14 November 1853
Mond. 14 th . Pleasant—Boat reached Cincinnatti at 3. A.M. in two hours after I heard a loud rapping at my state room door—suspecting the object I paid no attention to the summons, but turned over on the other side and made preparations for another nap, which I had hardly entered upon when the raps were repeated with a vigorous increase of force—Opened the door, without leavin…illegibleg my berth—saw a colored individual standing in the entrance armed with a broom—asked what he wanted—as though the broom was not hint enough—treatedanswered that he had "cum to make up de' bed and clar' out de room"—swore if he didn't "clar'" himself out"—I'd make him darker than nature had done—and slamming the door shut—locked it and again essayed to sleep—this time successfully—At the end of an hour awoke naturally—dressed myself and went started to go into the cabin when lo! and behold! that same "cullud pusson" was seated in front of