t,
informed him I should call in a few days to take a view from the top of
the dome, &c. He bowed and I took myself off.

Several days afterwards I found myself in the vicinity of the State
House; so, thinks I, I'll just drop in, and go up to the top of the dome
and get a view of the city and suburbs.

My chaperon was on hand, and he no sooner clapped eyes upon me, than he
pitched into all manner of highfernooten flub-dubs, bowed and scraped,
and regretted that the day was so misty and dull, as I would not be
enabled to have half a chance to get a view.

"I wouldn't try it to-day, sir," said he.

"What's the reason?" asked I.

"Oh," replied he, "you'll not see half the outline of the city and the
villages around, and you'll want to get them all down distinct."

"Get them all _down_ distinct?" quoth I.

"Yes, sir; and the day is so dull and cloudy that you'll not see half
the prominent buildings, never mind the whole of the former and not so
easily seen houses. You intend taking a full view, don't you, sir?"

"Why, yes, I would like to," says I, partly lost to conceive what caused
such a sudden and unaccountable ebullition of the man's great interest
in my getting "a first rate notice" of matters and things from the top
of the capitol! But up I went, in spite of my attentive friend's fears
of my not getting quite so clear and distinct a view as he could wish.
Having gratified myself with such a view as the weather and the height
of the capitol afforded (and in clear weather you can get far the best
survey of Boston and the environs from the top of the State House than
from any other promontory about), I descended again. At the foot of the
stairway my assiduous cicerone again beset me, introduced several other
miscellaneous-looking chaps to me, and, in short, was making of me, why
or wherefore I knew not, quite a lion!

"Well, sir," said he, "what do you think of it, sir? Could you get the
outline?"

"Not very well," said I, "but the view is very fine."

"O, yes, sir," said he; "but as soon as you wish to begin, sir, let me
know, and I'll lock the upper doors when you go up, and you'll not be
disturbed, sir."

"Lock the doors?" said I, in some amazement.

"Yes, sir," quoth he, "but it would be best to come as early in the
morning as possible, or, if convenient, before the visitors begin to
come up; they'd disturb you, you know!"

"Disturb _me!_ Why, I don't know how they would do that?"

"Why, sir, when