The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-20
Legeqds Of Old New York,

Down Beekman street Bleecker car
bears me ferry-ward; and I mutter impa-
tiently when an abrupt halt gives notice
of some obstacle ahead.
Nine o clock by Trinity chimes Hungry
and drowsy, l banker for that late supper
waiting at home, with a waiting wife, on
Brooklyn Heights.
Deadlock or snow.jam-wlich is it?
Passengers all get out to ascertain. As
for me I'm an old traveler-myself-Al-
fonso Fiddle; so pocket my hands, and
stretch out leg or two, aud yawn! |
suppose FL get home before morning
sometime: Then yawn again, and shut
my eyes, like a philosopher. Presently, |
think Ill get out also, and take a look at
things. So out | jog, and alight knee
deep in slush before | can reach terra
Eyma on the sidewalk!
Well. I should say 50! Where on earth
is the sidewalk? BY George! I'm in a
swamp! Over boots in wet grass and turf
mud Ny goodness here's a go!
Well, thank my stars I'm on hard
ground again Goodness! what a hole
that was Some load of hay must have
foundered in it Wonder if the car isn't
gone under too! Not blessed car-wln-
dow can make out! Where the dogs am
|, any way? No side. walk here; not
ghost ofany gas-light that | can sec, up
street or down!
Street what sort of a street do you call
this? Dark as pitch; foggy as a steam
boiler! By the Lord Harry! l should
imagine was crossing meadow, after a
freshet My boots weigh about twenty
pounds, should say BY Jove ! there a
light ahead!
Whcw what snow-squall that was :!
Lucky Eve got my new ulster on! What
tremendous Snow flakes I! Big as quarter
dollars!
lower my head, and draw the ulster
hood over it, Thus defended, decide to
push forward, and let the car go to
Jericho, if it's not there already. must
get over to Brooklyn.
All at once, the snow stops falling; the
the chill fog breaks away; moonlight flows
all around Yes by George. there's the
new moon over my right shoulder !! Going
to have good luck this month!
Yes! there she is, shining like Turk
ish crescent out there in Servia, | sup
pose. as we'll as over New York !! just as
good new moon for Turk as for Chris
tian we'll, I'm willing!
Bless mel don't see any houses Not
q solitary building in Beekman street
Yes there's a-what is it, any way!
Looks like one-horse barn, with gable
end-that's where the light comes from
What an odd-looking sbanty! Dutch all
over! Dutch used to own this old Island
once! Wonder it they squatted in she
bangs like that! By thunder If
wasn't wide awake, and sober as a judge
| should imagine was dreaming, or crazy
drunk
Up aloft there, in that blue sky, it's al
familiar enough; but down around here
I'm entirely out o. reckoning! Yes
there's old Jupiter, up there, with hi
four stars, like first class generals shoul
der strap; and there's Mars-hesa double
first class, | suppose-got collar OF stars
or, is that old yellow-ace Saturn, or Mer
cury with his spurs on? Hang me, it In
not going back on astronomy! Well
what's the odds? They're all soldiers ant
sentinels, up in that blue camp, marchin!
their REGULAR rounds-blessedo old rounder
so they've been lightning up picket
fires every night, all through the ages, an
|, professions Of equinoxes, and shooting
stars, and-Lord knows what believ
I'm drunk can't remember anything
Drunk! me drunk me! Alfonso Fid
die Speet not 'Tisn't half an hour ago
wiped my gold pen-wife gave me that
last Christmas-and laid out that schHiul
-Trappe Us. Snap-for copying tomorrow
morning. One drink with Major Bali
Cannon Ball, we used to call Jack, dow
in Mississippi-no I shouldn't say 50 !
l one Tom-and-jerry don't upset me-A
fonso Fiddle NOT muchy II shook hand
with the Major, opposite Niblo's, and the
shot for a car, and got in corner
Crosby and
; Confound this place Eve got in!
7 don't appear to be anywhere No streets
no gas-lights, and no houses; but that oi
) Dutch nondescript. I'm beat, this time
: that's so! No New York hereabouts 1t
more like Bushwick-or Coney Island, ii
1 ty years ago, I should conclude. Where
e Beekman and Pearl? Where's Fuito
Market? 1 came through the swamp
that's SO; OVer-boots! But, there WASH