Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/166

168 would not let them in, still maintaining there was no fire. In the meantime I had got two men, and had Madam L's baggage taken down although they still persisted in saying there was no danger. I had bursted open the door to have the baggage removed; by this time the flame had made its appearance, and every one was for himself. The news then reached Madam L., who, with Frederica Bremer, had gone to the daguerrean gallery; they, with their servants, and some friends, then came home and took possession of their own baggage. I then went down to another room, where there was a gentleman and his wife sick, helped to dress them, took the lady in my arms, and carried her down to the parlor, and laid her on the sofa.

The excitement that was in that house then, I suppose never was surpassed, since or before. Some losing all they had on earth, others destroying many things by the way in which they used them. Ladies who had gentleman friends there to assist in packing up, I am sure, on opening their parcels again, regretted the packing, as elegant brussels laces, fine bonnets, shoes, and everything were put together in a promiscuous heap, in it may be a bed quilt, or some such thing. Those who had presence of mind to pack up their trunks, were offering porters five dollars to carry them over from the St. Charles to the Verandah, which was only a few steps, but they could not get them to take the trunks for that. There were gentlemen shouldered trunks that day, I suppose never did such a thing before or ever will again, unless on a similar occasion.

I was a good deal amused at a young lady who was sitting in the parlor with her lover when the cry of