Year: 1861

gan to think that l should have to slee


in the hack all night.


"Try Old Town, Bill" said friend


the hackman, who saw my dilemma.


"There are only third and fourth rat


inns there" said the driver, "and perbap


the gentleman would not like to lodg


there for a nighti"


"Anywhere that l can get bed, m


good fellow" i returned. ats no use be


ing particular at such time as this"


The horses heads were turned round


and We proceeded down Baltimore Stree
over a bridge which spanned muddy
stream of water, called Jones's Falls l be
lieve. We then plunged into mass o
intricate, narrow streets, and at last stop
ped before the door of very ordinar.
looking tavern. 1t bore nondescrip
looking sign which was told represented
golden angel, by which name the taverl
was known.


/ entered and made my stereotyped in
quiry whether l could have bed there fol
the night. The landlord, thick, burly
looking man with CLEAN of latent hu.
NOR in his face, shook his head and re
peated to me the hateful words-"al
full"


turned to 60 away but was recalled
BY the voice of the host.


"Would you mind sharing a bed with
another party Z" said he.


/ glanced out of doors; it was quite
dark, and cold wind had arisen from the
north.


"If there is no help for it, 1 suppose l
must" replied, although to Tell you the
truth, it is by no means agreeable TO me;'
and l inwardly heaped denunciations on
Ardew's head for p, rsuading ne to become
his substitute.


"Your bed-fellow is quiet fellow when
he is asleep-although l must say he is
rather violent when annoyed. He sleeps
very souudly, and all you have to do is to
be careful not to awaken him. He has
been in bed some time."


must make humiliating confession
to the reader; am not brave man. l
have often tried to persuade myself that l
am, but stern truth sompels me to state
that greater coward does not exist than
myself. The landlords description of my
bedfellow was anything but assuring, and
l was on the point Of declining when the
proprietor of the Golden Angel, no doubt
reading what was transpiring in my mind,
exclaimed:


"You are not afraid, are vou!"


"Afraid l should think not, indeed" l
returned, for was too much a coward to
brave being thought one. accept your
offer of half bed. Bring me some BRAN
dy and water and a cigar"


l sat down at one Of the little tables in
the bar-room, and putting away at my ci
gar l tried to persuade myself that was
very jolly. 1t was a miserable attempt
however. l had previously supped at
restaurant in a more modern part of the
city. After my cigar was finished, l asked
10 be shown 10 my chamber. The land
lord took upon himself the task of being
my conductor, and followed him up a
narrow, rickety staircase. We kept on as
cending until we reached the top Of the
house, when we entered moderately sized
room, but much cleaner than l had expect
ed to find it. The ceiling was very low,
and inclined in front to the slope of the
roof. The apartment contained hut 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 looked out upon the
roof.


The landlord placed the lamp upon the
table, and 1 noticed he shielded the light
with his hands 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, don't know how he might
like my putting another man with him;
and he's very ugly customer when he's
riled, can tell you"


IL shall be CAREFUL" replied.


"That's right! Good night" be whisper
ed and left the room.


He had no sooner gone than cautious
ly sat down, taking care not to make the
least noise. then calmly surveyed my
position. 1t was certainly not very en-
viable one. According to the landlords
my companion for the night was
anything but an amiable character. If l
should chance to awaken him knew not
what might occur. He might assault me
before l could enter into any
explanation. l half resolved 10 pass the
night in the chair, and not retire TO bed at
all. But it was one Of those old-fashion-
ed, backed chairs, and made such an
uncomfortable seat that l soon got tired.
then ventured to glance round the room.
Ny eyes naturally fell on the bed. There
was one thing that consoled me, my COM
pauion appeared to be in a deep sleep, for
be did not even move. l could see the
ridge made by his feet at the end of the
bed, and that was all. I also noticed that
the bed was very large one. The man
who had possession OF it lay near the wall,
and there was plenty Of space between
him and the outside for me TO lie without
touching him. screwed my courage up
and began to undress-but l suddenly re-
membered the landlords words, that the
stranger was "an ugly customer when be
was riled," which made me desist. The
thought struck me that might manage
to lie on the floor, but a moments exami-
nation settled that question in the mega
tive. for the floor was entirely bare, and