The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-05-21

gan to think l should have to sleep in the
hack all night
"Try Old Town, Bill, &" said friend to the
hackman, who saw my dilemma.
There are only third and fourth rate inns
there" said the driver, land perhaps the
gentleman would not like to lodge there for
| a night? ?"
Anywhere that l can get bed, my good
fellow" 1 returned. ''It is no use being
particular at such time as this"
The horses heads were turned round and
we proceeded down Baltimore street over a
| brideelwhich spanned muddy stream of
water called Jones Falls, l believe. We
then plunged into mass of intricate narrow
streets, and at last stopped before the door
of very ordinary looking tavern.
1t bore anondescript-looking sign, which
was told represented a Golden Angel, by
which name the tavern was known.
L entered and made my stereOtyped inquiry
whether l could have a 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 hate
full words: "All full"
/ I turned to go away, but was recalled by
/ the voice of the host.
/ "Would you mind sharing a bed with
another paTty?" said he
/ eff there is no help for it I suppose 1
must, " l replied, although to tell the truth
/ it is by no means agreeable to me-" and l
/ inwardIy heaped denunciations on Ardew's
/ head for persuading me to be his substitute.
-FOUR bedfeIlow is a quiet fellow when ne
is asleep, although l must say he is violent
( when annoyed. He sleeps very soundIy. and
Q H,lI,- I.,-r = -
him. He has been in bed some time
! 1 must make humiliating confession to
the reader: l am not brave man. I have
often tried to persuade myself that am, but
truth compels me to state that greater
coward does not exist than myself. 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 dOub reading what was
tTanspiring in my mind, exclaimed
you are not afraid, are you %
''Afraid | should think not, indeed"
replied, for l was too much of a coward to
brave being thought one. q accept your
offer of half 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 / was veTv jOl-
ly. 1t was miserable attempt, however l
had previously supped at a restaurant in a
more modern part of the city. After my CT
gar was finished l asked to be shown to my
chamber. The landlord took upon himself
the task of being my conductor, and l fol-
lowed him up a narrow, rickety staircase.
We kept on ascending until we reached the
Err, pff fIa yr-h4 no nYtfa q unn
ately-sized room, but cleaner than had ex-
peeted to find it. The ceiling was very low,
and inclined in front 10 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 a ta-
BILE, placed between two windows which
looked upon the roof.
The landlord placed the lamp upon the ia
bic, and then 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 Gold
en- Angel; nothing wakes him sooner than
that. You see l don't know how he might
like my putting another man with him and
he is a very ugly customer when he's riled, ]
can tell you"
Il shall be careful" l replied.
"That's right Good night" he whisper
ed and left the room.
He had no sooner gone than | cautiously
sat down, taking care not to make the least
noise. / then calmly surveyed my position.
1t was certainly not a very enviable one
According to the landlord 5 account my com
panion for the night was anything but an
amiable character. If l should chance to
awaken him l knew not what might occur
He might assault me dangerously before ]
could enter into any explanation. 1 half re
solved to pass the night in the chair, and not
retire to bed at all. But it was one of the
old-fashioned, high-back chairs, and made
such an uncomfortable seat that l soon tired
out. 1 then ventured to glance around tn,
room. My eyes naturally fell on the bed
There was one thing that consoled me my
companion appeared to be in deep sleep
for he did not even move. l could see the
ridge made by his feet at the end of the bed
and that was all, l also noticed that the bee
, was a very large one. The man who haC
possession of it lay near the wall and there
was plenty of space between him and tn,
outside for me to lie without touching him
l screwed my courage up and began to un
dress-but l suddenly remembered the land
2 lords words, that the stranger was an "ugly
+ customer when he was rlled," which mad
me desist The thought struck me that
might manage to lie on the floor, but mo
, ment's examination settled the question il
e the negative, for the floor was entirely bare
and the al blew very cold through the wild
: chinks in the planking. | cast my eyes t
= the ceiling, and noticed for the first time tha
a ( a heavy beam studded with numerous hook
Y ran through the apartment; but as was nc
: a bird and could not perch there, this dis
covery was of little use to me.
e Half an hour passed away in this state q
/, indecision. ! stole cautiously to one of til
t windows, and gazed on the beautiful cit
l. bathed in the light of full moon.
: How quiet and calm everything looked
I But the air felt fresh and cold, and l close
Y the window ana resumed my seat in til
t chair l then found myself wondering wha
e avocation my friend in bed followed. | SUD
: denly cast my eyes on a heap of cloths
which lay on trunk, covered over with
# handkerchief, no doubt belonging to tl
d sleeper. My curiosity got the better of m
d politeness, and be fore l scarcely knew VIII;
e was about l found myself examining b
t. apparel The handkerchief which covere
|, them was a coarse cotton one, and his cloth,
e of coarse homespun, and were such as al
d usually worr by drovers. My companion
then, was evidently drover-a rough cla
IS of men, who usually stand upon very litt
l ceremony.
le Partly undressed as l was, l began to fe