Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-02-08
Carrying His Own Bundle.

yAoS Wv IL
In the dullest part of the dullesi
county of England is situated the little
demi semi fashionable bathing town
of T.
Once, there happened to the said lit.
tie town very dull season. Every
town on the coast besides was full OF
company-bathers, walkers, donkey
riders, saunterers and peddle- gatherers;
yet the luckless town of T. was com.
paratively empty. Huge placards with
Lodgings to let " stared everybody in
the face, from every window in every
direction.
In this state of utter stagnation were
affairs at T., when one hot day, in the
middle of August, stranger was seen
to enter that town corporate. This
stranger entered the town in SO ques.
tionable a shape, that the very fourth
and fifth castles in T. stood aloof. hold.
ing themselves above him. Even the
shop-keepers, mantua- makers, and wait.
ers at the taverns, felt their noses curl
up intuitively at him. The groups OF
loiterers, collected at the doors of the
inns, passed contemptuous comments
on him as he pursued his way, and the
fashionables that were to be seen in the
streets cast supercilious chances of care
less superiority upon him, for he was
on foot and alone, attired in O coat,
waistcoat, and in short whole suit, of
that sort of mixed cloth called pepper
and-salt-colored, with black silk hand.
kerchief tied about his neck in a nauti.
cal style. He wore sea-boots pulled
over his knees. and to complete the pic.
ture, carried large bundle in red silk
handkerchief at the end of stout
oaken cudgel over his shoulder.
"Iu warrant me, Jack, that ERE fist
OF his would prove a knock me- down
argument" said a sailor to one of his
shipmates. who was intently surveying
the stranger.
Ely, ey, my lad, make yourself sure
of that" replied Jack, between whom
and the stranger single look of recog
milton had been exchanged. en- PEASANT
He's rum sort of fish howsom
ever" rejoined the first speaker, "and
wonder what wind cast him on this
shore. He don't look like landsman
for all his pepper-and- salt gear. May
hap you know somewhat about him
jack"
Mayhap I do" replied Jack, pursipe
up his mouth with look of importance
but 1 haven't sailed 80 many wears il
the kings service without learning t.
keep my own counsel-aye, and anoth
er's too, on occasion and I'd advis,
you, Ben, my boy, to take another OBJ
seryation of his fist, before you 90 tc
crack your jokes on him p said Jack
and Ben having done so, wisely deter
mined on keeping his distance.
There certainly was a characteristic
something in the stranger, from the til
of his handkerchief to the slight roll il
his gait, that savored of seafaring life
Even his way of setting on his hat hat
not the look of landsman. The &C
OF sturdy independence with which h.
shouldered his bundle and trudget
along, showed that he considered til,
opinions of th. bystanders was matter
Of perfect indifference. Yet there wa!
that about him which forcibly arrested
the attention of every one. People
who would not own to themselves tina
they thought him worthy of notice
nevertheless turned yound-to look a
him again.
A sovereign procured him a supper
and bed, and all things needful for res
and refreshments, at a small publ,
house, whose crazy little creaking sigr
promised to travellers, Good enter
tainment for man and horse"
The next morning, being disencum
bered OF the unpopular bundle at tho
end OF that oaken cudgel, which he still
either grasped or fourished in a mos
nautical fashion, he entered the reading
room of the town.
1t is no use putting down you,
name, sir, for you cannot be admitted
here. was the answer he received from
the superintendent of this fashionable
resort.
Not on my paying the usual terms Of
subscription" demanded the stranger,
No, sir, We cannot admit persons OF
your description on any terms, SIR"
Persons of my description |" re.
torted the stranger, most emphatically,
grasping his trusty cudgel; land pray
sir, OF what description do you suppose
me to be?'
The Jack in Office surveyed the sturdy
stranger with look in which contempt
and alarm were oddly blended, as he
Can't exactly say, sir, but I'm sure
none OF oar subscribers would choose
TO associate with YOU"