Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-09-30


dilapidated anvil, ramming down a
third discharge. f. -e...
It must be election day in Smith
burg, thought I, and they are rejoicing
over the result. Confound the success
ful candidate whoever he is, making
such an internal racket. Just then one
of the youngsters caught sight of me,
standing in my shirt tail at the window.
He hurriedly spoke to the others, and
then shouted. --- tai
"Boys, let's give him three cheersg'
And they did. --ts
"Hoo- 90 raw" s...
''Hoo 90 90 raw.
''Hoo- 90 oo- ra- a-aw."
| shrank back, and crept shivering
into bed, just as gun number four went
there was a bonfire, blazing up so sud
denly into the window, that l thought
the house had caught fire. Then there
was Hail Columbia" and "Yankee
Doodle" on a cracked fiddle and a
wheezy clarionet At last Babel quiet
ed down, and I, wondering considcra
bly, what it was all about, fell asleep.
But if was mystiGed about the do
ings of the night, 1 was considerably
more puzzled by the goings on in the
morning. My host met me with a most
profound bow, and was deferentially So
licitous about my health. The bar
keeper bowed reverentially, rose to his
feet, (staring hard, meanwhile,) as l
walked through. The chambcrmaid
dropped as many as fifty courtcsies one
after another, when 1 happened to meet
her in the ball, and so overwhelmingly
civil was everybody, that half imagin
ed 1 had stepped out of free and easy
America into courteous France.
On looking around, 1 perceived the
house itself was Inarvellously changed,
overnight. The scrubbing brush must
have been busy since daylight, for the
floors were freshly secured, and the win
dows glistcned with polish, while the
furniture was ''set round" in the primest
kind of order. The landlady, although
it was the slatternly hour of eight o clock
in the morning, was arrayed in majestic
black silk, and her cap, with its multi
tudinous cherry colored ribbons was
miraculous to behold. Mine host cvi-
IDENTIFY had on his Sunday black suit
shirt, starched to an extent which kept
hir as perpendicular as granadicr.
1t must be, thought l, that this is
country fair day; or perhaps they are
going to have wedding in the house.
by the way, what was that firing for,
last night?' l inquired.
'-Oh! mere six FOUNDER, sir; but
Tie best we have in Smithburg. The
boys thought they must have it ont in
honor of your arrival"
e'In honor Of my ARRIVAL calculated
L. taken aback.
Yes, your Exccllency. But break
fast is ready Will your ExcelleneY
walk iu?
My arrival! my Excellencyl I was so
astonishcd with the sudden distinction
with which 1 found myself invested.
that could only mechanically walk in
and seat myself at the breakfast table
Certainly the ''hotcl." had put forth
it's most strenuous efforts to get up that
breakfast There were broiIed ch ick-
ems and chickens fricaseed; there was
huge turkey, there was roast sirloin of
beef; there was cold leg of mutton,
and hot leg of veal; there was ham
and eggs, and egg without the ham;
pork and beans; beef steak; outlets and
chops; cabbages, beets, cauliflowcrs, to-
matoes, aud other vegetables al tibituna;
sausagcs, hominy, oysters, CLANS, sal
mon, shad, buckwheat cakes, biscuit
and johnny cake; pickles to any extent,
pies, cakes and sweetmeats; and what
ever else ever entered into the head of
country housewife to put on break
fast table, and a great deal that never
was thought of before for such purpose.
And my solitary chair was the only one
set for this repast. 1t was appalling.
For attendants, 1 had the landlord
and the .lundlady, the young lady "mag-
nifcent" in ribbons and jewels, and The
bar keeper, brass coat aud blue buttons,
and an enormous display Of wristband.
They all four hustled about, running
over each other in their eagerness to
serve me, while the host, rubbing his
hands, and smiling apologetically, re
marked:
"Sorry we have nothing better to give
you sir; but your coming SO privately,
last night, took us rather by surprise.
Hope you'll be able to make a break
fast, sir.
ate breakfast in amaze, cositating
whether the extraordinary attentions
could be the result of the wide spread
fame of Naryred & Company, or wheth-
er had really achieved distinguished
reputation without being aware of it
At any rate the breakfast was su6stan
tial, and no illusion. l inwardly re-
solved that I would always patronize
this tavern whenever 1 came to Smith
burg 4'
Presently observed indications that
L was not only the object of attention,
but of curiosity. Faces, as of persons
standing on chairs, appeared behind the
panes of glass over the door, and when
I looked, the faces ducked out of sight.
When 1 turned away, they reappeared,
Or were succeeded by others, standing
in turn. The window opening on the
street was deadened all at once, and on
turning round to see the reason, sur
prised crowd of urchins, piled in tiers,
1attening their noses against it with in
tense staring, all of whom vanished as l
looked. The landlord, by incautiously