| | 1 | Author: | Ingraham
J. H.
(Joseph Holt)
1809-1860 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Paul Perril, the merchant's son, or, The adventures of a New-England boy launched upon life  | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | New England is the great population nursery of the American continent.
The young shoots which it produces annually, are reared with
an eye to transplanting, rather than for domestic growth. Of every
seven juvenile plants five are sent off to be planted in the South and
West—to thrive in Oregon or bear fruit in California. For a family
of children born in the land of Pilgrims to remain there as men and
women within sight of the smoke of the paternal home, is an event
scarcely known. `Where shall I emigrate—where shall I make my
fortune?' is the first enquiry of the Yankee boy as he begins to discover
a beard upon his lip. `Sir—I am about going to South America for the purpose of establishing
a mercantile firm. I wish to take out with me three or
four young men, from seventeen to nineteen years of age, as clerks.—
I am willing to pay their passage out from Boston, and to allow
them a fair compensation for their services after we shall reach our
destination. Here we are in a fix every mother's son of us! After we left you
last night we went to Bruce's and had a first-rate oyster supper. About
ten o'clock we sallied forth pretty well `up!' If I had known how
tipsy brother 'Siah was, I'd have locked him up in Bruce's back room
before he should have gone out with us. Well, he was as `drunk as a
soger.' He sang songs to the top of his lungs, and took up the whole
side walk as he went. I never saw but one chap before so tipsy and
stand. Well, we got to the corner of Broomfield lane when 'Siah saw
a `Charlie,' and so he began to sing, `O'er the water to Charlie,' adding
some few personal impromptu, that made the watchman mad; so
he told us to keep quiet: for to tell you the truth we all joined in full
chorus. I told the watchman, gentlemen had a right to sing, and that
there was no law which put them under obligations to ask a `Charlie'
what songs they should select for testing their vocal powers. At this,
`Charlie' seized me by the collar, when brother Sam up fist and
knocked him over. Charlie sprang up and then sprang his rattle. It
was answered from half a dozen corners, and in two minutes we were
every soul of us captured, though we fought hard. 'Sias was taken up
out of the gutter and Sam was only taken prisoner after giving two
bloody noses and a black eye to the enemy. The upshot was that we
were marched off to the Watch-house except Josiah, who had to be
carried between two Charlies; and the best of the joke was, although
he was too drunk to walk he would sing, and all they could do, he
kept up a rip-roarous serenade to all the houses we went by until we
were safely lodged here. After leaving the gate, San Piedro, I continued my walk along the
inside of the wall until I came to the nezt gate which I found guarded
in like manner with the first. In front of it was drawn up a squadron
of cavalry as if about to issue forth into the country, and also a battalion
of infantry. Several mounted officers were grouped near the gate
in conversation, and seemed much excited. Suspecting some interesting
movement was about to take place, I drew as near them as I could
without peril to myself, and watched the proceedings. Upon the wall
above the gate, I saw two officers standing with spy-glasses surveying
the country, and every moment or two reporting to the general, who sat
upon his horse below surrounded by his staff. In their rear was the
cavalry, about one hundred and fifty fierce looking fellows armed with
carbines, pistols in holders, and huge carbines slung across their backs.
Every man wore a mustache, which added to their ferocious aspect.—
They were dressed in blue jackets and gray trowsers. Silent and expectant
they sat immovable in their high pommeled saddles, each with
his sword drawn and in his hand and resting across the saddle-bow.—
Behind them the infantry, in scarlet coats and white trowsers with tall
caps crested with horse hair, were drawn up in a line. The little
wicket in the great gate was opened as I came up by the captain of
the guard, and a colonel alighting, took a peep through into the green
but treeless country. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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