368 MORE BOH-HOYISM. 



the other in the woods, was deeply interesting ; as the 

 air from the fire in the woods reached my cheek, it came 

 with a warmth that told of the terrible heat over which it 

 had passed on its way to the water. On board the steamer, 

 as usual, there was plenty of ice and sherry cobbler. 



On Saturday, the 5th of November, a boy came up 

 to my room with a card that had been left for me, with 

 a message on it obscurely written. When he entered I 

 was reading a newspaper which had arrived from 

 England, so, on obtaining the card, I put my paper 

 on to an adjoining arm-chair close at my side, and 

 began to try to make out the intelligence. This 

 being a difficult thing to do, I became deeply engaged 

 in the study, when, on hearing a noise in the adjoining 

 arm-chair, I looked round and perceived that the lad 

 had coolly thrown himself into it, and, cocking up his 

 legs over the side next me, had become busied in 

 the perusal of my paper ! On this I snatched it out 

 of his hand, and bade him u stand up and prepare 

 his empty head for any message I might have to give." 

 He obeyed me, but it was with a look of such surprise 

 and burlesque of offended dignity, that I burst out 

 laughing ; he never attempted, however, to reseat him 

 self in my presence. 



On Monday, the 7th of November, my baggage had 

 not yet arrived, and it was this day the committee of 

 managers of the public library and lecture-room called 

 on me to prefer a request that I would give a lecture 

 there, which I agreed to do on the following Wednesday 

 evening. On Wednesday, the 9th of November, on 

 repairing to the rooms, I had my four favourite dogs, 

 with their chains and collars, tied up on the four cor 

 ners of the platform, and on either side the desk at 



