Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-28
mon but expressive phrase, you couldn't have
seen your hand before you.'
III. THE TRAVELLERS REST.

|
The door Of the Travellers Rest always
stands Hospitality open, as is becoming in a
roadside house of entertainment On this par
ticular stormy night, the snow came drifting
in furiously ; and the wind, whistIing along
the wide passages of the old fashioned public
house, disturbed the whst-payers, who were
enjoying their usual evening rubber in the lit
tie bar-parlor Mrs Dawton, from her scamo-
tum (the bar, where she sat in attendance on
the customers, observed this, and called out to
the servant:
Bet, my lass, thou mayst shut the front
door: we shall ha' no more visitors tonight
for certain no body would venture ont in such
a storm SO get thy supper, and to bed VII
thee-thou hast to rise early tomorrow If
the morning turns out fine, we shall ha' lots O.
/ fair day folk here by seven o'clock
! Betty went to obey her mistreSS'S orders. but
/ Immediately rushed back, screaming with ter
ror, and crying ont \ ghost, a ghost -
I she took refuge in the Kitchen, slamming the
door after her, to keep the spiritual intruder
at a respectful distance
/ a ghost ; why what does the silly wench
mean :? said Mrs. Dawson, as she put her
knitting down. and came out Of the bar TO as
certain the cause Of this extraordinary conduct
/ On arriving IN the passage, she might have
echoed Betty's cry-that is. if she, too, had
been given TO a belief in ghosts-for there,
leaning for support with one hand on each
. doorpost stood figure ghastly to behold =
man, gaSpng and struggling for breath ; his
eyes blOOdShot, and gIaring wildly around :;
his hair matted and disheveed shoelcss :;
and, in such bitter night as that, wearing
fOT 10 pf ctr a.,I
/ these saturated with snow At last, the
mOuntebank had reached the Travellers Rest
whose friendly lamp had guided him to the door.
! Bless me = cried the Iandiady, here's a
poor chap that looks as if he was dying He's
one of the Show-iolk, | see Come in. good
man don't stand thcrc-come TO the fire :;
thou seems perished.
! The mountebauk essayed to accept her hos
| pitable invitation he staggered forward a few
| steps uttered in a horse whisper. the word
water when a stream of blood gushed from
his mouth and he fell heavily, face downwards
/ The house was all astir directly the rubber
came TO a sudden close, and, the village doc
tor, who was one Of the card-players. hurried
out to the sick mans assistance With the
help OF the other members of the whist-partv,
he raised the patient up, and bore him care
fully into the bar-parOr, where he was depos-
tied on the sofa. Joe Ostler and Betty, too,
now that her fears Of the ghost were dispell-
ed, hastened to offer their services in his be-
half
Blankets made quite hot, Betty. Warm
water and sponge, Joe \ glass of weak
port-neguS, Mrs Dawson "
Such were the doctors hurried orders in
compliance with which, t.e person addressed
disappeared instantaneou>ty, and returned
anon with the appliances above named. Ev-
cry one present lending hand, tie hot blank
cts were quickly spread, aud the inSenSibc
form of the mountebank enveIoped therein
his mouth and eyes were sponged inceSsautly
for many minutes, but no signs Of returning
consciousness appeared.
I'm afraid the poor fellows gone, said the
sympathi>ing Mrs Dawson.
No. no. replied the doctor, but he's in
imminent danger he has burst blood vessel.
from over excrtion, apparently Well try the
effect of the negus ! so saying, he slowly pour
ell a small portion of it down the patients
throat. With much difficulty, the latter con-
trived to swallow it. 1t somewhat revived him
for presently he opened his eyes, and gazed in.
Quiringly at the anxious faces assembled round
administer Il second dose aud having laid the
stranger IN as easy posture As he could,
began to make his arrangements for the night
Taking the patient dangerous condition into
consideration he resolved 10 sit up with him
all night. Mrs. Dawson and Joe Ostler yolun
teerrd to watch too and it was agreed upon
that, at six in the morning. they should he re-
lieycd by the other members of the party
Fan would the gOod-natured trio of the carrl-
players have remained all night bat this the
doctor would by no means allow so, with
many kind wishes for the invahd's speedy re-
cOyery they took their de0arInre. Betty re-
tired TO rest aud Mrs. Dawson brought the
doctor a stiff tumhier OF hi> favorite beverage
brandy and water. hot also a glass of strong
rum punch for joe t. help him to watch
Ii didu't pToIuce the desired effect though; for
Joe tired out with hard days work-he was
oSter, boots. gardener. and waiter, too. some
timcS-after tossing of the >reamimg potion,
leaned back in bis chair, and fell fast asleep.
Mrs Dawson employed herself in knitting a
stocking, slipping green tea the doctor, with
his feet on the fender, was soon deeply iInmers-
ell in newspaper politics and the mouHtebank
SlumbeVed uReaSily This was the state Of
Affairs in the little bar parl0r until three O'Clock
when suddenly the patient started up, seized
chair which stood near him, waved it over
his head, and finally balanced il on bis fore
head by one leg, excIaiming in horSca voice:
Bravo, bravo. AIfy \ capital rosc that :,
Ha ha. ha We shall soon eclin>c Rislev
and Sons Bravo Now, little MidckinS its
yaEr turn Now for . somerSault Here
goes -
Sujting the action 10 the word. he was about
to prccjPitate the chair across the room, and
through large looking glass which hung over
the mantlePiece when the doctor. being GA
the alert woke Joe with hearty kick on the
>hias. and. by their united efforts they wIest-
el the chair from him. and forced him 10 lie