The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-24

A TRAVELLERS STORY.

house at R0cksdale, the most famous in
the trade for Welsh fannels and railway
rugs.
NV success, however, with my custom
ers has not 50 much depended upon the
cheapness of goods had to offer, as upon
my personal ability to please all sorts of
people. can sing good song and tell a
funny story. can drink beer, wine, or
whisky in reasonable quantities, without
growing dull or drunk. can even sit with
a teetotal customer for mortal hours over
a cup or tive of tea, without swearing, al
ways providing there is fair chance OF a
line in my order-sheet.
One day last month was journeying
in my gig from Shrewsbury to Chester:
the day was dull and damp, and Scotch
mist pervaded creation; the hedgerows
on either side of the road, the people l
me- or overlook, the cows and sheep in
the fields, the crows and sparrows, the
house / passed, seemed utterably mi+era-
BILE, wet through, done up, and mysti-
fled. have weathered many a storm,
have besen split into ditches, pitched into
hedges and against stone walls; | have
beenrobbed and nobbed by foot
pads and life preservers; but never before
had lost the natural buoyancy and jol-
ity of my disposition. On the morning
of the day in question, however, l felt
like all things animate and inanimate--
to speak commercially, fooled. Of course,
had my remedy with me in my driving
box, which ] soon pressed into service; it
was a pint flask full of the purest Glen
livat." "This is balm of Gilead for any
weather." thought l, as l took my first
dose. My mouth exactly hold one-eighth
of pint
Hundreds of gallons have travelled the
same way, but believe ambrosial nectar
could never have been so grateful to Il
thirsty god as that streak Of liquid sun
shine was to me. felt my chest expand,
and my minds eye could sec my eyes
sparkle with CLINT of their usual fire.
What cared l for wet without? The
whisky within was proof ag inst waite y
particles, and defed them in any shape,
So, taking another drink to make sure
that had not served out short measure
on the previous occasion, logged on
sometimes specializing as to my future,
refreshing my memory and spurring my
hopes with spirits of the Elixir, until in
due course l arrived at "Thc Red ORA
goon' at Chester, full of my usual spirits
and with an empty flask.
BY the time a Kissing rump-steak was
ready for absorption into my sys EN-, !
had duly sent off my dispatches for our
house. Business first, pleasure after
wards; 50 | sat down to my dinner pint
of sherry, then had y drop Of brandy to
assist digestion, and then my usual forty
winks.
considered / had now fairly got
through the business of the day, and
Frightening up, I called for my jorum of
toddy, and reswnng myself to the sooth-
ing influence of the weed and whisky, ]
waited patiently for an arrival to spend
the evening with; for | was alone in the
commercial room, and the only signs
recognizable to my senses were those of
the rain pelting away at the window,
and the hollow rumbling of stray vehicles
over the paving-stones.
do not COUNT never do--but I be-
lieve had arrived at my fifth grog and
pipe, when, feeling chilly, | drew the
heavy armchair closer to the fire; this
little act occupied several minutes, for
the handy legs of the stupid old chair
would make for themselves place I'M
der the heartll-rug. tried to circum-
vent the awkward limbs, and temporiza
with MY toe; but the more | kept on
wanting to get them right, the more they
kept on wanting to be righted, and, be-
ing fidsety in all little matters of perso-
nal comfort, was positively obliged at
the risk of rush of blood to the head,
to lift the club-footed old chair with one
hand, and to lay the refractory corner Of
the rug with the other.
When, by this effort of exhausted nature
1 had accomplished my yobject, | took stiff
pull at my replcnishing toddy, Fl led my
pire and lighted it, and with the feeling
of man who had obtained victory, |
threw my elf into my late cnemy's lap,
linched his mahogany old arms with my
elbows, stretched out nay feet upon the
fender and laughed outright at my tri-
umph, with my usual jolly Hal ha! till
the room rang again.
Ola! ha! hal ha!' till the room rang
again, followed like an echo the Hal hal
that originally belonged to me-
TO my surprise and delight / found
an arrival had ensconced himself in the
fellow chair to mine, had his jorum of
toddy on the other corner Of The mantel,
his pipe in full blast, his elbows on the
mahogany arms of my late enemy's own
brother, ard his toes almost touching
mine on the fender
looked at the arrival and the arrival
locked at me. / bowed to him, and re-
ccived courteous bow in return.
"Wet night" said !.
"Wet night" said he.
"And cold" said |.
"And cofd," said he.
"Nice fire." said |.
"Nice fire." said he
He seemed to give his words my exact
intonatiOn.
He was mocking mel
"Darn it" said !, and laughed.