The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-11-13
The Landlords Story.

During the Winter of 1871, while
travelling through the eastern part of
Ontario. a terrible snow storm made the
roads for time impossible, and l was
obliged to remain for several days in
F., small town lying on the Cana
da side of the ST. Lawrence, and direct
" opposite a somewhat smaller village
in New York.
During this time l was the guest of
the only hotel that the place afforded,
and was greatly pleased to find that the
landlord was an intelligent, well-in-
formed, iovial gentleman, thoroughly &C
Quainted with every incident and cir
cumstance in that section of country
calculated to interest a traveller, who,
like myself, had several long Winter
evenings to dispose Of.
One of the stories related by my host l
reoollect distinctly, and in order that you
may hear it in nearly the same language
in which it was told me at the time, l
will repeat, as nearly as my memory
serves me, the words of the landlord.
NWhen l built this hotel-in 80 l
think it was-my first hostler, or man
of all work, was a negro boy, who had
appeared in the village short time be-
fore. When l first saw him he was in
a plight pitiable indeed shoeless, foot
sore, hungry, his clothing (what there
was of it) in tatters, he was a spectacle
we'll calculated to awaken the sympa-
thies of anyone not wholly indifferent to
the sutierings of a fellow creature. He
was anxious to work, and was more than
willing to do all in his power, in any ca
pacity, in return for something to eat
and wear. AS he appeared earnest,
honest and capable, l employed him,
agreeing to furnish him a home, provide
his clothing, and give him in addition,
such wages as he appeared to deserve.
The poor fellow was anything but d.
latory in accepting my offer, and for a
long time had ia him faithful and
most capable servant. Honest. indus
trious and obiging, he appeared to
make friends Of all who came to the ho-
tel. Guests frequently expressed them
selves highly pleased with the interest
he manifested in making everything
pleasant for them, and often when a
party of them required the services of
one having thorough knowledge of the
country, or wished to be rowed to the
opposite village, Tom was the available
man.
After he had been with me three or
four years, We were visited by two men
giving their names as Thompson and
Gordon, representing themselves as com
ing from Vermont, n search of timber
lands, as well as an eligible site upon
which to erect large sawnill, and stat
ing their determination to explore the
country on both sides Of the river.
Why it was / cannot explain, but,
from the time of their coming, l had
forebodings that all was not right. Ny
guests were. thin, why, darkfaced, and
did not in any respect resemble the Yer
mont Yankee as | had known him.
However there was nothing suspicious
in this. thought, as they might have
lived in Vermont only a short time be
fore coming here but, fight against il
as might I often found myself watch
Ing them with more than usual atten
tiveness.
On the second day following their ar
rival. / was approached by Gordon, whC
asked the amount of their bill, aftel
paving which, he said:
1--WE wish to cross the river this af
ternoon, provided we can get some one
who. for a dollar or two, will do thu
rowing. There appears to be more o.
less floating ice, and we do not care t
try it alone
| at once offered to furnish a boat
and suggested thai, for the money, Ton
would willingly take them to the othe
side as soon as they were ready.
Thompson, who had heard most o
what | had been saying, expressed him
self well pleased with the arrangement
and everything being in readiness, dusI