Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-13
one observing the expression of young Hud.

one observing the expression of young Hud
sons face just then, would have understood
that he did mean it.
"Look here" said one.
"What is itf' said Hudson.
"Your watch p
"What of thatf" .
"I'll discount ffty.spot for it"
"No you don't"
"Better try your luck once more"
"No, thank you. I've lost my money
but don't propose to strip myself of every
thing Ipossess"
"As you please" added the other.
"Young Hudson left the table, nodding te
me with pleasant smile as he passed, and
seeking his special seat near the bow, wat
soon apparently absorbed in his book, and
seemingly having quite forgotten the large
amount of money he had but just lost to the
His conduct seemed rather inscrutable tc
me, and I walked over near to him after the
lapse of halfhour or 80. was close enough
now to see the title of the book which be
seemed so much interested in perusing. II
was "Pilgrim's Progress.
"W Wonderful book, ;" said I, by way of open
ing the conversation.
"Wonderful, indeed" he answered. "Do
you think that Bunyan, poor, uneducated
tinker, had any premonition Of the future
popularity of this book?"
mo, do not believe he could have had,
I answered. "He could not help writing what
he did. 1t was as much inspired as any part
of the Bible" 49,. ...:.,..#,.-.
II am glad to hear you say go" continued
young Hudson. at is my ,favorite book"
ITO be frank with you, wish you had
stuck to it rather than Joined the sharpers
who seem to have emptied your pockets com
pletely." ......
"A6 true. As you say, they were too
many guns for me. They had it all their own
wayT ,,.-''....
-'' $50 I thought"
":Well, one must pay for his experience.
shall not be over-ready to lose my money
again to sharpers, and there is no doubt but
that those fellows deserve that appellation. |
believe saw them cheating more than once y
"And 30 did l."
"You must have quick eye, for they are
experts"
"Nevertheless I saw them cheating"
"Well, we'll, we won't cry over split milk.
One cant dance unless he is willing to pay
the fiddler" ID.
"Where do you land?'
"At Cairo" ua ..taaa>..
"Ah! so do l." .|..,..
81 am on my way to Cincinnati"
"And so also am l" ="
eve ought to be there early tomorrow
morning" he added, land we shall be obliged
to be up and dressed in good season."
As we reached the mouth of the Ohio river
on the following morning, there was more
than the usual hustle on board the steamer
while she drew up to the landing. The pas
sengers, as usual. all crowded to that side OF
the deck nearest to the shore, causing the boat
to careen in rather dangerous manner.
saw young Hudson among the throng
with moderate sized leather bag in bis hand,
hardly amounting to carpet.bag or an ordi'
nary valise in capacity, but it seemed to be
all the baggage, he possessed: At the mo,
NET Ssqs 5 Ka$b Sh q AW b #aa u bs
been playing Oh the previous day with such
ill-luck. He seemed to bear these men no
malice, for he was chatting with them, and
laughing heartily, as he did so, either at his
own Jokes or at what they themselves uttered.
But presently they were hustled away from
him BY the surging crowd.
This much I had noticed, but the attention
was now taken up in watching the mooring of
the boats at the landing. Suddenly there
arose the somewhat startling cry:
"Pickpocket pickpocket"
Some of the emigrant passengers, whose
place was on the lower deck, had taken ad-
vantage of the confusion of the moment to in
yade the upper or saloon deck, and by their
numbers, added greatly to the confusion which
prevailed.
"Pickpocket pickpocket2" again resound.
ed from a score of mouths. The captain, who
had been directing the landing, now came for
ward and said that as certain persons had lost
their pocketbooks and their valuables, the few
individuals about to land must first submit te
be searched, and after the voyage was resumed
those left behind could shrve themselves OF
any appearance of guilt at their leisure and
convenience.
This was exceedingly disagreeable.
However, I submitted with the best grace l
could muster for such an occasion, and the
steward and captain both "went through" my
valise, and examined my clothes upon my
person, all with an adroitness which showed
that they were by no means unaccustomed to
such episodes Young Hudson also took mat
ters very philosophically, and was good'na'
tured through the whole Of the personal in.
vestigation. 1t was the best way, no doubt
for had we refused to be searched, we should
not have been permitted to land at all.
I could not, for the life of me, take it quite
so coolly as young Hudson did, and l did not
hesitate to say to him, before both the cap
tain and steward
"This is disgusting and insulting"
"You take it too seriously" said young
Hudson. "These officers must satisfy the la
dies or gentlemen who have lost their prop
erty, that we have not got it.
"True."
"You will laugh over the affair tomorrow.
The examination was soon completed, and
of course it led to no discovery.
The boat was once more cast loose from hel
mooring, and swung into the stream. A few
vivid and startling snorts as though the huge
floating fabric had been an animal, and hel
head was once more turned northwest, anc
with her laundering paddle. wheels the steam
er was stemming the swift current of the Mis-
sissippi. The passengers who had landed
paused for a moment to see the steamer on
and, like young Hudson and the rest, [ toob
off nv hat and waved farewell to those who
stood upon her decks.
AS turned to pass up the pier, l saw Hud
son by my side, and we walked on together
"That pick-pocket matter was quite un
pleasant" -,