Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-11-14
Nat Harrison; or the Representa-
tive from Hamilton.

tVO OIii
The following, though it may be
recognized as an old story, is so good
that we take the responsibility of once
more reviving it into print:
In early days old Nat Harrison was
elected to the Legislature from this
county, said a fellow, as we were all
seated around the stove in little hotel
at McLainsboro', Hamilton county,
Illinois. Old Nat was a regular old
brick. He was elected just because
there was no one to run against him,
Our country was rather bad off for in
tclligent people in those days. A few
days after old Nat had goneto Spring
field to attend to the duties Of his Off
ce, happened to be there on business
of a private character, and thinking he
would be glad to hear from the folks
at home, | concluded to call on him at
the " Prairie House" and inquire after
his health.
"I've been well, Tom," said he, but
I got awfully scared the first night |
staid in this ere darned place"
"How was that?" inquired.
"Well," said Nat, "Ill tell you all
about it. You see that fellow there
behind the counter-the fellows here
call him the hard-well, / told him |
wanted to see my bed, so I'd know
where to sleep when I'd come in after
a while. He took me upstairs to a
little room, and said | could sleep
there, and then he went down. took
good notice of Thrown door with
yallar streaks here and there, and
white yearthen lock-handIe. | started
down a.thinkin' about this, and !
wouldn't look at another door, fear I'd
get EN- kinder mixed up in my head,
and then forget which was mine.
"About twelve o'clock that night, |
came in with kind of half9rown
hummm in my head, and the very
first thing | found at the top Of the
stairs was my own identical door, with
the yaller streaks and white lock-hand-
lie. "Good" says l, and in | lumbers.
| walks up to the bed, and what do
you think ? Why, finds one of your
black whiskered town
fellows in it-fast asleep. takes
him by the beard, rears him up on his
end. and gives him a short sarment-
tells him to leave as quick as double
triggers, or I'll be id If | wouldn't
kick Lin down stairs-tells him |
don't want to do it nuther, for | am
of the Legislature-the Re
from Hamilton-but if |
cit to fighting he'd find me to be
full team. The fellow looked awtully
scared, and without sayinga word he
cot up very humble like, and started
for his dry-goods, which hung on a
chair up in one corner. | sot down
thelight and begun to undress; and says
| to him, draw on them duds and tod
die from here for I'll be cussed if /"
turning around at the same time to
look fierce at him-I sees him a-com-
in at me with one Of the drottedest
butcher knives in the world.
"Well, thought |, Nat, you've got
yourself in close place, by Jingo;
and so we begun to lumber around the
room like the very nation. Here l
went and here he came, At last | got
between him and the door, and out |
shot.
"This beats all hell, said I, "a Re
Of the Legislature treated
in this way | went downstairs and
told the fellow behind the counter that
some cuss was in my room.
"No, guess not said he; perhaps |
here is some mistake-yCur room is
number eight.
"Thinks |, perhaps there may be
some mistake; and so | goes back
When | got up to the top of the stairs
began to count at the first door, and
IN till | had counted eight. | found
hat they all looked just exactly alike.
opened the eighth door and went in,
feeling certain that it was picked out
sor me. A candle was burning on the
able, by the light of which | saw that
some person was in the bed. Not feel
ng inclined to kick up another fuss, |
concluded to crawl in with him and
say nothiug about it, In very short
ime | was in bed and ready to go to
,leep had not been in bed long be-
ore the door opened, and a young
nan and women came into the room
md took seats by the candle stand.
"Somything else on hand, Nat,
hought /, to myself, but let 'em up.
"They looked very serious at first,
,ut finally it wore off, and they got to
,hatting very lovingly, and to huggin'
md kissin' little. | was deligted
With the performance, and thought the
jeller in bed with me ought to see it
md enjoy the fun too; 50 / whispered
o him:
"Say, Captain-old hoss, jest look
lp'
"They both started up, like shock
n mill had touched 'em, and they
eemed to be awfully scared, till the
;al said, 1T was only the wind BLOWN
lgin the window
"They soon got to huggin' and kiss
n agin, and as l coud not rouse my
lend, l thought I'd jest have little
i'm to myself.
"Slips, says /, jest as they was a
etching their lips together, and up
hey sprung like lightning and loped
or the door but as fortune would have
4 Al ,o,,.o. 4oD,, J,onraI tba bow