The Grenada gazette., 1888-05-05
HACKENSACK'S HOTEL.
1t Arrived on Time and Was Sue
cessfully Opened.

When Mr.. Hiram Hackensack ar
rived in Ok City, very new "cty".
in Nebraska, his financial condition
seemed in no respect an envable one
In the first place, his total available
capital consisted of exactly sixty three
cents in cash, which jingled conspicu-
ously in his capacious pockets when
ever his hand happened to be at lib
erty, and four tru ks containing per-
sonal property of questionable value
Then he had family to support, con-
sisting of a blooming Mrs. Hackensack
and five young Hackensacks in various
stages of childhood up to fourteen
years, all of whom possessed appetites
in tirs-class order
The morning was q cold one and
MI Haekohsack had some difficulty in
finding accommoda ations for his family
within the city limits, not that the in
habitants were so numerous, but the
houses were so few. There was no
hotel at Oak City. and the lady pro-
prietor of the railroad boarding g-house
at first refused o take in the Hacken-
sacks. even for day, without pay
ment in advance The sight of four
ample trunks, however. finally over
came her caution, and the family were
allowed to install themselves in scant-
ily-furnished back room on the second
floor of her establishment.
In very short time Mr.. Hacken-
sack. whistling cheerily, was seen on
his way around town carrying q sup
ply of small bills, hammer and tacks.
for tho purpose of posting in every
available place the startling announce
mcnt that the Celebrated and Only
North and South American Specially
and Novelty Consolidation" would
give one of their refined. chaste and
incomparab'v grand entertainments"
at the Ci,y Hall on that evening.
''NoW.' said Mr.. Hackensack, con =
fid emily. to his wife, Il think this town
is good for fifty dollars tonight. and
that will lake US to the next stand in
fine shape'
''But suppose we don't draw here,'
suggested Mrs. Hackensack, sitting
forlornly on her trunk.
Draw echoed the head of the
family. I'VE shall draw The whole
town is aroused. They are suffering
here for amusement. There hasn't
been show of any kind since the cir
Gus last summer The house will be
packed; take my word for it.
The house, however was not packed.
The consolidation. consisting
wholly of the Hackensack family, in
cuding the "Infant PRODIGY played
to. in theatrical parlance. the sum of
seven dollars and fifty cents. The
rent of the hall was five dollars, which
the cautious owner deducted from the
receipts dollar n, time, as
the people came in; the local
musician. who ofliciated at the piano,
claimed two dollars, but finally COM
promised on receipt of fifty cents; the
drayman who hauld the baggage from
the station charged like sum, but
was also forced TO accept half dol
lar The proprietor of the "consolida-
ton" returned to the clearinghouse
with the remainder Of the receipts
rafting dismally in his trousers
pocket.
The Hackensacks, however. slept as
soundly as usual. being people of
philosophic turn of mind. The fol.
lowing morning Mr.. Hackensack ten
dered his landlady one dollar in small
change.
Owing to unforeseen crcum-
stances" he remarked, politely. II
am unable to liquidate the remaining
two-lhirds of my account at the pres
ent time.
You mean to say that you cant
pay me but ono dollar for all them
children has etp' cried the indignan
widow "Well, not one of them four
trunks goes out Of this house to-day"
"That is very proper thing TO say,
madam replied Mr.. Hackensack,
sereneIy There is really no reason
why the trunks should 60 out to-day
in fact, the trunks need not so till we
do"
The landlady was for moment
specchless with astonishment When
sufficiently recovered she sarcastically
inquired how long he expected to stay
at her first class clearinghouse.
Most unfortunately, madam. thr
time of my departure Is exceedingly