Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. II.djvu/269

Rh was very dark, although the sky was brilliant with stars. I was hungry and tired, and wished to remain all night at the hotel, partly that I might rest, and partly that I might perform the remainder of the journey by day-light, and thus see the great giant plain.

But the hotel was occupied by gentlemen who were now assembled here in convention on educational questions, and were just at this moment in session. There was no room for me; and when I spoke of my fatigue, and my reluctance to travel by night along roads which frequently were no roads at all, and upon which the diligence was overturned six times in the week, the landlord replied by telling me about the great and important Convention, which was sitting in the city, and of the remarkable men who were assembled here on that occasion, and who were lodged in his house. He was so important, and so full of the great Convention, and the members of which were lodged in his house, that he had neither ear nor heart for the poor, weary, travelling lady, who prayed for a little room, merely for one night. I talked of the home of yesterday; and he talked about the parsonage, and between the two there was no comparison. “This hotel,” said he, “was properly no hotel for ladies, but merely for gentlemen.” There was however another hotel in the town, and he offered me a guide to show me the way.

But this also was occupied by the distinguished members of the Convention, “And in any case, I must travel by night, as the diligence did not go to Galena at any other time. I might depend upon having, to-night, the most steady driver; the night was beautiful andI should get very safely and very well to Galena!” So said the landlord.

As this meeting of the distinguished men of the great Convention was likely to last till late at night, and as the diligence was going to set off immediately, I had no hope