The Swamp Doctor's Adventures in The South-West: Containing the Whole of The Louisiana Swamp Doctor; Streaks of Squatter Life; and Far-Western Scenes; In a Series of Forty-Two Humorous Southern and Western Sketches, Descriptive of Incidents and CharacterRobb, John S.
General
The Swamp Doctor's Adventures in The South-West: Containing the Whole of The Louisiana Swamp Doctor; Streaks of Squatter Life; and Far-Western Scenes; In a Series of Forty-Two Humorous Southern and Western Sketches, Descriptive of Incidents and Character
Robb, John S.
Southwest, Old -- Social life and customs
Applauses long and loud greeted his closing words; even the ladies,
looking through the windows of the hotel from the porch which surrounded
it, joined in the tokens of satisfaction, and now more eagerly than ever
the question was propounded--“who is he?” No one knew, but all were high
in his praise, and honors were showered so thick upon him that he hardly
knew what he was about--every body wanted to drink with him, and he
drank with every body. Order was called for his toast, and he gave--“The
ladies of M.--If heaven should blot out the stars, we will not discover
the loss while surrounded by their bright eyes.”
The huzzas became so deafening, the glory was so unexpected, and the
liquor was so pungent, that John lost his compass, and began to beat
about wild. Some one said he would make a first rate stump speaker,
and to prove his capability he commenced a political speech,--sad
mishap!--sad, because he forgot which side he should be on! and
commenced a most scathing tirade against the very party he was feasting
with. He had so won upon their good opinion that they listened patiently
for awhile, but patience soon melted away, and “turn him out,” was
shouted from all sides of the table--the editor of the county paper
was most violent for thrusting him out, for John had cut him out of his
speech on the press.
“Turn him out!” shouted the editor, “he's a base _spy_ in the camp.”
John perceived in a moment his fatal error, and felt happy that it did
not occur until dinner was over--he felt that he had made an impression,
and was proud that it was through no compromise of principle he had
tasted of their hospitality, and showed them he was an opponent still;
all that remained now, was to make a dignified retreat, and raising,
with some difficulty, erect, he said:
“Gentlemen, when I entered, (hic)-tered this assembly, I thought I was
among brethren, but I, (hic) I find I was deceived, and that I have been
somewhat contaminated through error, so, (hie) so with your permission
I'll withdraw and repent. I will no long-(hic) longer be one of you, but
go forth to breathe a freer air.”
At this moment he raised his hat to place it on his head, with a
flourish, when out dropped the half of a chicken, and two doughnuts,
which he had stowed away for a lunch. Their falling just at that
particular moment bothered him, and to leave them there bothered him
worse, but to pick them up was too humiliating--he scorned the action;
since they would fall, why there let them lie, he would none of them.
“Old fellar,” said a hoosier citizen, “you'd better pick up your chicken
fixens afore you go.”
“Never!” shouted John, indignantly, “I should des-(hic) despise myself
if I carried off the spoils of the enemy--you and your fragments may go
to the d------!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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