it being time to stow
myself away, I hailed for a pilot to navigate me safe into the seventh
story. My fat friend at the counter, whose eyes were becoming leaden,
rung again the bell, and out scampered some dozen darkies from nobody
could discern where. I looked at the negroes with an expression of
excitement, and then, somewhat alarmed:--'Stranger,' says I, 'these
'ere niggers a'int all going to put me through, be they?' He said he
reckoned one would do; and to a question as to what time I would
complete the journey to bed, he replied that seeing I was of the Young
American stripe, and that the distinguished of that party could do
almost anything, provided I started soon I would reach the destination
about midnight. 'Now, providing it's any accommodation, Mr. Smooth, we
can send you to bed by steam. Say the word and up you'll go!' he
rapidly concluded, rapping with his fingers on the big book he had so
leisurely laid aside for the night, there being no chance of another
customer being caught this side of twelve o'clock. I shook my head and
moved off, telling him I did not appreciate being busted up. 'Ain't a
mite of danger!' says he: 'why, stranger, we havn't killed more nor
two dozen this year or more.' That Young America was a go-ahead I was
fully conscious; still, being somewhat anxious to extend a little
friendly advice to Gineral Pierce, I begged to be excused from all
dangers, Young America must live to proclaim the manifest destiny of a
universal republic. You may lay aside your steam fixings until a more
expedient time to use them--'Here he interrupted by saying my walking
up would only save six cents;--' can put Mr. Smooth into the machine
and send him up in a jiffy. Further, we have got some dozen old gents
here who go to bed by steam every night!' I shook hands with the
fellow, exchanged glances, bid them good night all round, and trotted
off, following the darky, who wound his way round corridors, up
stairs, and through passages for more than an hour, (at least, I
thought it was!), until I fancied we had got lost in an interminable
labyrinth of narrow passages. It was just after inauguration, which
fact was duly made known through the medium of sundry corks of
champagne bottles, which were sounding pop! pop!! pop!!! Again merry
voices were heard announcing the misfortunes of those about to pass
out: while another whose voice seemed somewhat mellow, said he had in
his eye the office he wanted--exactly. A thi