Aunt Quimby's reminiscences of Georgia / by L.R. Fewell

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A^, MiSS T * ) PPf :

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TIIR*VV fru'iul* it*. Georgia whose kindnepft and attention !* ffcv

<l,<-ii

. oin never be forgot ton while life )' *, thi

licHtiMl hy tiie Aitihor, with the bop* tht iij.

iihcru IMC ilull hours, especially for

rxrorw in tlu excursion herein <

&n<l torifce

in they t-ui vouch.

CHAPTER I.
FOB THE FALLS!" cried a small, wi/<-n lmv;d boy, rapping lustily at the door of one of the houses in \V , just as the first rays of tlie im Ijegaii to _iiten the cloudless sky of an August mom in;?. "Ho for the Falls!" repeated a portly old bachelor, on the shady side of forty, popping his head out of a window on tl.e opposite side of the street; and the cry was caught up ami re-echoed till the whole village was astir. In every house hiit riod toilets were being made and hasty breakfasts eatoii, while swift-foot ed runners sped from house to house bearing messages and parcels forgotten till the last moment. A general air of buetle and life had replaced the every day sleepiness of tho place, which was so small that a very slight cxcitcmout would stir up its inhabitants, each of whom, of course, knew all about his neighbors affairs, and was ready at the shortest notice to attend to them. JVojr, those not personally interested were eager to bestow words of advice, approval or warning upon the actors in the affair, which had been more than a nine days talk for their village. As the morning progressed, the cause of the commotion WHX visible in the appearance on the public square of a motley assemblage of persons, and a variety of vehicles and horws of almost; "every size and color. In front was a li^ht bupgy drawn by a spYightly colt, whose feet, in this its first drive, had a tendency to fly above its head. This was occupied by tlie pioneer of the party, who***, portly form wrapped in a lin HCU duster bore as little resembla"'ce to the inimitable crrn tion of Cooi>er's pen Leatheistocking as the party he, lot! --**--- radiant iu mftlics vuid crinoline, the gentlemen in

AUXT QWOEBTB \ ami fafthfoaahto hate to the hart? I p_er_a w..h_ic_h._t_h_a_t_n_o_t_ed_ c-h-.a_r.acte,_r l_ed1 t1 inoagh a* aiaay wo will HI* if a few weeks uioi,nr the mountains wmmo the difference lew apparent. for if, a some assert, etvfh and not nature create* the difference ainong men, then, * in leaving its bound*, some of tin* original elements of o) ter will be exhibit< <!. Next in order came a long iKMlied, high topped affair, * the plnmmrr nfrlrrm hail tried t4> dignify with the naoteilC nitmft; but, fhongh thoroughly renovated and converted other vacs, it Htill retaine<l itn former name of arabolai* Vbis fttrikmjr vehicle >va* drown by a pair of hore, If ittb ooold be termed a jwir which WHA totally mil ike in sixe, abap and color; one, being a tail clay bank or yellowinh roan, <*arry .in|rnich a lti|(h head that IK- nec^ined to IM* constantly viewing the flk^y with his one good eye, or Hearching among the tare* topfoi- some excuse to take fright, and, by running, relieve the constant excitement of his nervous body; the other, a Hembitten, gra^y, whose many years of service at the plowhad given his Iwad HU^ch an earthward tendency that his body followed tfae.exaiupl'3 of liin yokefellow in forming an inclined plane ; only tlfte tail of one mid the / </</ of the, other formed the apex of inclination, aitd gave an irresistibly comic feature to the taniout- Inside were the yonng i>eople of the party, who, after getting tthukcn into their places, were found to consist of eight cingle, ladies and ;IK many young gentlemen, thon^h JJie lattery it* equal in numbers, v.-ere certainly in the minority in the conftwrion ot tongues then reigning. FoUowiift^ the ambulance cauie a close carriage more styl ish in appcaraitce than the other vehicles, but showing the i duuumilarity in the team, one side being drawn by ahorse
itsnuiHter, \\howas soniethuigof a humorist, 'Thacl ' ^w*1 seeuuug as tall, gaunt, raw-boned and Bouiand as his nauiesake <f Congressional memory is gencmlly pictured by the Southem people; on the other by a sleek mule 0c*xce& lialf us large as his partner. This contained two of the HMjhTiiBi of the party and a portion of the children, while a dou Me buggy held the reinaiuder. The rear was brought up by a fc*ggag< -wagon partly covered by a most dilapidated tent, and driven by a negro boy who could display more teeth, tongue and foot than any other member of the party. Such, then, was the general appearance of the party that in the summer of '<& took its departure for Tallnlah and Toeo Falls, situated in Habersham County, in the North-east oa of Georgia, and whose adventures we intend to chron. dozing a journey of Bftore than a htmdred miles.

RHMTNI8CENCB8 Of QEQR <1 1A .

5

Tfcffi i u )>*d hurdly reached the outskirts 01' the village

<MI 1<* * 3igii. ixr.fi to Athene, when nu imex]>>ote<\ obstacle

faursw l*ty* ftirthcr progress in that direction. The. bridce

over tJfcOftOH' < river had. lcen taken up for rennirs and t!i"

strut*:: *--a* i n ford able.* The result of a brief co*i.sMlt:ition wax

aderV .... to the left for the Hog fountain Kond, a much longer routo. But little did the moiT.y pnrty, vhoac sole. aim

wn enjoyment. care for this, o they prm-.r-ode.ci on their Mry,

" merrily, ki-eping im a running flro oKt^i-lk between the

, and makiii<r tiro woods ring with SOJIK -us'l lanjyhtep,

tle natural overflow ot* youthful hearts. ThHr roml lay

tl.rmij;U the upi>e.r portion *of Clark eouiity, kiif\vn in et<H^tion

returns i *< Dark Corner Precinct," and tully tlesorvinf; it

name the travelc-rH thought, the country being covered, with

dense pine forests through which the narrow road wound it

tortuous roiivae its dull monotony rarely broken by nny ob

ject more interesting than a log cabin with it wniull patch of corn anl eollardw. AH the day grew warmer, the converna-

tioiial j>\t vs of the company began to tiag, or confine them-

selvca to llie occupants of their immediate vehicles. Jii the

ambulance a motion was made that any one acquainted with

any interesting incident* of the country through which they

were passing should relate them for the entc.rt.a-inuu-.ut of the

crowd. All' professed their ignorance except ;i tall young man

with blue spectacles, who kept a discreet silonc.

*' I nee Mr. Z

has a tale to unfold,77 cried a n>erry girl

who was sitting opposite to him, " so do give it t<> n* without

further begging."

