230 OCCURRENCES AT CHICAGO. 



mined on walking. The passengers who had travelled toge 

 ther from Niles, lodged at the same hotel, with exception of 

 the Major, who perhaps found shelter in the fort. The old 

 soldier seemed to have commenced a regular fuddling fit ; and 

 his wife, who was a prudent sensible person, was in great dis 

 tress, being thirty miles from the residence of her son, and her 

 husband quite uncontrollable. Finding the destination of the 

 old lady lay no great way out of my route, I hired a waggon 

 to take the old people and myself there next morning, the 

 soldier having been easily coaxed into the arrangement, and for 

 which his wife expressed thankfulness. On the waggon reach 

 ing the door of the hotel, its owner, who was of French des 

 cent, insisted that he had only bargained to convey two, and 

 that unless he received $2 from me, I must remain behind. 

 After a noisy altercation on both sides, he offered to accept of 

 S 1 extra, but feeling indignant at his attempt at imposition, I 

 shouldered my knapsack, and trudged off on foot. I have 

 often looked back with regret on this proceeding, as it was im 

 proper to leave the old lady without seeing her fairly on her 

 journey, and silly to have exchanged high words with an indi 

 vidual who would altogether disregard them. This was the 

 only instance which occurred to me in the States, of experi 

 encing an attempt at imposition, or which was calculated to 

 ruffle my temper. 



