The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-27
The Wrong Room.

| Inc wrong R00m.
i The Rev. w. II. Milburn, in his ssTe
Years of Preachers Life" relates til
following anecdote of Peter Cartwright
who had been deputed to attend a con
ference in New York. A room ha
been reserved for him at the Irwin
Heuse, but arriving late at night, th
sleepy hotel clerk did not recognize hi
name in the somewhat illegible charac
tiers which the backwoodsman inscrib
ed in the register-box, nor Cartwright
himself, in the farmer-like looking ma
before him. The great preacher wa
therefore lodged very high up, and i'm
mediately below the tiles.
| The patronizing servant explained t
the traveller the use Of the various arti
cles in the room, and said, on leavin
(pointing to the bell-rope,) off yo1
want anything you can just pull that
and somebody will come up"
| The old gentleman waited until tn
servant had time to descend, and thel
gave the rope furious jerk. Up cam
the servant, bounding two or tire
steps at time, and was amazed at hi
reply in answer to his "What will yo1
have, sir 7"
GLOW are you all coming on dow
below7 1t is such ways from Their
to here that body can have no notion
even of the weather where you are"
The servant assrredi1im that all wa
going on well, and was dismissed; bu
The had scarcely reached the office be,
fore another strenuous pull at the bel
was given. The bell in the City Hal
had struck fire alarm, and the Ere.
men with their apparatus were hurry.
ing with confused noise along the
street.
| Whats wanting, sir 7" said the IT.
ritated servant.
| "What's all this hula ballo 81 asked
the stranger. lx
"Only a fire, sir.o
"a fire, STRIP shouted Cartwright
"Do you want us all to be burned up'r
knowing well enough the fire was not
Oh the premises.
The servant assured him Of the dis
lance of the confagration, and that all
was safe, and again assembled. A third
pull at the bell, and the almost breath
less servant again made his appear
ance at the door.
"Bring me a hatchet," said the trav:
eler in peremptory tone.
"a Ratchet, sir 7" said the astonished
waiter.
ayes, q hatchet.' 1864
"What for, sir Z" @
I" That's none Of your business; 20
and fetch me o hatchet.n
The servant descended and informed
the clerk that, in his private opinion,
the old chap was crazy, and that he
meant to commit suicide, or to kill
some one in the house, for he wanted q
Ratchet.
The clerk, with some trepidation,
ventured to the room beneath the leads,
and, having presented himself, said, in
the blandest tone, ~ beg your pardon,
sir, but what was it you wanted 81 as'
"A hatchet," said the imperious
stranger.
"A Ratchet, sir, really but for WHAT"
said the clerk.
"What for7 Why look here, stran-
ger. You see am not accustomed to
these big houses, and it's SIGH a journey
from this to where you are that I
thought might get lost. Now, it is
my custom, when / am in strange
country, to blaze my way. We cut
notches in the trees, and call that bla-
zing, and then we can always find our
way back again. So thought if / had
o hatchet I'd just go out and blaze the
corners from this to your place, and
then I would be able to find my way
back.n
i beg your PARDON" said the mys-
tilted clerk, "but what's your name
sirf Icould not read it very well on
the book"
"My name," replied the other, Seer
tainly my debts are paid, and my will
is made my name is Peter Cartwright,
at your service.n
"Oh, Mr.. Cartwright" responded the
other; 8! beg your ten thousand par
dons. We have a room for you, sir, on
the second floor; the best room in the
house. This way, sir, please"
That's right" said the old gentle
man, sthat's all l wanted"