** I have only a few scraps of history," he replied, " which may

not prove interesting to the twvel reacting portion of the party,

trat still I will rcjH4Vt them, for it is the duty of every Georgi

an to make himself familiar with the chanu*tT and actions of

those gallant spirits who stood by tbeii county in the hour of her greatest extremity, and, in the contest for liberty, haz

arded life and property. Most of you already know that this

county in which you reside, was named after General Klijah

Clark^ one of the'nrst of on r revolutionary worthies ; but few

of you kno\v anything of his history. He was a North Carol in iau by birth, but rciutiwui to ( Ir orjjfia

and settled in Wilkes comity in 1774. Hem -de i.is lirrft ap

pearance in the hixtory of Georgia as Captain of a v agon train

which he bravely defended from a body of 'Indians. When

the whole of this State and South Carolina were cvacuted by

the American foi-ces, Clark alone kept the field, nnd made hu<

name ten-or to the British forces. He figured ctmspicottsly

in most of the battles and skirmishes in those two States, rose

m]>Hll> in T.nk .iu1 \ii* merit as a soldier ma\ c easily knowii b> liis lei'.ttf Ko1i< iUd by two B*iropeui nati*';**r join their nervir.- ; but. the. Jovo of freedom, ami a {KTWi^iui tbat Heaven w?all J.ivor tin- righteous course of H:v. Aracvioaim, made him N-.r \vith natience the IOSA of prf/}/r',y, trt< indignities tfV'red !'< h<-!ih** females of hit* famil>,'nn reject nil offt TH that wimld wean him front the caiiie tte li;v<l rhinitis* ed. In tin* itaf.lt-H of J^K'k'M IYek, AValton unty r 21nt of Sept., 17-S7, IH .'uni5'n<le<l the whiter, numbering two )undred. wl.il* MM- Indian*, union nting toof^bt liuudred ware led by Me <iiUtr>, ;i luilf bivtnj. Tlie attack was uu<io on iUc hill tbn^ i li^.'H <>:IH! ,f tht* i>pot nion which Mo tin K uo\v HUIII^, by Olavc, in th:**: dTviMtotiH. Tlic litittle com men vd at ^il oVIocrk, aui <-4titi<in >fl until HiiiiHet. Thn liidhtiiM \V<T<> dcfiviiV ed, ani the AUKTICJUIH l>ufie<l their dead in a stream \vhicK haAHinee I wen known us *4 l>ead Man7^ BniiR-h.r
The sjK'alter <<t4>i|MMi hero, but wa ur^cHl to i>ix"u'il by the 8uie itiijv-hi*^ WH jrirl, who wais wiHpieioiiRly buy with i>oncil and iuiN*r. but declared she wtH only taking noteM ot (It-or^ia history to i<!tauten the i^u*>rant Virgitiitm when nlie return ed to tier n.'tive Btato. Ignoring the irony contained in this IHv<-h, }\<- <-ontntiied : u 1 know notliintf furthci in regard to Olark. but we are now on the border* of Jackson county, so caller! to ]erpetnato the iiteinory of General farnoa Jackjion, att Kn^rlislnnan, who landed in Savannah in 1771!. a pcniiilem voat'.t < f .KH:; Ue entered the ofltoo of Samuel Farley as a law atndetit, but KOOII laid aside hi law books and aKHociated himself with a iMi*tion of the citizens who had resolved to break the chains of British slavery. In this or^caiiixatioii, his nthuKia^in, courage and talenta soon lel to distinction. The flmt time that 1" distinKiitshed hinifieuT was in an attack upon Havannah by a fleet of verncl* aided by land forces. A party of volunteer**, among Uiem Jacka+u, then only nineteen, proeeeiletl to that }Krtioii of the river where the vessels lay MCrtmid, and wet them ou Are. After wtin^ a eoiiKpicuoiu* ftart in many of the battles in CJeoegia, he retired at the close of the war with the rank of Colonel, married and settled in Sa vannah, lie afterward* held almost every higrh office in Georgia, and became United States Senator. While in the last position he * as one of the warmest opposers of the Yaroo Act, and it was chiefly through his influence that it was re pealed. There is a tradition still existing among the Oeorgians, that, when the public officers were assembled at Louis ville to bum the records of this dishonorable affair, a venera ble mm*, whose head van white with the frost of fourscore years, suddenly appeared upon the square and commenced an

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Address in which he said that ho did not think that earthly fire should be employed to show (he indignation of the people and taking a sun-glass from hi* bosom, he succeeded in ignittap the papers with it, amidst a profound silence, lie then retired an mysteriously. a he appeared, and no traces of him could be afterwards found. Many believe thin man to have been General Jackson, who had traveled from hit* distant home on horseback to witness the tinal destruction of a cause Hpainst which his feelings had been MO warmly enlisted. lie died in Washington City while serving a* Congressman, mid when he thought his death near he said that, if alter death his heart was opened "Georgia** would be legibly read there. If a foreigner could feel such interest in the State of his adop tion, how much greater the obligation tor her KODS to hold un tarnished the fame of Georgia, and defend her, not only from foreign tyranny, but the Mt'ill more insidious ibes of iolitical intrigue and corruption at home. In the words of the man of whom we have been speaking, *<A free representation was what we fought for, a free representation was what we obtain ed j a free representation IK what our children should be tliavnegs-h"t to lisp and our youths to relinquish only with *their
" Bravo," cried several voices, " I did not know you had such talents for stump oratory, old follow," said a gentleman who sat by him, clapping the tall young man on the shoulder. " I should not wonder if we heard from you in the Legislature yet."
" I hope it will not be in a gcallawag affair then," he replied laughing, and evidently rather pleased with the sensation he had produced.
" There is another position which I think Mr. Z would fill with even greater honor to himself, I beg to present him to the company in proprla perx&naf said the young lady men tioned, a mischievous smite dimpling her face, as she handed around an envelope on which she had sketched a clever cari cature of him as TUK GKORGIA HISTORIAN.
The likeness was so striking as to bring a smile to every face, in which the sufferer good hiimoredly joined after a vain attempt to look dignified; though he vowed to be even with his tormentors at some future time.
" It IB only a Roland for your Oliver," she said laughing merrily." " I saw your glance at me a while ago when you spoke of the novel reading portion of the company, and de termined then to have my revenge."
" Ah! I see by your explanation that you are getting fright ened at the wrath you have laid up for yourself," he said aha-

S

AUNT

kiiighis fiiijgtrat her, "Idnb you OCR SPMCIAL ARTIST and shall keep this to illustrate my next history," ami folding np the sketch he placed it in his pocket.
*' Since both you ami I have won a soubriquet this early in the trip. I insist that all the others shall take some name too, for it will wound my delicate sensibilities dreadfully if I should see in the book of travels, which you will publish on your return, my sol f merely mentioned as **onr artist" while the rest are spoken of as the belle Miss T., the beauty Miss W., &c.
" I agree with you Madge, I have no desire to see my real name in print, so I will be called Meg Men-Hies, so write me down Mr. Historian." " And I Die Venum," said another. " Who will be Rashliegh Osbaldistoiif" "I will," said one of the gentlemen, u must I promise- u To smile and be a villain stilt;*' " Scott seems to be a favorite with you all, young ladies," said another, but I think I will patronize some other author. I will be Capitola Black, and will promise you to deliver yon from all the Black l>onaids you may encounter."
" I will l>e Miss Patty Pace-, for I always thought I resem bled her," said a little figure in the corner, " and now with all thes* pockets and my feather fan, the likeness is complete."
** I believe I will retain the nickname I gained the first time I ever visited Georgia," said a lady of uncertain age, but up on whose calm face the years of old maidenhood had not set their accustomed seal of peevishness and ill temper. " I will be Aunt Quimby still, and sometime, when we have nothing better to talk about, will tell you how I won the title."
" We have decided to be the Twin Sisters, Manolia and lolia," said two sentimental friends, "and W. and H. shall be Roscius and J ulius. Perhaps we may be able to find the vale of Paradise where Manolia lived, for the scene of the book is laid at Tallulah."
" It had jost as well have been .laid anywhere else for the likeness it bears to the locality," said one of the matrons, who had visited the Falls before.
"Thank you for speaking Mrs. W., and thus reminding us to give the matrons names too Lady Montague, Lady Capnlet and Mrs. Page.
" Yen can easily find a Falstaff in our guide, but I am afraid your Borneo and Juliet for the first two to quarrel over will be missing, for there is not a pair of lovers in the party."
u The morantic scenes, as Widow Bedott would say, among which we are going may make some. Now for the gentlemen. The Historian, Roscius, Julius and Bashleigh Obaldistone, are already named, another shall be Falstaif, a 6th Lord Ches terfield, a seventh Don Quixote,"

