The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-03-24
THE RIVAL VEETRIL0QUISTs.
BT OUR NED.

nave II. we Ntib Sdiliil1 uOWtl tie great ifttH"
er of waters" the Mississippi, in the beautiful
s:eamer, = Goddess Of Liberty" bound from
ST Loais to New Orleans. We had on board
the usual variety of passengers but for some
uneXplainahle cause an unusual degree of mo-
notony prevailed lis true, the card players
were at work, with their accustomed energy
aud little groups of passengers were earnestly
engaged over the qniat game of - cherqners."
or = dranghtS. while one little circle only were
engaged in that oId, but nuw popular game of
- chess" large uumher of passengers were
sitting in the forward saloon, gazing lstless!y
at each other, ap ,,arently IN Stupeftctioo.
Being OF an active tenp.ram nj, AMI fond Of
excitement, we cUuld not sufftr ernui upon
such an occasion 10 get the upper hand of vs.,
so, will ,i,w TO kicking up some kind of
rumpus, for our own sake and the relief Of the
passengers generally, we walked blly into
iiIe captains office, and lail the whole matter
before the distinguished commander.
- We have no music on board" the captain
remarked, or we might wake the passengers
up with little 9. hop on the light fantastic"
Weli," we replied Gooking earnestly over
The lit in the passenger roIl1 we must have
! some excitement, Cor the passage is really wea-
ri-ome"
Just at that moment, our eyes fell npOn
name distinguished in the annals Of dttb}erle-
no less a parsonage than the celebrated
ard and venlrIoqui~t, Slgnnr B,iIz. II re was
indeed Reason for CRYING Eureka, ani forth
with, we proceeded in search of the mysterious
wizard. In few moments. the Slanor was
found, quietly reposng in his state-rnom, the
whole difficulty eIoquantly (the occasion called
/ forth the eloquenctl laid before him. Btzcon-
seued to create lttIe harmless fun as he
termed it: hut the sequel proved 1t more fun
ny than harmless But. without anticipating.
the wizard entered the stewards apartment
sand proviIing himself with few slices of bread
and obtaining some Of his lttle animate assis
tanceS, he announced himself preparet but
marked that we must select guud subject, for
ON that selection depends the fun. We enter
ed the forward saloon noisaesSly. arm-ln-arm,
and advanced toward the quiet, sleepy-looking
/ passengers, who were collected together with
out aim or object. While running our eyes
rapidly around the saloon IN s-acch ot Il VIC
lin. our attention was attracted towards
young man dressed in deep suit of black,
who was deeply absorbed IN Il book which he
was aiteniively paruslng.
I We 'nudged the Signnr pointed slenlfi-
/ cantY AT tie Young man. and received from
! the former an affirmative anSwe". 10y qmct
movement oi the head. The Signor picked up
"a stool, seated himself fnnceremonously between
/ the young stranger, and the end "t the table
( near by. This movement arrested the aitan-
/ ton nf the stranger who booked up inqprln-lg.
. You seem to he much interested in your
book, sir the Signor remarked
. Yes, sir" lie replied. "a good book is to
me preferable to goni dinner"
J Signor-'' That depends upon the length of
time Won have tasted Bv the way | dill not
( see vuu af the dinner-table 2"
! Stranger-.' o sir. preferred my book"
! Sisnur-'' Oae dnlIlr is high for single meal !:
/ I commend Your economy"
Stranger CindiguantIy) I eat acRsn hungry,
whatever the price
Signor-"I spoke of economy, because
! O o'served some provisions in your hat ~
Stranger tn an offended tone 'Provis-
ions with me | always eat at the public table,
and pog for it, too "
Tie whole attention of the passengers was
now centertd upon the speakers, and consider
able interest manifested nv the company in the
peculiar suhiact under discussion.
| Sinuor Gifing mp the young gents hat from
his side, and passing it under the eyes of
| the entire gruup) II do not wish to offend
vou sir. but see here quite a supply of pro-
visions !! ="
! This created not little merrimont at the ex-
ppnse Of the stranger. which soon increased TO
langh. as the wizard drw forth slice after
| slice Of the stale bread from the youna mans
hat. The stranger bit his lips in confusion, and
! fi&ed his gaze upon the iiSnoF: then, with
! al yardz
! the state-Foom.
Enlightened ?" saws one of the lookers-on,
| smiling at the sudden disappearance 1f the
! stranger.
| Stranger (emerging from the state.room y
| '.No, not frightened, exactly. | merely put a.
way my book because there is going to BE some
| fun aboard. and when there's fun about want
| to he counted for that's my forte"
| Luoker-or enthusiastically Good! bravo
bravo! Go it, little 'un, you're match for
| him :"
| The stranger had barely finished his remarks.
when a loud yeIping and snapning was heard
| at his heels. and he passengers began to scafter
! { linking a rabid dog was in their midst: but a
few minutes served to prove harking and yclp-
ing another trick Of the ventriIoqnist.
During the excitement ahput the dog the
Signor seemed constantly brushing something
from behind his ear; and becoming mnch an
moved by a continual bnzzing at his head re-
quested one of the passengers 10 examine hls
neck, for he was fearful wasp had taken pas
sage on the boat. and was engaged in the ex-
elusive business Of annoying him. An exami-
nation proved the Signor's fears gronndless. and
the fun with the stranger continued Now came
the squeang of pig. and. in few moments.
the Signor to the great amusement of the crowd
produced fr,m the strangers bosom small
| Il. n.o.rr,A fkn