Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-04-03

Bewildered and sleepy, sat up in bed,
trying to make out whether Naryred & Co.,
had burst" aud were unable to pay ten
cents on the dollar, or whether / was aboard
Mississippi steamer which had collapsed q
hue," and was about to be scalded with hot
steam or whether
"BASG !" suddenly went second explosion
and made out to comprehend that some
thing was being fred off under my window.
Jumping up, rushed to the sash, and
peered out. Sure enough, there was q crowd
OF men and boys, gathered round what looked
like dilapidated anvil, ramming down for a
third discharge. ..#r.
1t must be election day in Smithburg,
thought !, and they are rejoicing over the re-
suit. Cohfound the successful candidate
whoever he is, making such on Internal
racket
Just then, one of the youngsters, looking
up. caught sight of me- standing in my shirt
at the window. He hurriedly spoke to the
others, and then one shouted
Boys, let's give him three chreers !"
And they did.
Hoo oo-raw ~
Hoo. oo.oo-raw !"
HOO. oo-ra-a-a.raw :"
l shrank back and crept shivering into
bed just as gun number four went OF. amid
another set off cheers One and thirty times
did that Internal piece go off; devoutly
praying each time that it might burst, and so
stop. Then there were more cheers. Then
there was bonfire, blazing up so suddenly
into the window that l thought the house
had caught fire. Then there was "Ilail Col
umbia' and Yankee Doodle on q broken
fiddle and o wheezy clarionet. At last the
Babel quieted down, and l, wondering con-
siderably what it was all about, fell asleep.
But if was mystified about the doings of
the night, was considerably more puzzled
by the doings Of the morning. My host met
me with O profound bow, and was deferential-
ly solicitous about my health. The bar-keep.
er bowed reverentially when passed him.
The bar.room idlers all respectfully rose TO
their feet, (stsring hard meanwhile) Us |
walked through. The chambermaid dropped
as many as fifty courtesies. one after another
when happened TO meet her in the hall, and
so overwhelming civil was everybody that
half imagined that had stepped out of free
and easy America into courteous France.
On looking round | perceived the house
was marvellously changed, over night. The
scrubbing brush must have been busy since
daylight, for the floors were freshly secured
and the windows glstened with polish, while
the furniture was "set round" in the primest
kind of order. The landlady, although the
slatternly hour ofsight o'clock in the morn.
ing, was arrnyed ih majestic black silk and
her cap with its multitudinous cherry colored
ribbons was miraculous to behold Mine
host evidently had on his Sunday black suit,
and had thrust himself into O clean shirt.
starched to ah sxtent that kept him perpen-
dicular as grenadier.
| must be, thought /, that this is country
fair day; or perhaps they are going to have
q wedding in the house.
by the way, what was the firing for last
night? ?" | inquired.
"Oh mere six FOUNDER; sir but the
best We have in Smithburg. The boys thought
they must have it out in honor of your ar
rival"
"In honor of my arrival" ejaculated I
taken all.
"Yes, your Excellency. But breakfast is
ready. Win your Excelency walk in 2"
My arrival my Excellency! | was as.
founded at the sudden distinction with which
found myself invested, that | could only
mechanically walk in, and seat myself at the
table,
Certainly the "hotel' had put forth its
most strenuous efforts to get up that break
fast. There were boiled chickens and chick
ems lricasseed there was huge turkey !;
there was o roast suroin of beef. there was
cold leg Of mutton, and eggs, and ham with
out the eggs, and eggs without the ham, pork
and beans, beefsteaks, outlets and chops, cab
bages, beets, caulihowers, tomatoes, corn and
other vegetables sausages, hommony, oys.
ters and clans, salmon and shad buckwheat
cakes, biscuit, and johnny-cake, pickles to an
extent, pies, cake, and sweatmeats, and what
ever else it ever entered the head OF a coun-
try housewife to put on breakfast table, and
great deal that never was thought Of before,
for any such purpose. And my solitary chair
was the only one set for this repast 1t was
truly appalling.
For attendants, had the landlord and
lnndlady, the young lady 'help," magniicen.
in ribbons and jewelry and the bar.keeper in
a blue coat and brass buttons. and an enor-
nous display Of wristband. They all four
hustled about, running over each other in
their eagernessto serve me, while the host,
rubbing his hands smilingly remarked:
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 breakfast, Sir"
| ate breakfast in amaze, cogitatpg whe
ther these extraordinary attentions could be
the result of the wide spread fame of the
house oil Naryred and Company, or whethe!
L had really achieved distinguished reputa-
tion without being aware of it. At any rate
the breakfast was substantial and no illusion
| inwardly resolved would always patronize
this tavern, whenever came to Smithburg
Presently observed indications that was
Gotonly an object of attention, but of curiosi.
ty. Faces, as Of persons standing on chairs,
appearing behind the three panes of glass
over the door, staring intently at every mouth.
ful took. When looked. the faces sudden
ly ducked out Of sight. When | looked away
they re-appeared, or was succeeded by others
staring in turn. The window opening on the
street, was darkened all at once, and on turn
ing round to see the reasen, surprised a
crowd OF urchns, piled in tiers, flatteniug
their noses against it with intense staring, all
Of whom vanished as looked. The landlord
by incautiously opening the door which. led
to the kitchen, caused sudden rnstllng and
scampering, and suppressed scream, which
led TO the irresistible conclusion that aoevy
had been taken turns there, staring through
the key-hole.
Breakfast was hardly over before there
came a rap at the door, followed by the an
nouncement that some gentlemen from the
village were waiting to pay their respects TO
me. BY this time was past being astonish-
ed at anything, so unhesitatingly desired
them to be shown in. The door was flung
open, and in hustled q pompous looking elder
ly man in black broadclotb, with huge gold