Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-09-30
EATON, PREBLE COUNTY, O SEPT, 30, 1853.

en-, caused sudden rustling and seam
pering, and suppressed scream, which
led to the irresistible conclusion that a
bevy had been taking turns there, star
ing through the key hole.
I Breakfast was hardly over before
there came rap at the door, followed
by the announcement that some gentle
men were waiting to pay their respects
to me-. BY this time 1 was past being
astonished at anything, so l unhesita-
tingly desired them to be shown in.--
The door was flung open and in hustle
led pompous looking elderly man in
chain, dangling from his fob, a gold
headed cane in his hand, AMI pair Of
very red eyes, but stern determination
was written on every feature of it. a
lank, solemn visagcd individual, and
another short, stout and smiling follow
| ed. Behind came I should think, all
ages. sorts and sizes, squeezing in so as
to completely fill the room, only lcav-
ing respectful circle about three feet
in diameter, in front of me, and every
one of them staring at me as hard as he
knew how.
Advancing to the verge Of this open
ing, the pompous body man, with one
arm extended at right angles to his
body, and the other thrust beneath his
coat tail, addressed me after this fash
ion:
INr. Prcsidcut-H Hoaored and Respect
ed Siir:-This is proud day for Smith
burg. Unexpected as was your coming,
it is wclcome--welcome to our homes,
our hearts and our bosoms. Long have
we watched your gigantic career, whe
ther, in shedding your life blood in
your country's cause, upon the plains OF
Mexico, or in boldly guiding the helm
of the Ship Of State, amidst temptests
that threatened momentarily to wreck
her on the shoals of fathonlless abyssi
But we knew the eye of the American
Eagle was fixed upon you; and the re-
suit would Justify our predictions. We
knew that the-a-a-shafts of vile cal
umny were aimed at your devoted head;
but we knew also that they rank led
against an impcnetrable shield which
would queuch them forever into-to the
ground. Sir, you GRE welcome. In the
name and on the behalf Of my fellow
citizens, 1 tender you the hospitalities
of Smithburg, and the freedom Of the
city, trusting you will excuse the box
with which, for the lack Of timely warm
ing, we are unprovidcd.
l stammcred out some bewildered ac
knowledgements in reply to this haran
que, apparently to the disappointment
of the assemblagc who evidently expect
ed from me speech, in similar style in
return. But as their orator had re-
marked about the box for lack o.! pre-
vious warning, l was unproyided with
any speech to make.
Recovering himself moment after
the spokesman blandIy introd uccd HIM
self as Gen. Smith, and then proceed
ed to introduce his townsmen. This,
sir, is Deacon Jones, one Of the first
men, fellow member of the Commit
tee On Reception, Of which | have the
honor to be the Chairman; DR.. Davis,
sir, the other member.
The Deacon and the Doctor grasped
my hand, until l thought they would
never leave off shaking it. Twice did
the Deacon open his mouth as if to speak:
twice were his emotions or his modesty
too much for him, and the mouth closed
again without uttcrance. Meanwhile
tiers behind, passed forward to be in
troduced and shake hands in turn.
esquire Staples, sir, great friend of
yours, and an original Jackson man
from the start; Mr.. Thompkins, our
clcrs lyman; Rev. Mr.. Peterson; Mr..
Belts, Mr.. Dobson, MIR. NJ 'Guire, Col.
Wilkins, Judge Jenkins, Gone of our
first men, sia, Capt O'Flynn, of the
Smithburg Guards; MIR. jacobs, Mr.
al forgot your name)-ah! Mr..
SIimpkins; MIR. Schunphausen, one of
our hardest working men, sir-true as
steel, and regular as election comes
around; Mr.. Hodges, sir, editor of the
Smlthburg Weekly Messenger.
s'sMy only regret, sir" said the latter
luminary, a lean, cadaverous young
man, with a strong odor of Monon
gahela whskey, sis that had mt known
of your arrival earlier, that L might
have announced it in an extra this
morning"
at is Of no consequence, began I.
'Oh!' said he interrupting, 'yo" may
say that, sir, but l cannot suffer so i'm
portant an event to pass without an eX
ira. Already IN type; goes to press at
one o'clock;
'Well! [ DECLARE" here broke in
Gen. Smith, IF there amt the Post
Master at last; [ thought it was about
time you was getting around. Here,
sir, is gentleman who is bound to
stand by you through thick and thin.
This is Mr.. Higginbothau, our Post
Master.
Mr.. Higginbotham, his face beaming
with satisfaction, grasped me with both
hands. "My dear sir, l am under ever
lasting obligations to you. 1t will new
er be forgotten, l assure you, and if
work for the party is wanted, I'm the
ma,wn,
"Higginbotham always was sound as
a nut" remarked the general, '''taint
likely he'll change now since he's got
the commission.
care you on your way to Washing
ton, sir?''~ here interposed Deacon
Jones.
81? oh, no!'' said l.
'.Going up to Concord, perhaps, sir?'
said Squire Staples.