Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-06

The Double Bed.
A new Western town, but lately re-
claimed from the wilderness, where the
houses are few, mean and ugly; the
streets mud or dust the trees destroyed,
and the general appearance one of poverty
struggling with heavy obstacles; where
the wolves run the mail in ahead of time,
and is made hideous by tailor practice
ing on q Hute-this is good place to keep
away from.
Into such town as this, and during
court week, once rode on horseback, at
the end of a weary day, passed into a con.
tinuous mud hole, studded with stumps
and ornamented with logs, that a benight-
ed country called road. Night had al
ready closed in, and was guided to the
hotel by the thousand and one boys OF the
place, and the noise issuing from the bar
roem no less beastly and disagreeable. L
found the landlord shut up in corner
pen dealing out liquid insanity to his GUS
toners. To my request for supper and a
bed he responded that could eat my fill,
but there was not bed unengaged or not
occupied in the house. persisted, until
the wretch informed me that there was "a
Teller" in No. 6 occupying double bed,
and could "roll in there, if I SO minded.
1t was dismal but my only hope; so,
after the evenings digestion, l climbed
the rough stairs to No. 6. was told by
nv landlord to walk in without knocking,
and I did so.
1t was in a cherries room, without car
pet on the floor, or curtains to shut out
the black night of the windows, that SEEM
ed to stare blindly in on one, and wink as
the candle fared in the wind.
found my companion measuring off
his dreams by shores, and, undressing,
'.rolled in" as the landlord had suggested.
Ny stranger turned over with something
between growl and a grunt, as l crept
to his side.
Tired as was, could not sleep. The
bed-tick felt as If it were stuffed with
grasshoppers and the pillows were of the
sort to slip up ones nose in the night,
and be sneezed out some time during the
day. Besides this, my bed-fellow snored
abominably. 1t sounded like giant try
ing to blow "Old Hundred" through a tin
horn, without knowing exactly how. I
bore this infiction as long as I could, and
dl 1851 gave LII ALichA O oA5 IL kAS AASsJ
exclaining at the same time:
say!
Hillo-sh-what is it? he asked, in a
confused way.
am sorry to disturb you. but I think
1t my duty to inform you that [ walk in
my sleep.
Well, walk.
My Christian friend, I am well aware
that this is free country, and if a man
wishes to walk in his sleep, there is no
constitutional provision to prevent him.
Bat wish to remark that If l do walk,
you had better not interfere with me.
o, walk won't say q word about it.
Well, don't. When addressed or in
terfered with I am apt to get furious. 1
nearly Drained poor man with dog
iron the other night.
The deuce you did
Yes, did.
Well I'll be bowed, that's ratherI dis
agreeable. A fellow might, under an i'm
pulse. blurt out something TO you.
Better not.
No, I should think not.
A long pause followed this. At last
the now wide awake lodger asked, alb
ruptly:
Did you notice my hat on the floor
l believe / did.
If you walk, you know, I'd rather you
would not step in it.
I'll bear that in mind.
Another pause and he again asked
Did you notice that door on the left p
saw door on the left.
Well, if you walk, I'd advise you not to
go out there. 1t opens on to a porch,
only the porch hasn't been built, and it's
twenty feet down into the stable yard.
don't believe shall walk out of that
door.
Don't think l would if I walked much
supposed my inquisitive friend was
dropping into a sleep when be again
broke out:
1 say, did you really brain man with
a dog iron
tried pretty hard.
Then came silence that was not brok-
en-. After a little while heard my bed
fellow creeping softly from the other side
Of the bed. I could hear him feeling
about for his hat and his clothes. Then I
had the satisfaction of knowing that the
door had closed softly upon my retreating
tormentor. I rolled over and slept the |
sleep of innocence.
The next morning, on descending to
breakfast, I found an old friend seated at
the table. We had not met for years.
After cordial greeting, said
Are you stopping here?
1 have been trying. But am nearly
lead. / slept on bench in the bar-room,
amid lot of drunken brutes who sang
Bingo' for wages of drink all night.
Could you get no bedP
Yes, 1 had double bed to myself,
when that stupid ass of landlord sent
Up crazy fellow, who walked and struck
nut with dog-irons.
Good Heaven, Gillipsy was that you
And D., yeu don't mean to say that
7ou served me that internal trick
1t was case that called for diplomatic
explanation.