The in-door accommodations of the house consisted of two rooms below,
and two attics above, and a long lean-to, which ran the whole length of
the back of the building, forming an easy mode of egress, should need
be, from the chamber windows above. The front rooms were divided into a
sort of bar, which was separated from the kitchen by a high,
old-fashioned stamped-leather screen, behind which a stout red faced
middle aged woman held despotic sway, dispensing as many oaths to her
customers as she did pots of beer. The other room was of a more private
nature. It was fitted up with tables, cards and dice, to which none but
the initiated were ever admitted.
The outside of the place had a worn and dilapidated appearance; but the
inside was not at all deficient in comfort. The public room contained a
good substantial oak dining-table, a dozen well polished elm chairs, an
old fashioned varnished clock, and a huge painted cupboard in a corner,
the doors of which were left purposely open, in order to display dame
Strawberry's store of "real chany" cups and saucers, four long-necked
cut-glass decanters, and a dozen long-legged ale-glasses. Then there was
a side-table decorated with a monstrous tea-board, in which was
portrayed, in all the colors of the rainbow, the queen of Sheba's
memorable visit to the immortal wisdomship of Solomon.
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