The Portland daily press., 1868-05-09

your hospitality for the night, madame" he
began. The dame still looked at the pigs
Mr.. Willoughby tried again, in less courtly
phrase.
"Will it be convenient for you 10 lodge me
tonight mann? / have been disappointed |
IN my search for hunting party, Whom
had engaged to meet, and the nlght threatens
a Storm
81 don't know nothin' about it; you must |
ask the old man." said the lady, now for the
first time takinff survey OF the new COM
or. with ma will we'll lodge nobody.n
This was not very encouraging, but it was
a Door night for the woods; so our traveller |
persevered, and made so bold push for the
door that the lady was obliged to retreat a
little, he entered, and said he would await her
husbands coming.
And in truth, he could scarcely blame the
cool reception he had experienced, when he
beheld the state of affairs within those mud
DIV precincts. The room was large but it
was swarminb " tn human beings. The hucA
oDen fire place, with its hearth of rough
stone. occupied nearly the whole of one end
of the apartment; and near it stood a long
cradle, containing a pair of twins, who
cried-a sort of hopeless cry, as if they
knew it would do no good, yet could not help
It. The schoolmaster lit was his week. sat
reading torn novel, and rocking the cradle
occasionally, when the children cried too
loud. An old gray-headed Indian was curl
ously crouched over large tub, Smelling
corn on the edge of a hoe; but he ceased
his noisy employment when he saw the
stranger, for no Indian will ever willingly be
seen at work, though he may be sometimes
compelled by the fear of starvation or the
longing for whiskey, to degrade himself by
labor. Near the only window was placed
the workbench and entire paraphernalia of
the shoemaker, who in those regions travels
from house to house, shoeng the family and
mending the harness as he goes, with yari-
GUS interludes OF songs and jokes, ever new
and acceptable. This one, who was little,
bald, twinkling- eyed fellow, made the smoky
ratters ring with the burden of the favorite
ditty of the West:
All kinds Of game to hunt, my boys, also the buck
ana doe,
All down by the banks OF the river Ohio;
and children of all sizes, Gathering in all
keys, completed the concert aud The pic
ture. =
The supper table, which maintained its
place in the midst of this living and restless
mass, might remind one of the square stone
lying bedded in the rustling leaves of the
acanthus; but the associations would be any
but those of Corinthian elegance The
only object which at that moment diversified
It's dInSy surface was an iron hoop, into which
the mistress Of the feast proceeded to turn a
quantity of smoking hot potatoes. adding
atterward bowl of salt, and another of pork
fat, by courtesy denominated gravy; plates
and knives dropped IN afterward, at the dis
erection OF the company.
Another call OF "Pop! popw brought in
the host from the piestye; the heavy rain
which had now begun to fall, having, no
doubt, expedited the performance of the
chores. Mr. WilloUghby, who had establish
ed himself resolutely, took advantage of
very cloudy assent from the proprietor TO
lead his horse TO shed. and to deposit in
corner his cumbrous outer gear; while the
company used in turn the iron skillet, which
served as wash-basin, dipping the water
from large trough outside, overflow ING
with the abundant drippings of the caves,
Those who had no pocket handkerchief, CON
tented themselves with nondescript article
which seemed to stand for the family towel:
and when this ceremony was concluded. ali
seriously addressed themselves to the demo-
lition OF the potatoes. The grown people
were accommodated with chairs and chests:
the children prosecuted series of flying
raids upon the good cheer, snatching a pota-
to now and then as they could find an OPEN
ing under the raised arm of one of the fam
lily, and then retreating to the chimney cor
ner, tossing the hot prize from hand to hand,
and blowing it stoutly the while. The old
Indian had disappeared.
70 our citizen, though he felt inconveni-
entity hungry, this primitive meal seemed a
little meaere, and he ventured to ask if he
could not be accommodated with some tea.
Amt my victuals good enough for you?'
"Oh!-the potatoes are excellent, but Pm
very fond of tea"
80 be /, but 1 can't have everything 1
Want-can you?
This nrOdured lauoI, frn,,, +I,o 81 :. o...a1.
who seemed TO think his patron very witty:
while the schoolmaster, not knowing but the
stranger might happen to BE- one of his ex-
ammers next year, produced only faint GIG
Gle, and then reducing his countenance in
stantly to an awful gravity, helped himself to
his seventh potato.
The rain which now poured violently. NOT
only outside but through a creyice in tbe
root, naturally kept Mr.. Willoughby cool; and
nndlng that dry potatoes gave him the hic-
cough, he withdrew from the table, and seat
M N, 91nseIl on the shoemakers bench, took
Two double beds and the long cradle, seem
ed all The sleeping apparatus; but there was
ladder which doubtless led to a lodging
above. The sides OF the room were hung
with abundance of decent clothing, and the
dresser was well stored with the usual arli-
cles, among which a teapot and canister
shone conspicuous; SO that the appearance of
lnhospit2lity could not arise from poverty.
and Mr.. Willoughby concluded to set it down
to the account of rustic ignorance.
The eating ceased not until the hoop was
empty, and then the company rose and
stretched themselves, and began to guess it
was about time to go to bed. Mr. WilIourh-
by inquired what was to be done with his
horse.
WELL s'pose he can stay where he is"
"But what can he have to eat?"
Il reckon you won't get nothing for him.
without you turn him out on the mash.D
HE would get off, to certaintyp.
cite his legs"
The unfortunate traveller argued in vain.
Hay was "scuss," and potatoes we're sscuss-
err and in short the "mash" was the only re-
source, and these natural meadows afford but
poor picking after the first OF October. But
to the mash" was the good steed dispatched.
ingloriously hampered, with the privilege of
munching wild grass in the rain after his
days journey.
Then came the question of lodging for his
master. The lady, who had by this time
drawn out trundle-bed, and packed it full
of children, said there was no bed for him.
unless he could sleep up chamber with the
boys. -
"Mr. Willoughby declared that be should
make out very well with blanket by the
fire.
well! just as you like" said his host.
but Solomon sleeps there, and if YOU like to
sleep by Solomon, it's more than l should.n
This was the name of the old Indian. and
Mr.. Wlllou2hby once more cast woful glances
toward the LADDER.
But now the scboolmaster, who seemed
rather disposed to be civil, declared that
he could sleep very well in the long cradle,
and would relinquish his place beside the
ch0pm9 lrnP fn tho ,,,l,,o
content himself with this arrangement.
which was such as was most usual in those
times. ...-..--
The storm continued through the night
and many crash in the woods attested its
power. The sound of storm in the dense
forest is almost precisely similar to that of
heavy surge breaking on a rocky beach; and
when our traveller slept it was only to dream
OF wreck and disaster at sea. and TO wake in
horror and alright. The wild rain drove in
at every cieYice, and wet the poor children
in the loft SO thoroughly, that they crawled
down the ladder and stretched
themselves on the hearth, regardless of Solo
mon, who had returned after the others were
in bed. r'7-
But morning came at last; and our friend.
who had no desire farther to test the Wanted
hospitality of a western settler, was not
among the latest astir. The storm had par
TALLY subsidized; and although the clouds still
lowered angrily, and his saddle had enjoyed
the benefit of leak in the roof during the
night, Mr.. Willouehby resolved to push on as
lar as the next clearing, at least, hoping for
something for breakfast besides potatoes and
salt. 1t took him weary while to find his
horse, and when he had sadd led him. and
strapped on his various accoutrements, he en- |
tered the house, and inquired what he was
10 pay Tor his observation-disclosures some
what of a stress on the last word.