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.f

9

The children we will not name, as angels and cherubs are al ways nameless; and the seven wee specimens of humanity which we have with ns all belong to those races of celestial beings, in their mother's eyes at least," said Aunt Quimby.
"I only hope they may retain their angelic character throughout the trip," said the Historian, "for they are gener ally the disturbing element in parties as well as families."
".There spoke the old bachelor," said Lady Montague, the good-natured mother of several of the children. "Some day you will call them well-springs of joy."
He shook his head incredulously, and just then Falstaff drove uyjf and, true to his character, asked if was not time to attend to the wants of the inner man, and proposed they should stop at a church they were approaching for'their noon tide rest, as there was a good spring near. This was readily agreed to, and the building soon came in sight, situated in a nne grove of trees. The horses were unharnessed and sup plied with provender from the baggage wagon. The provission trunk, stocked with dainties of all kinds, was brought from the same receptacle; a white cloth spread beneath a shady tree, and the merry party gathered around to partake of the cold fare, for which no better condiments could have been found than the keen appetites, hearty laughter and morry jests which seasoned the informal meal.
" How are we to amuse ourselves for the next two hours," exclaimed Capitol a, diving into the trunk for another cake. " The Ladies, Montague and Capulet, forbid all inroads upon the hams at this stage of our journey ; and as I see the last of the seven chickensNlisappearing behind the down which lioscius would term a moustache, we will have to look out some more intellectual amusement than eating."
" I propose that we all get into the omnibus and persuade Aunt Quimby to give us a few sketches of a visit she made to Georgia when she was ."
" Young, you were going to say, Mary,r said Aunt Quimby with a pleasant glance at the young giiTs confused face. " You need not have been afraid to finish the sentence, I am. not the least sensitive about my age; and as that old church up yonder strongly suggests some funny incidents that befell me at one very much like it, though situated in another coun ty, I will readily comply with your request, if the others would like to hey them." There was a chorus of affirmative answers, and all the young people were soon seated in the ambulance, while the elders remained to give the negro drivers their din ners, dispose of the remains of the lunch, and, }>erhaps, take a sly dip into their snuff boxes.

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AUNT QUIMBJT8

CHAPTER H.
THK OKOmOIA SKBJfOX.
" Most of you have heard me speak of Meg Carlton, the much loved friend of my youth," said Aunt Quimby, plunging at once into her story. *< We were raised on adjoining plan tations for, Mr. Carlton once owned Tudor Hall, the old fash ioned country homestead whose moss grown roof can be plain ly seen from the window of my peculiar sanctum in my Virginia Rome, and from which I have often signalled to Meg with all the satisfaction, if not the dexterity, of the Signal Corps. A white handkerchief tied to the blind was the daily signal that the school children from, our house had started to the rendezvous at the foot of the hill where we always met our companions from Tudor Hall; and proceeded in company to the old log school house situated about a mile down the val ley, where all the children of the neighborhood, high and low. rich and i>oor, met to receive their daily qnantnm of birch and books frequently more of the first than the last under the various pedagogues who from time to time bore the scepter of authority in that edifice of learning. Meg and I were near the same age and inseparable companions from our earliest youth. We were in the same classes, shared the rewards and punishments equally, and gained about the same amount of knowledge, which was not a very large quantity; for though entirely unlike in temper and disposition, we were fully agreed in our dislike of study, and expertness in eluding the vigilance of our teachers. Out of school we were the ringleaders of all the plays, we rode the same saplings, awang on the same grapevines, paddeled in the same *' brunch,'' skipped over the same hop-scot" rings and played "checques" on the same shawl antiquated amusements at which the school girls of the present day, incipient belles in pinafores would raise their hands in holy horror; but which to us, buoyant with health and spirits, were gayeties that never lost their cest.
Our childhood passed in this happy, careless faahion till Meg was nearly fourteen, and I only a year younger, then a auccce&sion of unlooked for events changed the whole tenor of both our lives.

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11

An old uncle of Mr. Carlton's, whom he had never seen since his boyhood, died and left him a plantation in Georgia, and, weary of the hard labor necessary to cultivate the rugged mountain region in which we lived, he determined to emigrate thither. About the same time, my two elder sisters who had hitherto, in their characters as the belles of the neighborhood, monopolized iny mother's attention, married; one, a, merchant in Baltimore,the other, a planter from the Eastern Shore; and, their fates being decided, she suddenly awoke to the fact that 1 was growing up a rough hoydenish country girl; and it was decided that I should be sent to my Aunt Venable in Rich mond, to receive the polish of the best school in that city. As to tctW was to do with both Mr. Oarlton and niy mother, these resolutions were both carried into effect, and, ere many weeks, Meg and I were widely sundered, each surrounded by new scenes, and with no means of communication except the slow and tedious mail arrangements of those days. \V e man aged however, to keep up with each others movements till the summer I was seventeen, when. 1 left school to ttncLMr. Carltou a guest at our house, while he settled some business affairs which had brought him back. He bore positive commands from Meg that I should return with him to act as her bridesmaid in the Fall. Tkfs I was eager to do, and after some difficulty I succeeded in persuading my parents to al low me to go ; Mr. Carlton promising to see roe safely home again in the Spring. Traveling facilities were in a very im perfect state in those days, most of it being performed by stage coaches, so that it was the tenth day from the time we started when we reached the village where it had been arrang ed that Meg should meet us. She and her brother, a boy of twelve, had reached there the night before, ami a we had breakfasted on the route, we were soon on our journey in the comfortable family carriage, and we had time to notice the fa vorable alterations time had made in our appearances, chang ing us both from hoydeuish school girls, to dignified young ladies. But that the old affectionate familiarity was the same, was demonstrated by the glibncss of our tongues as soon as the little reserve of meeting wore off.
" I aiu afraid you will think you are going into the back woods sure enough, Queenie, when, I tell you it is two days journey from Stone Mountain-to our house,9' said Mg after sometime. "There are, besides, no hotel accommodations on the way, so Pa has arranged for us to stay all night with some acquaintances of his, whom 1 expect you will think the very oddfest people you ever saw."
" If she is the girl I take her to be, she will resiect their

