How lamentable has been his lot who has been reared in the lap of luxury, and never known the ecstasy of appeasing an honest, healthy appetite! Now would I give a guinea if Miss Bremer had been present to see our Yankee eat. Reader, how many times do you think he would have asked her to take "pickles?" Thanks to the good landlady, she had a whole hog to cater from; and as fast as a platter-fall was demolished, another rose up piping hot in its place, until I began to doubt whether my friend, the Yankee, had ever eaten a meal before in his life, or whether he might not have the faculty, among his other thrifty habits, of imitating the Pelican in stowing away provisions for a rainy day.
But as all sublunary things must have an end, so it was with our supper. After a hearty meal over the warm fire, the traveller is soon wandering in the land of Nod, and seldom adds much to the stock of information, as the family group sit chatting around the huge fireplace where whole trees are made food for the devouring flames.
It was evidently the desire of the old man to extract the Yankee's history in a social chat after tea; but either the Yankee was mum, when no more was to be made, or he was holding an indignation meeting within himself on account of his previous treatment. Certain it was, that, with the question of "Where am I to lay to-night?" he left us to enjoy ourselves as we best could without even a passing good-night. Well do I remember how he dragged himself up the rickety ladder in the corner; and as he went, I mentally exclaimed: "Well, my good fellow, peace be to the manes of the fat porker who sleeps with you to-night! May you dwell in harmony together!"
The old man pressed me for my opinion of his lodger, intimating that he did not half like his looks, and would n't wonder if he was in search of land, adding that he had always made it a point to know all about his guests before they passed a night under his roof, but this fellow would give him no satisfaction. The more he thought of it, the more indignant he grew, and, but for me, would have gone up after him to demand an explanation.
But I told him I had no doubt he would turn out a good enough fellow in his way, and after a good night's rest would grow more communicative. The old man shook his head, expressive of his great
