Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

ThackerayBut you see the little accident might have happened. Ithas happened; and if to a mule, why not to a moredocile animal? On our journey up the Mississippi, I giveyou my honor we were on fire three times, and burnedour cook-room down. The deck at night was a greatfirework—the chimney spouted myriads of stars, whichfell blackening on our garments, sparkling on to thedeck, or gleaming into the mighty stream through whichwe labored—the mighty yellow stream with all its snags.How I kept up my courage through these dangers shallnow be narrated. The excellent landlord of the “SaintCharles Hotel,” when I was going away, begged me toaccept two bottles of the very finest Cognac, with hiscompliments; and I found them in my state-room withmy luggage. Lochlomond came to see me off, and as hesqueezed my hand at parting, “Roundabout,” says he,“the wine mayn’t be very good on board, so I havebrought a dozen-case of the Medoc which you liked;”and we grasped together the hands of friendship andfarewell. Whose boat is this pulling up to the ship? It isour friend Glenlivat, who gave us the dinner on LakePontchartrain. “Roundabout,” says he, “we have triedto do what we could for you, my boy; and it has beendone de bon coeur” (I detect a kind tremulousness inthe good fellow’s voice as he speaks). “I say—hem!—the a—the wine isn’t too good on board, so I’ve broughtyou a dozen of Medoc for your voyage, you know. AndGod bless you; and when I come to London in May Ishall come and see you. Hallo! here’s Johnson come tosee you off, too!”As I am a miserable sinner, when Johnson grasped myhand, he said, “Mr. Roundabout, you can’t be sure ofthe wine on board these steamers, so I thought I wouldbring you a little case of that light claret which youliked at my house.” Et de trois! No wonder I could facethe Mississippi with so much courage supplied to me!Where are you, honest friends, who gave me of yourkindness and your cheer? May I be considerably boiled,blown up, and snagged, if I speak hard words of you.May claret turn sour ere I do!Mounting the stream it chanced that we had very fewpassengers. How far is the famous city of Memphis from155