The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-10

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and shad, buckwheat cake, biscuit and john
ny cake, pickles to any extent, pies, cake
and sweetmeats, and whatever else it ever en-
tered the head Of q country housewife to put
on breakfast table, and a great deal that
never was thought of before for any such
purpose. And my solitary chair was the
only one seat for this repast! 1t was ap-
palling.
For attendants, had the landlord and
the landlady, the young lady shelp,' mapni-
fcent in ribbons and jewelry, and the bar
keeper in blue coat and brass buttons and a
great 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 apologeti.
cally, remarked:
Sorry We have nothing better to give you,
sir; but your coming 50 privately, last night,
took US rather by surprise. Hope you'll
be able to make breakfast, sir.' q
l ate breakfast in amaze, cogitating
whether these extraordinary attentions could
be the result of the wide spread fame of the
house Of Naryred & Company, or whether |
had really achieved distinguished reputa-
tion without being aware of it. AT anv
rate, the breakfast was substantial and no
illusion. inwardly resolved that l would
always patronize this tavern whenever j
came to Smithburgh.
Presently ! observed indications that
was not only an object of attention
but curiosity. Faces, as of persons stand
ing on chairs, appeared behind the three
panes of glass over the door, staring intent.
ly at every mouthful took. When look
ed up, the faces suddenly ducked out of
sight. When looked away, they reap
peared, or were succeeded by others staring
in turn. The window opening on the street
was darkened all at once, and turning round
to see the reason, surprised crowd of
urchins piled in tiers, fattening their noses
against it with intense staring, all of whom
vanished as looked. The landlord, BY in
cautiously opening the door which led to
the kitchen, caused sudden rustling and
scampering, and a suppressed scream, which
led to the irresistible conclusion that bevy
had been taking turns there, staring through
the key-hole.
Breakfast was hardly over, before there
came rap at the door, followed by the an
nouncement that some gentlemen were wait
ing to pay their respects to me. By this
time, was past being astonished at any
thing, so l unhesitatingly desired them to
be shown in. The door was flung open,
and in hustled pompous looking elder
ly man, in blackcloth, with huge gold
watch seal dangling from his fob, gold
headed cane in his hand, and pair of gold
spectacles astride his nose. His face was
very red, but stern determination was
written on every feature of it. A lank SOL
emn visaged individual followed. Behind
them came, should think, nearly the entire
population of the village of all ages, sorts
and sizes, squeezing in so as to completely
fill the room, only leaving respectful circle,
about three feet in diameter, in front of me;
and every one of them staring at me as hard
rs he knew how.
Advancing to tho verge of this opening,
the pompous man with one arm extended a,
right angles to his body, and the other thrust
beneath his coat-tails, addressed me after
this fashion:
"MR. President and respected sir: This
is proud day for Smithburgh. Unexpect-
ed as was your coming, it is welcome-wel-
come to our homes, our h'arths and our
bosoms. Long have we watched your gi.
gantic career, whether shedding your life's
blood in your country's cause upon the fer.
vid plains of Mexico, or in boldly guiding
the helm of the Ship of State, amid TEN.
pests that threatened momentarily to wreck
her on the shoals of the fathomless abyss!-
But we knew the eye of the American Ea.
gle was fixed upon you; and the result woulG
justify our predictions. We knew thea
a-shafts of vile calumny were aimed al
your devoted head; but knew also that they
mi lad nat al
which would quench them forever into-to
the ground. Sir, you are welcome. In the
name of my fellow citizens, tender you the
hosptalties of Smithburgh, and the free.
dom of the city, trusting you will excuse
the box, with which for lack of timely warn.
ing, we are unprovided."
l stammered out some bewildering &C.
acknowledgements in reply to this harangue
apparently to the disappointment of the as.
semblage, who evidently expected a speech
in similar style in return. But as the ora
tor had remarked about the box, for lack OF
previous warning, was unprovided with
any speech to make.
Recovering himself moment after, the
spokesman blandly introduced himself as
Gen. Smith, and then proceeded to intro
duce his townsmen.
'This sir, is Deacon Jones, one of ou,
first men, and fellow member of tho Com
mittee of Reception, of which have the
honor to be chairman; DR.. Davis, sir, the
other member
The Deacon and the Doctor grasped my
hand; until l thought they never would
leave off shaking it. Twice did the Deacon
open his mouth us in the act to speak; twice
were his emotions or his modesty too much
for him, and the mouth closed without ut
terance. Meanwhile others passed forward
to be introduced and shake hands in turn.
Squire Staples, sir, great friend of
yours, and an original jackson man from
the start; Mr.. Tompkins; our clergyman,
Rev. Mr.. Peterson; Mr.. Bolts, Mr.. Dobson,
Mr.. Mcclure, Judge jenkins, Zone of the
first men, sir,) Capt O'Flynn, of the Smith
burgh Guards; Mr.. Jacobs, Mr.--a-Q for
get your name )-ah Mr.. Simkins, highly
respected draper and clothing merchant of
our place, sir, not one of our folks POLITICAL
ly, but we shall have him one of these days
yet; Ga laugh and a significant nudge from
Mr.. Simkins, } 'Mr. Schnuphausen, one of
our adopted citizens, and one of our hardest
workers, sir-true as steel and regular as
election comes round; Mr.. Hodges, sir, the
editor of the Smithburgh Weekly Messen-
ger.'
sMy only regret, SIR said this latter lu-
minary, lean cadaverous young man, with
a strong odor of Monongahela whiskey, lis
that had not known of your arrival earlier,
that might have announced it in an extra
this morning.
1T is of no consequence began I.
'Ohp said he, interrupting, you may say
that, sir, but l cannot suffer 50 important
an event to pass without an extra. 1t will
come out this Afternoon; already in type; goes
to press at one o'clock
well, declare,' here broke in General
Smith, If there ant tho postmaster at last.
Thought it was about time you were getting
round. Here, sir said be taking tho new
conner by the arm and leading him mp to me,
here is gentleman that is bound to stand
by you through thick and thin. This is Mr..
NJ. Higginbotham, the postmaster, his
face beaming with satisfaction, grasped me
by both hands. 'My dear sir, am under
everlasting obligations to you. twill never
be forgotten. And if work for the party is
wanted am the man,
sHigginbotham always was as sound as a
mt, remarked the General; stan't likely