close, greasy odor, and looked as if it had not been thoroughly
swept and dusted for a week.

A smart young Irishman was in the bar, and handed me the book in
which passenger's names were registered. After I had recorded
mine, he directed my trunk to be carried to the room designated as
the one I was to occupy. I followed the porter, who conducted me
to the chamber which had been mine at previous visits. Here, too,
were evidences of change; but not for the better. Then the room
was as sweet and clean as it could be; the sheets and pillow-cases
as white as snow, and the furniture shining with polish. Now all
was dusty and dingy, the air foul, and the bed-linen scarcely
whiter than tow. No curtain made softer the light as it came
through the window; nor would the shutters entirely keep out the
glare, for several of the slats were broken. A feeling of disgust
came over me, at the close smell and foul appearance of
everything; so, after washing my hands and face, and brushing the
dust from my clothes, I went down stairs. The sitting-room was
scarcely more attractive than my chamber; so I went out upon the
porch and took a chair. Several loungers were here; hearty,
strong-looking, but lazy fellows, who, if they had anything to do,
liked idling better than working. One of them leaned his chair
back against the wall of the house, and was swinging his legs with
a half circular motion, and humming "Old Folks at Home." Another
sat astride of a chair, with his face turned toward, and his chin
resting upon, the back. He was in too lazy a condition of body and
mind for motion or singing. A third had slidden down in his chair,
until he sat on his back, while his feet were elevated above his
head, and rested against one of the pillars that supported the
porch; while a fourth lay stretched out on a bench, sleeping, his