The Portland daily press., 1863-04-24
MISCELLANY.

MISERY Loves CoMPANY.-Unehrstan it
may be and unchristan it undoubtedly is, but
1t is none the less a fact, that when miserable
ourselves, we invariably derive comfort in the
contemplation OF equal misery In others, and
positive, keen enjoyment If their misery be
greater than our own. We had an occasion
to experience in all its force this peculiar
idiosyncracy Of human nature, as we painfully
wendell our way from Market Street to the
hospital lii the driving storm of Saturday
night last. 1t is needless to say that the ne
cessary condition OF being ourselves miserable
was fully present in our case. We were tired,
cold, wet, hungry-our nose was nearly frozen,
our ears torn and cut by the sharp sleet, and
the holes in our boots allowed the cold snow
TO come into unpleasant proximity to our skin.
In the wretched state of mind naturally en-
rendered by these circumstances, We were
pushing through the slosh with what speed
we might, when we saw, a few rods ahead of
us, specimen of humanity evidently in a
worse plight than ourself Limping from
rheumatism, staggering from whiskey, and
slipping and tumbling from the violence OF
the wind, a little old man, whom his dress
betokened to be soldier, was desperately
attempting to make Roadway against the
storm. As we neared him, we heard him
muttering to himself with a strong German
accent. and, upon overtaking him, we caught
the following:
GER list hailng vie der Teufel,
Und dam kali die Winde blow;
Soaket list mein boot-mein Stiefel
Nit dem-vat list hier called, shnow.''
Immediately in accordance with the prin-
ciple laid down above, we began to expert
ence some alienation of our own wretched
sensations. Winds, after all, are not so very
cold when they freeze other noses beside your
own, and wet feet will actually Jingle with "a
slight warmth when you think that there are
other boots in the world that are not water
proof! Considerably cheered by these refiec-
lions, we pressed on but as we passed our
German friend. more of his mutterings were
waited to our ear:
s.Und sehr careful muss ich schreten-
Step, or tread-yat you him call;
Lest zu menen viel'n krankheiten-
Aches, das ist-ich add elm fal.''
At this our feelings entered the stage of
positive enjoyment, for we felt now as though
we had signal advantage over the poor stag
gering wretch at our side. True, the walk
ing was horrible ii was slippery and sloshy,
and the wind blew like hurricane; but then
we hadn't the rheumatism, nor yet were we
intoxicated, and we felt that we could easily
make three miles to our friends one. We
chuckled; but we HAD not gone more than
step or two when the footballs behind us sud-
denly ceased Turning to ascertain the cause
we saw the German violently smte his thigh
and heard him excaim In tones of mingled
rage and extreme misery
..Dam! Ich hab' men pass verloren-
Vat in English means ge-lost
Und, though frozen ich-gefroren,
Twill mich night I'm GUARDIANS cost"
Now was the measure of our unchristian
exultaton FULL We laughed gaily in the con-
seriousness of possessing that "open sesame"
for the hospital gate-the countersign. And
the wind became as nothing, and the wet feet
were forgotten, as We merrily thought Of the
stern Corporal of the Guard that would be his
welcomer, and of the comfortable fire and good
cigars that were, on the other hand, awaiting
our return.-lWest Phil. Hospital Register.