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AUNT QU1MBT8

sterling worth of character in spite of their uncouth appear ance ami manners," said her father. " Yon will find education much less generally diffused, even among persons of property, in this State than in Virginia, Qneenie; but 1 am sure yon will like the warm hearted kindness of the people. There is far less of exelnsiveness and pride in any .circle than we are accus tomed to there; and, in the section through which we vrili travel, tho word " fashion " is an unknown sound."
From this the conversation branched off to other topics of mutual interest, and there was so much to hear and tell on each side that we had no idea of the distance we had travel ed till Mr. Carlton drew out his watch and announced that we had made a drive of twenty miles, and we must be looking out for a suitable place to feed our horses, and partake of tho lunch which his wife had provided for us.
About noon we reached a church almost ihefac *t**le. of that one yonder, only a little more dilapidated at which Mr. Oarlton decided it was best for us to stop as there was a ftne spring near. There was evidently something going on inside the house for some of the windows were open, and groups of horses were tied around, variously cquipi>ed with male and female saddles.
"That is an odd tune, and a most cudless hymn they are singing," I said to Meg, after li*tuing some time to a low murmuring sound that issued from, the building.
" They are preaching," she said laughing, while Mr. Carlton
added 61 That is another of the wonders of Georgia with which yon
will have, to become acquainted." " It is the whang dooMe style of delivery. If you and Meg feel like it, we will go in and listen while the horses are resting."
This I was c.-ager to do, so after finishing our lunch we en
tered. The house was a small wooden edifice, the^rough beams in
side forming excellent resting places for the wasps, which buz zed about in a lively inn nnor. It was alx>nt half filled with persons; the feminine element in pink and yellow calico, sunbonnets, and hoinespim dresses, largely predominating over the masculine, in suite of butter-nut yellow. The entrance door, like most of the country churches in Georgia, was placed by the ride of the pulpit, so that we were obliged to enter facing the congregation, and our appearance created quite a sensation, judging from the nudging of elbows among the females, and the battery- of eyes leveled upon us.
We had scarcely taken seats, when the preacher, a large tout man. dressed in homespun, suddenly paused in his bar-

REMINISCENCES Of GEORGIA.

13

angue, and took life seat. His place was immediately filled by a thin wiry looking little man, with a set of very ugly features, which he contrived to make still more homely-by continued grimaces and contortions.. A whispered con ference now took place between him and an old man in a whito cloth skull cap who was as I afterwards learned, one of the deacons of the church. The old man seemed to be urg ing something to which the preacher appeared to object, and another brother was'signalled for and approached. The three laid their heads together for. some time, then the preacher turned away, and uttered such a deep and prolonged groan that I, at first, thought he was in bodily pain, but soon con cluded it was only his manner of expressing nis sense of the solemnity of the occasion. He took a deep draught of water from, the bucket in front of the pulpit, after which he turned and addressed to the congregation
"Brethering and sistering, I had not thought of trying to preach to you to-day, especially as I am powerful puny, but, as Brother Jenjrins thinks it best, I will try to do as well as my weak back will allow. The brethren will please sing a hymn, as I would like to look over my text, as sucli Ugjhfalutin people have come to hear me preach."
We were a good deal amused to hear ourselves styled kighfalutin, and were * afraid to glance at Mr. Carlton, who had found a seat in the amen corner, and sat bolt upright looking as grave as a priest.
A brother near the pulpit now arose and mentioned the number of a hymn, which he. requested might be "pitched purty high, and sung pnrty pert." Another brother raised it to a tone consisting of a succession of falls and quavers, which, Meg afterwards told me, was called the " Georgia Quibble." The females joined in, every one singing 'high, tribble,' as they denominate the part now known as tenor. One woman just in front of .us, who held a baby about six months old dressed in a Mack * calico dress with a quilling of wide white lace around the low neck and short sleeves, H as so energetic in the chorus that her comb fell out, and a shock of red hair came tumbling down on her shoulders. So wise disconcerted, how ever, by these contretemps, she -turned around, aud, without a wordy popped the baby down in Meg's lap, who did not have time to reject the burden if so disposed, arid running her hand in her pocket, produced a horn comb with which she proceeded to arrange her hair with as much coolness and deliberation as if in the privacy of her own chamber; meanwhile, not relaxing her addition to the volume of souud, which threatened to split our ear-drums.

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AUNT QUTMBYS

The chorus they repeated so often that Meg and I learned it, aud amused ourselves by singing it daring the evening, and trying to imitate the peculiar manner in which the last word was drawn out.

We'll all rise together in that morning, In that ai-o-r-H-i-n-c:

In that m-o-r-n-i-n-g,

__

We'll all rise together in that morning.

'When this was at last finished, the woman betore us deign ed to relieve Meg of the baby, who had remained perfectly quiet, staring with wide open eyes at the strange face above. it, where confusion struggled with a desire to laugh, and it wmm well for me,tthat I could serene my face with the folds or my travelling vail, for, accustomed to the strict observances of the ICpiscopal church, the whole affair struck me in a far more ridiculous light than it did Meg.
The preacher now arose, only his head and shoulders being visible above the high pepper-box shaped pulpit, while the former was in dangerous proximity to a large beam that tra versed the house from end to en I, but he had, probably grown expert in the art of dodging, as he never once struck it, though gesticulating violently at times. He commenced in a sing-song tone interrupted by frequent blowings of the nose
** My dear brethren and sisteren and lovely congregation, the words of my text is " In Heaven thar are many Mansions," which means houses, you know, and you will find it some wfcarinthe lids of this book. My lovely congregation, it mrtrrs me feel mighty bad when 1 see you all squeezing and scronghtng in this little house; but, Oh! bretheru, I have one cooBeriatkmV and it is a good one, for you fcnow the good song we have just song; but I mast tell you what consoles me while I flee you all acronged in this little house made by earthly hands I tell yon, brethern, when we all get to Heaven, there wffl be no scronghing xhar Oh! sisteren, Heaven is a big place it will hold all of us it is as big as all around here by ShJbrihnore, round by Brother Higginbottom's, cross through Dunkington, and away round thar. It must be that big, or it would Mver hold all the houses that the text talk about be ing to it for it says, "In Heaven tUar .are many houses." TlMM wfaen we get thar well have the company of Jesus. Yott have all hern a powerful sight about this man Christ Jean*, twit I think I know a leetle more about him than any of you. He is not a great big man, like Brother Lambert, ov er thar, but a little slim, tall, spry looking fellow, like Brother Thacker over here, for my darter Jerusha says so, and she's

book lamed

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

15

Letfs go, Meg," I whispered, "or I shall disgrace myself by laughing oat in meeting." She nodded, and we made our way out; my unsettled gravity being by no means restored by a remark of young man, standing outside of the door, in regard to Meg's black silk dress " My gosh, Jim, how do yon sup pose she stands all that stuff I Why the button-holes of my Sunday vest are worked with silk, and it almost swnlters me to death."
Once at a aafe distance from the house, we gave full vent to the laughter which had been gathering for the past hour, and we had not composed our features when Mr. Carlton joined us with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. " Well^ Queen ie, what do yon think of our Georgia preaching!7* was bis first query.
" I think it positive sacrilege to listen to such," I responded with all the heat of seventeen years.
"There you are mistaken, my dear," he said kindly. ,,In the essentials that go to make up the Christian character, pa tience, meekness, charity, love to one another, you will hardly find more shining examples in the largest and most intellectual church in Kichmond than in the one we have just left. I know the preacher personally He is, I believe, a sincere Chris tian^ and he ought to be the best man in the world, for he knows nothing but what the Ix>rd has taught him.77
" You think that is precious little, do you not, Queenie T said Meg with another laffgh in which Mr. Carlton joined.
" We will at least try to remember what the Bible says that God has chosen the weak things of this world to confound the wise," said her father as we drov3 oft, the last sound that reached our ears being the sjng-song voice of the preacher re peating, " My dear brethren and sistereu, and lovely con gregation."
" Ton will think you have come to a. good country in which to laugh and grow fat, Queenie," he added when we were out of sight of the church, " You and Meg will have to lay in store a new stock of gravity for this evening, or you will never get through the night creditably."
And when night came, and we reached our stopping place, I realised the truth of his words. "But of the adventures that befell me there. I moot tell yon some other time," said Aunt Quimby, "for they are harnessing the horses for another start and we most gather up our things.*

