The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-22
COL. DEM. -. VOL. XXXVI.. mo. 40

in the meantime, let me beg of you TO
consider my house and all that is in it
as entirely your own
"'Well,' thought 1 this comes of
travelling; 1 might have waited long
enough before any one would have done
as much for me in England.'
"And had reason to think so few
minutes later, when i found myself
seated at the governors right hand,
over as good dinneras ever / ate,with
fifteen gentlemen in uniform on each
side of the table. They were all strong
and rather fine.looking men, with a
brisk, business-like air about them
which 1 had not remarked in the Off
GERS | met at Rio, who were, for the
most part, rs confirmed tl0afers' as
ever lounged about a boulevard; but
every face at the table wore a curious
expression which struck me at once,-a
uatchfM kind of look, like that of a SEN
tinel on guard, the result as L conclud-
ed at the time, of their constant sur
ueiL,dnce of dangerous convicts. The
governor himself, now that / got good
view of him, was handsome, dignified-
looking old fellow, with a heavy mus
tache and beard that gave him almost
the air of cuiressier; but there was
something didn't like about his eyes,
"a shifting, restless look such as have
seen once or twice in the eyes of q
vicious horse. Still, nothing could pos
sibly be more courteous than his man
ner to me. as he helped me to the best
of the good cheer, and congratulated
me on having arrived at time when
the larder was well stocked; whereas
they had been wofl]ly Strengthened
about month before, the rough wealth.
er preventing the arrival Of supplies,
and the island Itself aff0rdiry nothing
but fish and fruit.
"As 20 the dinrer I'm not going to
describe il. The old governo" took the
lead keeping up the convelsa ion when
it seemed inclined 20 lag, and sending
round the vino as if he had the key OF
the imperial cellar; and toasts, songs,
Jokes, stories, followed each other in
unbroken succession III could almost
have fancied myself at bo ting.
per at Oxford. A last began TO think
it was about time , be moving so l
tul ned TO the Cove lor and said, Most
illustrious Senior Gobe' nador you have
kindly intrciuc me 10 the b2st din
ner and the glye,o society 1 have ever
had the pleasure OF meeting but now
do me one favor more, and oblige me
with SIGHT of the couvict3.'
"Along the whole table, as I spoke,
ran { le s1me extraordinary gin which
had perpleXci me some hours before on
the face of the skipper; but the Cover
nor merely bowed, and replied simply,
Senior, s0mos todos degradadcs' 1--WE
are all convicts y l won't attempt to
describe my sensations at THIS nrounce'
ment.
"'Good helvers!' said 1; your Ex-
cellency surely cannot mean that all
these noble gentlemen roune the table
arc are what you ment.one1?"
"'Everv man of them, replied tle old
gentlemen, looking round with an air
VI II tIcut BlluC tiitSS NOuiN ishFS pN
fitted the mother Of the Gracchi we
are all alike here
, "'But in that ,se,' stammered I
'your Excellency's own self I hardly
dae hint such thingl must be 81
a
"'Prec.Se'v So answer II ha with a
, be9'gnant s.n le: Pen acD IVjct, toD,
, the oldC : OF the lO,n
| 81 rrmtinei epcechle'3; while the
governor, evidently fat t'ered by my
} emotion proceeded to point out IN de
G tail all the varied beauties ofhls c0'|ec
l ton. This gentleman on your right
!, he began, with the air Cf connoisseu
n eriticsing an undoubted Titan, signal
n lied himself by one the boldest act
of vengeance on record-scaling tn
wall of an enemy's house with knif
!, between his te eth, and Staying him o.
:, the snot. Unfortunately land yet no
:. unfortunately, as it procured me tn
- pleasure of my friends acquaintanr;
the slain man happened 10 be the rea
relation OF an official of high rank
= need I say more? The senior on m
- left hand had an unhappy ditlerenc
} W .th his W .fe (who alone was to blam
10 in the matter) he attempted to SCOTT
70 her with dose of medicine, which III
. happily succeeded ill: you will divln
" the rest The two gentlemen next
order were concerned in au heroic a
y tack on the house Ofan ObnoNlouS mi
- is,er some time ago; and certain jewe
r being missed, suspicion wrougfully fe
10 upon them. AS to the senior oppc
~ ite'--
~ "And so on for another quarter of ;
nv hour. In fact, ss old Virgil says in tn
pa sage that used to puzzle me at Etc
10 ifI had hundred tongues, and vol
n of iron, could not reheaise all tn,
lu crimes Suffice il to say, that of all
no villains then unhanged, the most at
cious appear to be these friendly, ope
an hearted gentlemen with whom l h
ne been hobnobbipg 50 aGably for the ]
I'm hour. At last, when the Governor pa
III ed for IA moment 20 take breath, ] v
on tured TO inquire what achievement i
Ieu earned linn his promotion,
'S) "Nothing very important" answ
o" ed he Carelessly; "merely an absl
i story about some forged note that
peared one morning"
ars, "This was the last straw which br
i |, the camel's back. / instantly re
lected that had at least dozen thi
eet, the last importance to say to thesl
he, per, and must go on board again
ade once; while the Governor, lament
Gel. my untimely departure, announced
,use intention of seeing me down to
it shore,-a courtesy whichtI could '
ter. we'll have dispensed with: but the
hor and the Governors stories, and thu
low cent startling revelation, had so u
me, that as PUHch'S sailor saysl .