uantity
of foolscap, on which he had written a statement of certain experience,
with which he had been favored on the previous day.

A general wish was expressed that Mr. Dropper might make himself useful
in the exigency. He consented, and after the members had lighted their
pipes, the barkeeper had been signalized for eight whisky-punches, and
the Higholdboy had seated himself in his chair, the meeting was declared
to be duly organized.

Mr. Dropper commenced:

"Yesterday," said he, "I had the pleasure of seeing our favorite
quadruped as he appeared on Broadway, from an omnibus, whilst on a
voyage from the South Ferry to Union Square. At half-past two o'clock I
went over the ferry to Hamilton Avenue, Brooklyn. Having transacted my
business, set out on my return, jumped aboard the ferry-boat and was
soon on the New York side; stepped outside the gate, when I was beset by
two dozen different omnibus agents, and as many different drivers. 'Here
y'ar, right up Broadway.' 'Wide awake, 'ere Bower' un' Gran' street.'
'Right up Broadway, Sixth Avenue.' 'Here's Broad'ay, Bleeck' street, un'
Eigh thavenue.' 'Here y'ar Bowery un' Ouston street.'

"'I want to go to Greenwich Avenue,' said a timid old gentleman.

"'Here y'ar,' said the agent, as he took the old gentleman by the seat
of his pantaloons, and threw him head first into an East Broadway stage.

"The old gentleman, as soon as he could recover from his astonishment,
looked out of the window at the agent.

"'Sir,' said he, 'does this stage carry me to Greenwich Avenue?'

"'Certing,' was the prompt reply, 'you'll get there, never fear. Here's
Eas' Broadway un' Dry Dock.'

"'Where do you want to go madam?' asked the Ninth Avenue stage-agent of
a lady accompanied by a little boy.

"'To the Crystal Palace,' said the lady.

"'Here y'ar then,' said he, as he placed her in the stage which probably
stopped fully three quarters of a mile from the place.

"At last, all the persons desiring to ride had secured seats in stages,
but whether _the_ stages they desired is quite doubtful. I jumped in a
Broadway and Fourteenth street stage, the agent gave the door two slams,
and off we started. The passengers were an old maid with a poodle dog, a
young miss who had just put on a long dress, a German, an old buffer
who occupied space for two, and myself. Suddenly we stopped in Whitehall
street, on our larboard side we find ourselves caught against a Sixth
Avenue stage coming dow