10

AUNT QVIMBY8

OHAPTKR HI.
" I think Aunt Qaimby IB disposed to be rather severe on the peculiarities of us "Georgians" said Uoti Quixote when they were once more settled in the ambulance and the proces sion in motion. "I shall take up a lance in our defence."
" It will be second tilting at windmills then, for no one can have a more thoronh respect and admiration for the Georgians than T have," she replied quickly. " The sermon I have re peated jg very little more ridiculous than some I have heard in Virginia in years gone by. There was a Primitive Baptist, or a.s the Georgians would say, a " Hardshell," preacher in our neighlwrhood when I was a child, whose sermons furnished an inexhaustible fund of amusement to all who heard them. He and his wife were widely known by their nicknames of "Wat ty" and "Prioy," taken from their manner of abbreviating each others names, Walter and Priscilla, and I suppose two greater oddities never sustained to each other the relation of man And wife. Their attendance on an Association in Baltimore when they were old people, on which occasion Watty wore a full suit of yellow nankeen ornamented *tth immense brass buttons, and Prioy appeared in a bright pink silk dress and two bon nets on her head at the same time, is still laughed over by those who witnessed it.
Once when Watty was very sick, the doctor recommended smothered chicken as a good diet. *and on his next visit inquir ed of Pricy if his patient had relished it,
" Bakes alive ! he haint took it yit" she replied, "I put the rooster between two big feather-Seas soon this nioraiif, but the pesky thing wont git smothered no way."
I have often heard my father laugh about Watty having in vited him home with him from church one Sunday, saying that he had told Pricy about the nice stuffed chicken he had eaten at our house a short time before, and she had promised to have some just like it for dinner that day. 'To gratify the old man. Pa went, and when they took their seats at the ta ble, there, indeed, was the stuffed chicken, but witii an odd look about it, which Pricy explained by apologizing for stuff ing it with MM* wool, as she had
"Sneh anecdote* of these oW people are almost numberless," she added, when the iMgh had mMded, "bat these are enough to prove that oddities are mot confined to Georgia, and without regard to place, I shoot folly as she flies,"

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

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" Then give Mrs. Gummidge a bullet and wake her jap," whispered Cap, " for her face looks like young birds' heads all eyes."
" Young puppies, rather," said Eoscius in the same tone, bat the whisper reached the ears of the good lady, the scape-goat of this otherwise " ower true tale" brought her to a perpendicular immediately, and gave her occasion to remark that she waft more than ever convinced that she was "* lone, lorn cretur, with everybody agin her.7'
The badinage which this provoked lasted for several miles, for when people-are pleased with themselves and each other, it does not take much wit to create amusement. Then their arriva at a long, and rather rickety bridge, which the elders thought had better be crossed on foot, created a diversion; and when the carriages were refilled, it was found that there had been a general changing ot places. The Historian had taken charge of the double buggy, containing Lady Montague and four of the children, thus creating a partial vacuum in the ambulance, which its remaining occupants took advantage of, to dispose themselves in various easy positions to enjoy the ieto, that the sultry afternoon made desirable. Falstaff, having taken Miss Quimby in his buggy, once more led the van, making for Jefferson, the county seat of Jackson county. So rapidly did he advance, that all the vehicles were left be hind except Hie carriage, which managed to keep in sight.
Meanwhile, the shades of evening were beginning to creep on, and the clouds which had altogether obscured the sun, be-
L to descend in slow-falling drops, that soon obliged Miss nby to vacate her seat in the buggy for one in the car-
_ 3; and still the anxious looks cast back from every emi nence, failed to reveal any signs of the missing vehicles. Falstaff, at length, paused for consultation with the occupants of the carriage. He expressed a fear lest the other vehicles had taken a wrong road, and, as it would be impossible for them to reach Jefferson at the slow rate they were then trav eling, he proposed that.they should stop at the first convenient house, and endeavor to obtain accommodations for the night, which promised to be so rainy as to preclude all chance of usingthe tents, for the ladies and children at least.
The matrons readily agreed to his proposition; and then commenced an anxious lookout for the desired haven, but no suitable place presented itself for several miles.
At length they reached a moderate sized house with a large grove in front of the gate, and after some chaffering with the owner, he agreed to let the party have the use of one room, and the piasga. They were all so weary that even these poor

18

A UXT QUTMBY8

accommodation* were welcome. The horses were unharness ed, and Lady Capnlet and Mm. Page busied themaelTe in specting their quartern HIM! tranKferriug the loose articles from tbc carriage to the house ; still kf^puiK tin aiodous look out for their companiouH, and, emiecially, for the baggagewugon, whirh eoiitAined the supplies for both man sad beast. Just aH FulMtaff wafi afxnit starting back in search of them, they hove* in right. The Historian was driving In solitary state in the double buggy, the breakage of a shaft having ne cessitated the transfer of its load to the ambulance, and a very alow rato of traveling.
AraidMt a I^XM! deal of confusion occaaiooed by the rain, which Imfpni now to ]oiir in (orreuto, the eatables, bed-clothes and other bag^a^i? were tranMferred to the bonne, and the party mad<- pr^paratioiiH to make themarivea as comfortable a** circiuiiKtan<fft would permit. But now the flint damper was cant over their npiritx by the indisposition of one of the children, and tin- tear* and lamentationa of ita mother, who. fonrettiup: evoi->'thing el.se in maternal solicitude, declared that Hhr \\-.m det^rfiiinetl to rctum liouie in the morning.
Kvery nne \voix' loii^ fn< cs, at thin pronpec^ive diarrangpm^ut of their plant*, but Mrn. (riitnuiidjure, tnie to her charac ter of rising MijKrior to UiiticuHie*, declared that they all on ly needed a cup of hot <M>tt*H' to rovivo their Hpirits, and diving into the pro\nMion trunk for tin* material*, started on an explo ring: e\iHditioii for tin? meannof making it. These were found in the kitchen, xituated nearly fifty yards from the houtws and only to le reached by means of two very large shtbt* raised one or two feet from the ground. It was no easy matter to wnlk these in the pitchy tlarkuetw which then preveilod, and ICowiuH and I>io Vernon, who bad volunteered their aAniatanoe to Mrn. (Jiunmidfje, found them*elveM by a miss-step pitched bead-foremost into the muddy yard beneath; but after *ome scrambling, and much laughter, a large pot of coffee wa made and dispensed by means of tin-cups; other eatables, already eook<-d, were produced from the trunk, and a hearty meal i^estorod the Hpirits of the party to their natural level. The matrons went off to bed, and the young people gathered on the piazza to amuse themselves.
A 1 >etter selected party for such a trip could rarely have been met with. The masculine portion, ranging in age from forty-five to fifteen, were all gentlemen in the strictest sense of the. term; free from dissipation of all kinds, and uniting a sufficient degree of good looks and intelligence with much of the frankness and bonhomie of manner peculiar to the South ern character; while the voting ladies, though all gay and

