Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-02-03

The horses heads were turned round,
and we proceeded down Baltimore street
over bridge which spanned muddy
stream of water. called Jones' Fall., l
believe. We then plunged into mass
of intricate narrow streets, and at last
before the door of very ordi-
nary looking tavern.
It bore nondescript looking sign |
which was told represented Golden |
Angel, by which name the tavern was
known.
I entered and made my stereotyped
enquiry-whether I could have bed
there for the night. The landlord, a
thick, burly looking man, with a CLEAN
of latent humor in his face, shook his
head. and repeated the hateful words
"All full"
I turned to go away but was recalled
BY the voice Of the host.
"Would you mind sharing bed with
another party? ?" said he.
IF there is no help for it I suppose I
must" replied. "although to tell the
truth it is by no means agreeable to me-"
and I inwardly heaped denunciations
on Ardew's head for persuading me to
be his substitute.
"Your bedfellow is quiet fellow when
he is asleep, although I must say he is
rather violent when annoyed. He sleeps
very soundly, and all you have to do is
to be careful not to wake him. He has
been in bed some time"
must make humiliating confession
to the reader; I am not brave man. l
have often tried to persuade myself that
I am, but truth compels me to state that
a greater coward does not eX!st than my
self The landlords description of my
bedfellow was anything but assuring
and was on the point of declining when
the proprietor of the Golden Angel, no
doubt reading what was transporting in
my mind, exclaimed
"You are not afraid, are your"
''Afraid should think not, indeed, !"
I returned, for I was too much of a
coward to brave being thought one. II
accept your offer of half a bed. Bring
me some brandy and water and cigar"
| sat down at one of the little tables in
the bar room, and putting away at my
cigar tried to persuade myself that 1
was very jolly. It was miserable at
tempt, however. I had previously sup
ped at restaurant in a more modern
mart of the city. After my cigar was
finished I asked to be shown to my
chamber. The landlord took upon him.
self the task of being my conductor, and
I followed him up q narrow. rickety
staircase We kept on ascending until
we reached the top of the house, when
we entered a moderately sized room, but
much cleaner than I had expected to
find it. The ceiling was very low and
inclined in front to the slope Of the roof.
The apartment contained but one bed
which was placed against the wall near
the door. At the opposite end of the
chamber was table, placed between two
windows, which look ed upon the roof
The landlord placed the lamp upon
the table, and I noticed that he shielded
the light with his hand as he passed near
the bed
BE sure and don't take the light near
him." whispered the proprietor of the
Golden Angel: "nothing wakes him
-onner than that You see I don't know
how he might like my putting another
man with him; and he is very ugly
customer when he's riled, I can tell
you"
II shall be careful" I replied.
"That's right! Goodnight" he whis.
pered and left the room
He had no sooner gone than I cautious
~ sat down, taking care not to make
the least noise. [ then calmly surveye
my position. It was certainly not a very
enviable one. According to the land
lords account, my companion for the
night was anything but an amiable
en- him I knew not what might oc.
cur He might assault me dangerously
, before I could enter into an explanation
half resolved to pass the night in the
chair, and not to retire to bed at all. Bul
it was one of the old fashioned high
, backed chairs, and made such an un
comfortable seat that soon tired out.
then ventured to glance around the
room, Ny eyes naturally fell on the
bed.
There was one thing that consoled me
my companion appeared to be in deer
!, sleep, for he did not even move. I coul6
see the ridge made by his feet at the enc
, of his bed, and that was all. also no.
ticed that the bed was very large one
The man who had possession of it lay
r near the wall, and there was plenty o
space between him and the outside fol
me to lie without touching him.
screwed my courage up and began tt
undress but suddenly remembered
, the landlords words, that the stranger
+ was can ugly customer when he wa!
riled," which made me lesist Tht
| =
to lie on the floor. but a moments ex'
animation settled the question in thu
negative, for the floor was entirely bare
and the air blew very cold through thu
wide chinks in the planking. I cast my
r eyes to the ceiling. and noticed for the
first time that a heavy beam studded
q with numerous hooks ran through thu
o apartment; but as | was not bird anC
! could not perch there, this discovery wa
, but of little use to me,
Half an hour passed away in this state
of indecision. I stole cautiously to ont
of the windows, and gazed on the beau.
tiful city bathed in the light of full
! moon.
! How quiet and calm everything look
, ed! But the air felt fresh and cold, ant
f I closed the window and resumed my
seat on the chair. I then found mysel
!: wondering what avocation my friend in
j bed followed. suddenly cast my eye.
on a heap of clothes which lay on
trunk covered over with a handker.
I chief, no doubt belonging to the sleeper
r Ny curiosity got the better of my polite
ness, and before I scarcely knew wha
I was about I found myself examining
his apparel. The handkerchief which
covered them was coarse. cotton one
F.: and his clothes were of coarse homespun
s and we're such as are usually worn, by
| drovers. My companion, then. was
evidently drover-a rough:class of mer
who usually stand upon very little cere
, mony.
, Partly undressed as I was. began tt
: feel.verv cold-but before venturing in
to bed I determined to try an experiment
TO see If the drover slept soundly or not
I had taken the precaution to leave til,
bedroom door open so that could maxi
run for it if necessary. I fixed my eye
on the bed as / let my boot fall. Thu
drover was evidently a sound sleeper
, for although the noise made was consid
cradle he did not make the slightes
motion. This decided me, and hastily
I finished undressing and crept into bed
Of course, I was careful not to toucl
my companion. I do not know how
! long lay awake. but the novelty of th'
situation drove sleep from my eyelids fo
, some time. By degrees, however, thu
strangeness of my position wore off.
felt treasured by my hedfellow's SOUND
| sleep, and the gentle murmuring Of thu
breeze outside caused me to follow hi.