Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-12-31

OF the night, L was considerably more
puzzled by the goings on of the morning.
My host met me with most profound
bow, and was deferentially solicitous
about my health. The bar r-keeper bowed
reverentially when 1 passed him The
bar-room idlers all respectfully rose to
their feet. (staring hard MEANWHILE as |
walked through. The chambermaid
dropped as many as fifty courtesies, one
after another, when I happened to meet
her in the hall, and so overwhelmingly
civil was everybody, that half imagined
| had stepped out of ree-and easy Anne
RIGA into courteous France.
On looking round, / perceived the
house itself was marvellosly changed
over night. The scrubbing- brush must
have been busy since daylight, for the
floors were freshly secured, and the win
dows glistened with polish, while the
furniture was set round" in the prim-
NEST kind of order. The landlady, al
though it was the slatternly hour of eight
O'Clock in the morning, was arrayed in
majestic black silk, and her cap, with its
multitudinous cherry -colored ribbons,
was miraculous to behold Mine host
evidently had on his Sunday black suit
and had thrust himself into clean shirt
starched to an extent that kept him per-
pendicular as grenadier
1t must be, thought l, that this Is county
fair day; or perhaps they are going to
have wedding in the house.
"By the way, what was the firing for,
last nightY'' / inquired.
'Ohl a mere six FOUNDER, sirl but the
best we have in Smithburgh. The boys
| thought they must have it out in honor of
| your arrival" tsfnl
I'm honor of my arrivalp' CALCULATED I,
taken all aback.
Eyes, your Excellency But break
fast is ready. Will your Excellency
walk in?"
My arrival my excellencyl l was so
astounded at the sudden distinction with
which l found myself invested, that I
could only mechanically walk in, and
seat myself at the breakfast table.
Certainly the ''hoter' had put forth its
most strenuous efforts to get up that
breakfast There were broil. d chickens
and chickens fricasseed there was huge
turkey; there was roast sirloin of beef;
there was a cold leg of mutton, and hot
leg OF veal; there were ham and eggs,
and ham without the eggs, and eggs
without the ham; pork and beans; beef
steak; outlets and chops; cabbages, beets
caullt1owers, tomatoes, and other vege
tables, Gd LtbStuna; sausages, hominy;
oysters and clans; salmon and shad;
buckwheat cakes, biscuit, and Johnny
cake; pickles to any extent; pies, cake and
sWeetmeats; and whatever else it ever en-
tered into the head of country house
wife to put on a breakfast table, and a
great deal that never was thought of be-
fore for any such purpose. And my soil
tary chair was the only one set for this
repast 1t was appalling.
For attendants, had the landlord and
the landlady, the young lady ''help,'
magnificent in ribbons and jewelry, and
the bar keeper, in blue coat and brass
buttons, and an enormous display of
wristband. They all four hustled about,
running over each other in their eager
ness to serve me, while the host, rubbing
his hands, and smiling apologetically, re-
marked:
"Sorry we have nothing better to give
you, sir; but your coming so privately,
last night, took US rather by surprise.
Hope you'll be able to make breakfast,
sir.''
ate breakfast in amaze, cogitating
whether these extraordinary attentions
could be the result of the widespread
fame of the house of Naryred and Com
pany, or whether l had really achieved
a distinguished reputation without being
aware Of it. At any rate, the breakfast
was substantial, and no illusion. | in
wardly resolved 1 would always patI onize
this tavern whenever / came to Smith
burgh.
Breakfast was hardly over, before there
came rap at the door, followed by the
announcement that some gentlemen were
waiting to pay their respects to me. BY
this time [ was past being astonished at
anything, so l unhesitatingly desired
them to be shown in. The door was
flung open, and in hustled pompous-
looking elderly man, in black broadcloth,
with huge gold watch seal dangling
from his fob, gold headed cane in his
hand, and pair Of gold spectacles astride
his nose. His face was very red, but
stern determination was written on every
feature of it. A lank, solemn visaged in
| dividual, and another. short stout, and
smiling, followed. Behind them came, /
should think, nearly the entire population
Of the village, of all ages, sorts and sizes,
squeezing in SO as to completely fill the
room, only leaving respectful circle,
about three feet in diameter, in front Of
me; and every one of them staring at
me as hard as he knew how.
Advancing to the verge of this open
| ing, the pompous man, with one arm ex-
tended at right angles to his body, and
the other thrust beneath his coat-tails,
addressed me after this fashion,
''Mr. President: Honored and Res
pected Sir: This is proud day for Smith
burgh. Unexpected as was your coming,
it is welcome welcome to our homes, our
h'arths, and our bosoms Long have we
watched your gigantic career, whether in
shedding your life blood in your country's
cause, upon the fervid plains Of Mexico,
or in boldly guiding the helm of the Ship
of State, amid tempests that threatened
momentarily to wreck her on the shoals
of fathomless abyssl But we knew the
eye of the American Eagle was fixed
upon you; and the result would Justify
our predictions. We knew that thea
a-shafts of vile calumny were aimed at
| VOur devoted head. hut we knem aIso