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

10

food looking, possessed sufficient diversity of age, appearance and disposition to make their companionship agreeable to all the gentlemen, an well as each other. The matron* were "wisest, discreetist, best," and just old enough for their ex perience to prove a balance power to the impetuosity of the younger portion without marring their enjoyment of a single pleasure; and both young and old met on the common ground of familiar acquaintanceship, and thorough pood will. Such being the case, the hours sped by rapidly in jest and woug and it MAS late before a proposition was made to retire.
" Let me beg you to remain a few minute*, ladies," said the Historian, ' to decide a grave question which has l>eeii weighingupon my mind all the evening."
Then when all stood around him expectantly, he gravely requested them to decide among themselves which should have the houor of shaving off his beard hi the morning.
" Truly, that is "giving to airy nothing a local habitation and a name," exclaimed Meg Merrilles, while Capitola sugges ted that it was pronalble a cat could be found on the premises that would relieve them of the trouble. The others followed up the attack so successfully that he soon began to cry quits, and beat a retreat by going to the carriage to look for a mining blanket.
The gentlemen disposed themselves to sleep in the piazza and hall, and the ladies and children, fourteen hi number, packed themselves away in double rows upon the floor of a xoom scarcely twelve by fourteen feet: the single bed which it contained being given up to the sick child and two of the matrons.
The elders and children were already asleep, but were rous ed by the meriment of the girls in making down their bed, which consisted of single blankets spread on the bare floor, and a row of carriage cushions for th*ir heads. After much chattering and discussion, they were all placed for the night, except Miss Patty Pace, who, in moving around, contrived to upset a pan of water which nowiug under the sleepers, pro duced a general scrambling and confusion.
The water being diR)K>sed of by sweeping into the lire-place, and Miss Patty Pace having retired into silence and her wet blanket, quiet reigned for an hour or two, only hrakeii by an occasional groan from some aleeiwr at her failure to find the soft side of her plank. About twelve, ho\vever. a qm-veloiiH voice was heard complaining that on of the children in the upper row had taken off her water-full with its toe.
The search for the mUsing article roused tip all the sleeper*, and there was a chorus of complaints of cold and discomfort,

2O

AUNT QUIMBY8

and a scramble for the few bed-cloths, amid which the motion was given to turn, by right flank, which was performed in a creditable manner. The matrons then commanded silence, and .threatened to give whoever spoke what Paddy gave the drain: but whispered jokes and smothered laughter proved that the gayety of the younger portion was unsubdued: and vhen one of the elders in her efforts to suppress the noise be
JTJ to belabor Megr Merrilles, who was asleep, and, therefore innocent, the fun burst all bounds and exploded in an irre pressible shout of laughter, which roused even the gentlemen from their uneasy slumbers in the piazza. They found that tbo rain had ceased, and, as day was beginning to break, preparations were made for departure; it having been deter mined to take advantage of the cool of the morning to travel, and not breakfast till they reached Jefferson.
The ladies niade hasty toilets before the single looking-glass belonging to the party, and came out looking as fresh as if they had r, good night's rest- An hour's travel brought them to Jeffer n, a, neat village prettily situated on a hill border ing the Oconee river, and containing a court house, jail, two hotels, one church, one academy, and five stores.
As it was the plan of the party to combine economy with pleasure, they did not stop at either of the hotels, but having obtained permission to cook their breakfasts in a kitchen on the outskirts of the town, the ladies with their wonderful adaptability to circumstances, pinned up their drosses, and set to work in earnest.
The owner of the house, a hard-working woman who kept no servant, took a fency to the party as soon as she discovered they were not gay lillies who could neither toil nor spin., and rendered them such efficient aid that by the time the carriage was mended a bountiful meal of hot biscuits, coffee and fried ham smoked upon the table, which the hostess had insisted upon cove-ring with a cloth; and though the table furniture was various, a tin bucket serving for a butter plate, a bag lor a sugar bowl, it was doubtful whether any meal, although serv ed by Soyer, was ever eaten with greater gusto.
By eight o'clock the dishes had been washed and repacked, their hostess thanked, and more substantially rewarded for her trouble, and they were <m route for Gainsville, distant twenty miles. The roods were heavy from the recent rains, and the party jogged along in rather a- soberer mood than us ual. Some even took sly unps in convenient corners of tno carriages, quite unmindful of the contortions of face and form which were the consequence of their uneasy positions, till a sudden jolt- of the ambulance aent Capitola so far from the

REM1KI8CJBNCES OF GEORGIA.

21

perpendicular that her waterfall came unfastened, and, rolling down in her lap, disclosed three rats, so like the natural ones, that the Historian drew his knife to defend himself from the hairy monsters.
"Is that the waterfall that there was such a hue and cry raised about last night?" asked Ix>rd Chesterfield, so far for getting the dignity belonging to his name, as to laugh heartily.
" Yes$ some one divested me of it while I was asleep," said Cap, coolly proceeding to stow the rats'away in her pocket, and with a toss of her head skaking her own hair in natural ringlets upon her shoulders. " The reason it came off just now was because I did not have two glasses to see the back part of my head this morning."
u That is to see yourself as ithers see you,77 said Don Quix ote. " It is a strange thing to me that ladies will take so much trouble and wear so many outlandish and uncomfortable things on their heads, when I never saw a gentleman yet who did not admire a simple dress and coiiiure more than the most elaborate style."
" My dear sir," exclaimed Die Vernon, " you surely do not delude yourself with tlie thought that we take the trouble you speak of to please the tastes of your sex f I assure you, if there were none but masculine critics ot our appearance, our toilet tasks would be very easy; but it is our dear feminine friends with their keen eyes, wonderful memories, and sharp tongues, whose criticisms we dread."
" Because you know they are up to all the tricks of the trade, and cannot be half so easily humbugged as we poor masculines," said Lord Chesterfield. " I do not think, how ever, that Don ought to complain of the attention you pay to the toilet, I am in favor of allowing you even more time for these mysterious rites ; for I agree with a friend ot mine who made a speech at Emory College this year, lie said he was a woman's right's man, and there was one privilege ol which she had been deprived for years, that he never intended to miss an opportunity of insisting that she should have, though it had not yet appeared in the list ot" grievances set forth by any strong-minded female. It was his candid opinion, in which I concur, that a woman has just as much right as a man to comb her head "everyday."
u Since even Lord Chesterfield grows witty at our expense," said Meg Menilles, "I propose that we surrender to him an other of our rights that ot" having the last word acknowl edge ourselves vanquished, and retire to bury our dead. Do, Aunt Quiinby, give us another of your funny stories to make us forget our defeat.77

22

AUNT QUIMBY8

" From the looks of a memorandum book which I saw Miss Quiniby writing in this morning, I am sure she could furnish us with a variety of taimi, both new and old,77 said the Histo rian, " and I propose that we elect her our Scheherecade, and insist that she give us a story every day, or nigkt^ as she may prefer."
" I am glad that my task will only extend over *, instead of a thousand nights," said Annt Quimby, " and I will agree to what you propose, on condition that when we reach the moun tains, and have something better to occupy our minds, I may rest from my labors."
" Agreed," cried several voices. " Now consider yourself the-story teller of the Mutual Admiration society, and pro ceed to give us so more of yoqr " Georgia Scenes."
" I find the outlines of the stories you wish written out in my memorandum book, and I will read them, aloud, only add ing iroin memory what may be omitted here," she moarked opening her book. " In order to a full understanding f them, I will have to begin where I left off yesterday. I Hunk we had just left the church where I had heard my first Georgia Sermon.

