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178 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
fortable, Avas a handsome middle-aged man, AVIIO had come into this town
from NCAV England, in which part of the country he was 'raised.' When
I say he AA'alked in and out of the room with his hat on; and stopped to
converse in the same free-and-easy state; and lay down on our sofa,
and pulled his neAvspaper out of his pocket, and read it at his ease; I"
merely mention these traits as characteristic of the country; not at all
as being matter of complaint, or as having been disagreeable to me. I
should undoubtedly be offended by such proceedings at home, because
they.are not our custom; and AA'here they are not, they Avould be impertinences
; but in America the only desire of a good-natured fellow of
this kind, is to treat his guests hospitably and Avell; and I had no more
SANDUSKY A-BOLT 1855
right, and I can truly say no more disposition, to measure his conduct
by our English rule and standard, than I had to quarrel with him for not
being of the exact stature which Avould qualify him for admission into
the Queen's Grenadier Guards. As little inclination had I to find fault
Avith a funny old lady Avho Avas an upper domestic in this establishment,
and AVIIO, when she came to Avait upon us at any meal, sat herself down
comfortably in the most convenient chair, and producing a large pin to
pick her teeth with, remained performing that ceremony, and steadfastly
regarding us meanwhile with much gravity and composure (IIOAV
and then pressing us to eat a little more), until it AVIIS time to clear aAvay.
It AVIIS enough for us, that whatever Ave wished done AVIIS done with
great civility and readiness, and a desire to oblige, not only here, but