalen
cudgal mentioned above, in hand that
betokened such weight Of bone and power
Of muscle.
There certainly was a characteristic
something in the stranger, from the tie
OF his handkerchief to the slight rcll in his
gate that savored of seafaring life. Even
The setting Of his hat had not the look OF
a lanlsman. Tne air of sturdy inlepen.
dence with which he shouldered his hun
die, and trugged along, showed that he
considered the opinion of the bystander>
matter of perfect Indifference. Ye
there was that about him which forclbIy
arrested the attention OF every one; peo
pie who would not own to themselves tha
they thought him worth looking at once
nevertheless turned round to look at him
again.
The first step he tool, was to look fol
lodgings; but these though readily found
were not so readily Obtained 1t was il
vain that he applied to the proprietors o
every lodging house it seemed as though
he carried bill of exclusion IN his face
people shut their doors on his approach
and from the genteel marine villa to the
most paitry cabin, he could not find a roo
10 shelter him or his bundle. The inn
keepers were equally inexorable, and /
+. appeared doubtful whether he would bC
permitted to rest even the sole of his foo
even in the hospitabIe town Of.
The witness Of sovereign, 10 which
; the stranger as dernier resort appealed
to procure him supper and bed, anC
and all things needful for rest and re
fre5hment and at a small public house
whose crazy creaking sign promised t,
travellers Good entertainment for mar
and beast
The next morning being disencumberet
, of the unpopular bundle at the end of tht
oaken cudgel which he still grasped o
aourished in the most nautical manner
he entered the reading room.
1t is no use putting your name down
sir, for you cannot be admitted here, wa
the answer he received from the pert su
: perintendent of this fashionable resort.
Not on my paying the usual terms o
subscription Z! demanded the stranger.
/ No sir, we cannot admit persons 0
your description on any terms.
e Persons of my description g repeate'
the stranger grasping, his trusty cudgel
and pray sir of what description do yo
; suppose me to be.
The Jack in office surveyed the sturd
5 stranger with look in which oon.emI
e and alarm were oddly blended, as he re
:. Piled:
: " Can't exactly say, sir, but | am sur
n nome of oyir Snhscrihers would choose