CHAPTER IV.
TKB OBORGUL HOXKSTBA0.
We traveled rapidly on for several hoars over a country which bore little resemblance to my ideal Southland. In all my dreams, and they had been many since I had decided to visit Georgia, I had pictured it a land of fragrance and bloom, where every breeze wafted the breath of the orange and myr tle groves, and perpetual summer reigned; nor had the tanta lizing glimpses of scenery, caught through the windows of the last revolving car, entirely put to flight these ideal fancies. The pine barrens of North Carolina with their seried ranks ot trees, pierced with innumerable death wounds; the fertile rice fields of South Carolina, interspersed with cypress swamps, draped in their mantles of grey moss; the cotton, fields of Southern Georgia, hoary as the head ot* age, had been alike novel and interesting to me. Note, even these elements of the picturesque were wanting. The road wound through a barren and uncultivated country, acres of worn out commons alterna ting with rugged hills, covered with a dense growth of pines, interspersed with oak, gum, and hickory, the hardy forest

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

23

trees to which I was accustomed in my mountain home, their richly variagsted leaves showing that; even in October, the frost had begun to nse his magic pencil in Georgia; while as the sun declined, the air grew so chilly as to render comforta ble the heavy traveling shawl which iny mother had insisted upon my bringing with me. There were no signs of hnman habitation, except an occasional log cabin, and I was begin ning to wonder silently as to the distance to our stopping pla.ee for the night when Meg, who had noticed my weariness, announced that we were very near it; and in a lew moments an abrupt turn in ihe road brought us directly in front of a building placed with its back almost against the high hill we had just descended, and one end so near another of equal size that there seemed no outlet from the hollow in which it stood, save by the road over which, we had come.
The foundations of the house comsisted of slabs supported at the corners by large blocks of wood, and on each end of these rooms, closely resembling pens, were formed by notched logs; while the space in the middle, answering the purpose of a passage, was open at each end, and enabled the beholder to 1 ok directly through into the garden behind the house, where the only vegetation was a growth that I took to be young pal metto trees, but which I afterwards found to be "blue collarets," plants indigenous to Georgia, and therefore strangers to me. A low, sloping roof covered this unique dwelling, and from the rough rock chimney at each end, a thin stream of blue smoke clurled up above the forest trees that filled the yard.
The stopping of the carriage was the signal for the appear ance of alxNit half a score of tow-headed children, who peeped at us shyly around the corners and from the windows, and about the same number of small dogs of various shades of yel low, that barked and snapped around with such a clamor, as to vividly recall the memory of Scott's Pepper and Mustard breed and left little hope of a peaceful descent from the car riage.
The yelping crew were, however, quickly put to flight by the appearance-of a stout grey-haired man, not unlike i>andic Dinmont, save that tto " hodden gray " was replaced by a full suit of u butternut," as the yellowish brown procured from the bark of the hickory is termed in Georgia. He approached the carriage, and greeting Mr. Carlton familiarly by the title a brother, while he looked curiously at Meg and me.
"You see I have brought my girls according to promise, Judge," said Mr. Carlton, presenting him to us by the name
of Thigpen. "The women folks will be powerful tickled to see th3m," he

24

AUNT QUIMBY8

responded, giving each of us a grip that made my fingers tin gle. light and walk in."
"K this is one of the Judges, what must the common people ber I thought n 1 descended, visions of the learned and iamons meu who hold that position in Virginia, passing through my mind. I did not know then, that every second man in this State fxmrft some such title, though ofno higher rank than Magistrates at. home,
" I hop" they will give us roast turkey Cor supper," whis pered Meg as we. made onr way over the fence that surrounded the yard, calling my attention to a large flock that were dis]>osing themselves for the night among the branches of one of the trees, which was the most homelike feature of the scene.
u At the door we were met by a small, thin-faced woman dressed in blue anil yellow homespun who declared in shrill tones that she was powerful glad to see us, and led the way into a long, low room, which, though containing a bed, was evidently the best room in the house. One end was occupied by an immense lire-place filled with blazing hickory logs, and the persons sitting around it were formally presented to us as Miss Civilia Mar^anta Beraice Thigpen, Miss Eurydine Alvira Thigpen,/uul Miss Atalaiita Snmaiitha Thigpen. each high wounding name being uttered in Mrs. Thigpen's shrillest tones, and followed by a series of hobs, or old fashioned courtesies, from each of the owners.
Meg ami I wore both glad to hide our amusement under the ex-ruse of laying aside our wrappings. These disposed off we ,ver- iu*iall<Hl in T!M> wannest seats by the fire, and were at liberty to look at the hidies to whom we had been introduced. The two that sat next us, were evidently twins, and rather pretty jrirls in spit* of their Hallow complexions, the result, as I afterwards learned, of their excessive use of strong coftee and snuff. They were dressed in blue homespun, and their hair was parted "in the middle behind, coiled in a tight roll back of each ear. and held in place by burnt straws. Though looking to'be jbout seventeen, they were evidently considered children by their elder sister, whose appearance was HO remarkable as'to deserve a paragraph to berseli.
Miss Civilia Margarita Beraiee Thigpen was a tall angular woman of au uncertain age, with high cheek bones, lanternjaws, and a shotrk. of rusty black hair which was combed up to 'ill*- very crown of her liead and tied with a shoe string, the brass tips of which dangled down behind. It was then wound ronud loosly, very nearl? like it is worn at the present day, the. centre of the coil being occupied by a large bnnch of chriaanthcznuma, and other gay colored autumn flowera. The dress

RBMINI8CMNVM8 0* GEORGIA.

25

which accompanied this remarkable head gear, was a bright, red calico with sprawling yellow flowers running over it, and was made with a very slack back, and very full forebody, ending in an extremely long point, around which the narrow, red ribbon that encircled her waist was carefully pinned, and fe|l in long ends to the top of the deep flounce trimmed with home-made cotton edging that ornamented the bottom of the skirt. This unique costume was completed by an embroidered collar of the largest size, trimmed with, wide cotton lace, enor mous pinchbeck earrings, and half-handed blue cottou inits.
" You need not look sp incredulous. Die, I am not drawing on my fancy, but describing a veritable dress," said Aunt Quiinby, pausing to look around. " And the wearer is still living, I expect, for she seemed to be in a whit-leather state."
"Long may she wave," said the Historian. "But proceed, for I am interested in her."
" The original of the portrait I have drawn sat bolt upright iu her chair knitting, as if for life, on a blue woolen sock, and only answering, in monosyllables the remarks in regard to the weather and similar topics which Meg and I forced ourselves to make, after the flrst stunning effect of her appearance had passed off. At length, when Meg in her efforts to make con versation, inquired as to the amusements of the neighborhood, she burst forth in shrill nasal tones as if obliged to speak.
" Why, in the summertime we have camp-meetings, and iu the winter lasses-lickins and quiltings. I was at ono last night in this beat, and we had lots of tatty and goobers, and a powerful sight of fun."
Having said her say she relapsed into silence, knitting fast er than before, and Meg and I retired behind our pocket hand kerchiefs, afraid to trust our voices to make a single comment; and it was a relief when Mr. Carltou and his host entered. Then another succession of bobs took place, after which the toins disappeared in the direction of the kitchen. Mr. Carlton and Mr. Thigpen struck up an animated discussion on the culture of cottou, the one inexhaustible topic of Southern con versation; and, having nothing better to do, I allowed my eyes t> wander round the room, noting each article of furniture. The bed whose feather glories rose to a climax in the middle, and were covered with a quilt whose stars of red and yellow calico were supposed to represent the splendors of the rising sin; tne tall pile of similar efforts of genius packed on a chair iii one corner; the white curtains with their cottou ball fringe; tie rag carpet that covered the'floor, all spoke of cleanliness aid thrift; and I found myself wondering if simplicity natu rally tended to barrenness of mind, and, with the glowing

