MR.

JEREMIAH'S NIGHT INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR UPON STATE AFFAIRS.
'Saints in heaven! is this the messenger of the last day ?' screamed out a female voice, as the doorbell rang out a furious alarum--peal upon peal--under that able performer, Mr.Jeremiah Schnackenberger.

She hastened to open the door; but, when she beheld a soldier in the state uniform, she assured him it was all over with him; for his worship was gone to bed; and, when _that_ was the case, he never allowed of any disturbance without making an example.
'Aye, but I come upon state business.' 'No matter,' said the old woman, 'it's all one: when his worship sleeps, business must sleep: that's the law, I'll assure you, and _has_ been any time since I can think on.

He always commits, at the least.' 'Very likely; but I _must_ speak to him.' 'Well, then, take the consequences on yourself,' said she: 'recollect, you're a state soldier; you'll be brought to a court-martial; you'll be shot.' 'Ah! well: that's _my_ concern.' 'Mighty well,' said the old woman: 'one may as well speak to the wind.
However, _I_'ll get out the way: _I_'ll not come near the hurricane.

And don't you say, I didn't warn you.' So saying, she let him up to her master's bed-room door, and then trotted off as fast and as far as she could.
At this moment Mr.Mayor, already wakened and discomposed by the violent tintinnabulation, rushed out: 'What!' said he, 'am I awake?
Is it a guardsman that has this audacity ?' 'No guardsman, Mr.Mayor,' said our hero; in whose face his worship was vainly poring with the lamp to spell out the features of some one amongst the twelve members of the state-guard; 'no guardsman, but a gentleman that was apprehended last night at the theatre.' 'Ah!' said the Mayor, trembling in every limb, 'a prisoner, and escaped?
And perhaps has murdered the guard ?--What would you have of me--me, a poor, helpless, unfortunate man ?' And, at every word he spoke, he continued to step back towards a bell that lay upon the table.
'_Basta_,' said Mr.Schnackenberger, taking the bell out of his hands.
'Mr.Mayor, I'm just the man in the dreadnought.