The Lincoln County herald., 1872-04-04
"DOVn The Steps,"

Jhe following amusing reml0l6ceDco
connected with the history Of Q famous
Nashville hotel that vas numbered
among the institutions Of the past, long
years before the var, 10 told by the
Franklin Review, which says that tho
principal actors are still living, one 10
Maury and the other in Williamson:
While the old inn stood on the square
in Nashville, it was the favorito hotel of
the travelling public. On one occasion
among tho many guests there assembled
we're Harvey II, from Williamson
county, and John G., from Maury
county, intimate friends and both con
vivial in their temperament. They had
imbibed freely Of spirits, and we're in
that happy condition in which they con.
sidered the world all their own, and were
rather noisy in their demonstrations.
Some Of the visitors complained Of their
noise, and the proprietor, after some per.
suasion, induced the gentlemen to retire
to bed. He conducted them to their
room, saw thom safely lodged 10 bed,
waited patiently until they slept; and then
drew the bed, which, as was then to some
extent fashionable, was attached to tho
ceiling by sovds, up nearly to the ceiling,
raising them some nine or ten feet from
the floor. Everything passed Of quietly,
the gentlemen sleeping soundly until l
or 2 o'clock in the morning, when John
g., who was sleeping behind, called out
to his friend, "Harvoy. get me the water
the pitcher is on the table 10 the corner. "
Harvey domurred q little, but, finally
yielding to earnest solicitations, ho threw
himself out Of bed, in tho pitch darkness
Of the room, to the floor beneath. lie
was unprepared for leap, and the shock
of the fall surprised him. Instantly he
conjectured that he had fallen down
stairs, perhaps through . trap door so
he got down on his hands and knees and
commenced cropping about to find some
means Of ascent to the room above
The delay occasioned by these move
ments was tortue to John, who was
parchcd up with thirst. So he called
out, in language more profane than po
lite: "Harv what in the ID nre you
doing? ?" The answer came from the
depths below: "John fell down stairs
and cant find the steps to get up there
again" "Well, must come down there
to show you the way up?' ~ wish you
would, John, for I'm d-d if l can 6ud
the steps," John, thoroughly vexed a,
the stupidity of his friend, sprang out Of
bed, when 10 he, too, went whirine
through the air into the distance below
and soon found himself sprauling on the
floor beside his companion. by Cd
farv ! l fell down stairs myself" was
his first exclamation. Then the two
commenced q search for the staircase, ,
l,dder. anything to enable them to ge
out Of this deep abyss. Round ant
round they went, upon their hands ant
knees. They found q table, upon which
they discovered a pitcher Of water
Qaenching their thirst they resume.
their search. Their clothing had beer
deposited on the foot Of the bed, so th
was beyond their reach, and the weathe
was intensely cold. They must keel
moving or freeze. The weary round wa:
kept up until the gray dawn began Il
streak tho east, when they ascertainec
their true condition. Stealthily the,
lowered the bed, hastily donned thei
clothing and only remained long enough
to pay their bill to the night clerk, when
mounting their horses they made track
for their homes.