Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-01-21
Heat it Hot, Sam.

Colonel McHattan went from Vir-
ginia to Illinois, in the early settle
ment of the country, when roadside
inns were unknown, and every dwell
Ter in the wilderness kept sort OF
travellers home. The Colonel, by a
lucky investment i'm wild land, had
become In time n rich man but he
kept up his habits of hospitality ; and
if the guest was well-tO-dO in the
world, he did not object to turning an
honest penny in that way.
One cold, clustering winter even.
ing, a horseman drew up at the house
and asked accommodation for the
night. A half-grown lad answered
in the affirmative, and ushercd him
into the sitting-rOom, where the
great wood fire of itself gave him a
cordial welcome. After supper the
landlord made his appearance for the
first time. He was hearty and hale.
and as rosy as any boniface should
be, but he was bent and crippled, in
his gait. He explained, by saying,
that he had taken a cold which had
settled i'm his back.
80 / don't mind the pain so much, ,,
lie continued, "but It is so inconven
lent. l have been recommended to
try poor mans plaster, and If you
will excuse me, / will it put on.
Sam Samuel! Samuel McHa.tan ="
"Here, father" said the lad above
mentioned, hastily swallowing a
large piece of mince pie which he
had been quietly enjoying.
Here, Sam, my boy, heat this
plaster for me, and put 1t on my
back. Heat 1t hot, Sam"
Saying which, he handed the plas.
ter to his son, and seating himself as
tride the chair, with his back to the
fire, threw his suspenders back, and
his shirt over head. Now Sam,"
said the Colonel, "if the poor mans
plaster Is hot, you may put 1t on ; but
you may wait little while Pm
afraid it's not hot enough. Heat it
hot, Sam-heat 1t hot. Can you
tell" he continued, turning to the
traveller, who was seated In the cor
ner--" can you tell me why this Is
called the poor mans splaster'-some-
times the poor mans friend?' ELI |?
Give 1t up?'-lauyhing to himself
"because it sticketh closer than a
brother eh?"
Poor Sam, who had been watching
his chance to speak without inters
rupting his father, now ventured to
Iguess it's hot enough now, faith
er."
"What do you know about it?"
said the old man, testify.
4" say, heat it hot, Sam-heat it
hOt.n
Sam, whose face was at red heat,
had held the plaster to the fire until
it ran and dripped down on the
hearth, and.had made no reply.
"Well," said the old man, looking
around, "maybe it will do now, Sam.
Clap 1t on"
Sam armed with the plaster, ap-
preached him; and ifmy word can be
taken, did clap 1t on. The old man
gave one yell, like wild Indian, and
jumped clear over the back of the
chair, kicking his Old-fashiOned
breeches off his feet, and dancing
around with pain. The traveller
laughed until he cried and the more
mine host roared the more he laugh
ed. When the first agony was over,
the Colonel began to swear, and our
traveller thought it would be prudent
to retire, lest he should share his
wrath with Sam, who, he observed,
was making good his distance.
The next morning, when leaving,
he handed the Colonel five dollars,
saying, with sly twinkle of the eye,
81 don't want any Change. IL Is
cheap at that"
After he was seated upon his horse
and out Of range, he called,
Heat IL hot, Sam-heat Ii hot. 1t
sticketh closer than a brother"