The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 1, December, 1850Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 1, December, 1850
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
Ashburner made no further opposition, and they were off the next morning
accordingly. Before four a cart had started with the baggage, and
directions to take up Ashburner's trunks and man-servant on the way.
Soon after the coachman and groom departed with the saddle-horses,
trotters, and wagon; for Benson, meditating some months' absence, took
with him the whole of his stud, except the black colt, who was strongly
principled against going on the water, and had nearly succeeded in
breaking his master's neck on one occasion, when Harry insisted on his
embarking. The long-tailed bays were left harnessed to the
_Rockaway_,--a sort of light omnibus open at the sides, very like a
_char-à-banc_, except that the seats run crosswise, and capable of
accommodating from six to nine persons: that morning it held six,
including the maid and nurse. Benson took the reins at a quarter-past
five, and as the steamboat dock was situated at the very southern
extremity of the city, and they had three miles of terrible pavement to
traverse, besides nearly twelve of road, he arrived there just seven
minutes before seven; at which hour, to the second, the good boat
Swallow was to take wing. In a twinkling the horses were unharnessed and
embarked; the carriage instantly followed them; and Harry, after
assuring himself that all his property, animate and inanimate, was
safely shipped, had still time to purchase, for his own and his friend's
edification, the _Jacobin_, the _Blunder and Bluster_, the
_Inexpressible_, and other popular papers, which an infinity of dirty
boys were crying at the top of their not very harmonious voices.
"Our people do business pretty fast," said he, in a somewhat triumphant
tone. "How this would astonish them on the Continent! See there!" as a
family, still later than his own, arrived with a small mountain of
trunks, all of which made their way on board as if they had wings. "When
I traveled in Germany two years ago with Mrs. B. and her sister, we had
eleven packages, and it used to take half-an-hour at every place to
weigh and ticket them beforehand, not withstanding which one or two
would get lost every now and then. In my own country I have traveled in
all directions with large parties, never have been detained five minutes
for baggage, and never lost anything except once--an umbrella. Now we
are going."
The mate cried, "All ashore!" the newsboys and apple-venders
disappeared; the planks were drawn in; the long, spidery walking-beam
began to play; and the Swallow had started with her five hundred
passengers.
"Let us stroll around the boat: I want to show you how we get up these
things here."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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