26

A UVT QUUCBJTS

fancy of eighteen summers. I wan beginning to paintalife like this with one kindred soul, when a door opened behind me and Meg whispered * Behold the coming man, and 1 toned to add one morc to Uie list of originals which this fiunily had furnished.
Had Dickenfl ever visited Georgia, I should believe that to had found in the being, formally predated to aa aa. Mr. lamac Adolphna ThigpeUj and fhmttiarl^termed Ikey? by hia lam-
There him
His long head, covered with UilnT tow colored hair," was net ao far ibrward on bin neck that hia protruding Jaw seemed renting on hi* bosom, and he looked up at 3*001 through hia acant eye brows, which certainly offered but few obstructions to his sight. I Us arms were unusally long. and. as George Oarlton afterwards said, he would have been thundering tall if he had not crooked so far at the bottom: and it was no wonder that he suffered so much with cold, when there was so much of him on the ground, in the shajie of splay feet. These ungainly members wore now cud in cowhide boots that had never known blacking, and he had evidently donned for our spec ial benefit, the red silk neck tie which made the faded hnesof hi* butternut suit more dingy by contrast.
This uncouth figure made for a chair near us by a series of Kpiirfiuorlic jorkM, which reminded me of the antics of a "sup ple* sawnee," ami, Iiaving sidled into it, and stared, first Meg and then me, out of countenance, ho opened his lips and spake:
44 They tell me you conic all the way from Virginny T9 with a sidelong glance at me. " 1 reckon you seen some sights of towns on your way."
I assented, mentioning liichiiioiid and Augusta as being the largest cities on the route.
u Well, Couiiii and Gjiiiiiv>viUe is the onliest towns I ever seen, but I've got a brother that's liyin in Atlaiity"hc nuRwer ed, as if thin ]usl fact v. JIM suit) to raise him in our estimation.
"I tell you be in a *uiait IHJV too," broke in Mis* Civilia " lie can read I ireck and i^ifuru jest about OM e^isy a 1 can Comly's lieader, and it would do yon a powerful sight a good to hear how beautiful he can s|)eak; it farly brings team to m> eyes: and OK for goodness, he's been pious from his verj ermdiekooA, 1 do lH-Iieve."
** J am afraid he will lose it aU in Atlanty, itisrach a big, wicked phioe," said her mother, who liad come fax. u l never wanted him to go, and when he," nodding her head at her hus;

OKtff.i.

27

ti. * would aendhim, I follow*, and I toll you. I 1>llotrv<l crfnl i .*." 1U<* announcement of supper I>v one .'iho chilihcu here put a stop 1 ilt* good lady's How ot t;ilk. mul ^H\.- 114 an oppor tunity in indulging in a quiet lan^l. Mhilo passing out u> it. The Tui'rtl wan laid iu the same n*m in v. hi<!i it had Iwn cook -I, in an oat building in the \iml. !r timloH over f/rwtn tlio one Loft iv ns, was fairly ontitlrd to */m^<* from tlie weight of tiling-* l.iid upon it, tUoujorli it did not. contain Meg's Atitiuiimt*' I ro'iKt tnrkoy. In itn phi<?4* ^JUH a t>ak<H] )N8MUin, ita iK-nd Ltv iMtMl rmind HO that it lay in it* natural ioMitioii with itaMluirp faoe and grinning ^eet'h Htarin^ at you over it* hnv.k. It WMK thuiked on one side by a large dinh of cold vowtabtaB, M. <^tlbage and potatoes, und on the otlicc t>> au iniiuenso
; ii, wonderftilly ornamented arruni tliu ed^e* hy uipreKKKiun of fingers and thumb*. ItetwtMMi then*' dishon and t)m nt*t of delf ware at tlio heal, not an icu:h of (li<- tablo cloth wa allowed to be visible, the spar/es 1>etween the pi iuni)>al plate* of biscuits, loaf-bread, hoc^keH and giugorbroad Ixsing iilled by saucers of preservoM, pickles, misturdft. pics and cheese. In the middle of the table was a large l>o\vi

t< ett with the hot sweet tater biscuits, and ilippc-r thm *ll be alotig presently."
1 aulmidexl quickly, well aware that t.he pulmonary .>inptoms that at once afflicted Meg, Mr. C;rltoii and Ottor^s Mould prove contagious if I attempted to Rpeak.
This array of edibles, lavish at it wan, failed to provoke vr ry keen appetites among our party, ami \vo o!id not linger very loug over the table, in spite of the ho*]iUhl<' entreaties of tho family for us ** to make out our suppers.** Once more settled in the best room, Miss Civilia, at tor offering us a dip from her f*nntf bex, produced a cheap acconloou from a closet, and learning that neither Meg nor I performed on that instru ment, seated herself and began to play the air of " Ti said that Absence Conquers Love,* accompanying the instrument with her voice, and rolling up her eyes till no tiling but the whites were visible. It was hard to tell which was the most shrill and discordant, the accordeon or her voice, and it was a re lief to our auditory nerves, as well an ri#ibles, when Mrs. Thigpeu's sharp tones interposed at the conclusion of the piece.
" Well, Civilia Margarita Beruice, you can play BOIQO more

28

AUNT QUJMBT8

arter awhile, now I want to talk awhile with the* gals, while

YOU and the twinaes do up the jobs.*

Mis* Civilu* looked half inclined to rebel, but finally shut

itp the accordeou, aud stalked out of the room evidently in

high displeasure.

" She's a powerful .techy cretur," said her mother looking

after her, " anl we all liavc to be mighty careful how we talk

to her, I think its from her having the pletunony so bad in her

head. 1 tell you she's dredful bad' off sometimes But lor

Bakes! she's powerful smart for all that, and does lots of work.

1 must just show you some of her quilts," and going to the

pile in the corner she commenced taking them down, and

spreading them on the bed for our inspection, discoursing all

the time on the beauties and merits of Irish-chain, rising-sun,

nine-diamond, log-cabin, and sunflower patterns, with a volii-

bity and originality that kept us all constantly amused.

This display lasted until the hands of the clock pointed to

eight, when Mr. Oarlton proposed that we should retire, as he

wished to make an early start in the morning. To this we

readily agreed, and were shown into a small back room con

taining two beds, and one or two long blue chests. In one of

the former Meg and I were soon ensconced, and free to give

vent to the laughter which had been gathering all the evening:

but we were too weary to in-tulge much, even in this, and

were just dropping strange procession.

to sleep First,

when the came Miss

door opened to admit Civiiia, bearing aloft

a a

vf-ry consumptive looking tallow candle, aud followed by Mrs.

Thi^pcn and the " two twinges" all bearing under their arms

what, at iirst sight, seemed to me bags of cotton, but which

turned out to be children of various sizes in different stages

of somnolenee. They deposited their burdens at the other

end of the room, ami*, going out, returned several times simi

larly laden, till curiosity induced me to raise up to see how

they were disposing of them.

" Oh I Meg," I whispered horror struck," they are putting

the children in the cheats."

" Well. I thought they would have to pack them away in

some such place" unless this was a gotta percha bouse,* she

responded, sleepily. "If they shut down the lids there will

a second 'Murder of the Innocents."'

The whole affiiir struck me as so ludicrous, that it was sev

eral hours before I could again compose myself to sleep; aud

it seemed as if we had just closed our eyes when we were

aroused by Miss Oivilia's sharp tones informing us that bronfr-

tast was ready, though very few signs of day had yet penetrated

A hasty toilet mad btttOcfest fellowed, and, at

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA .

21)

sum se we bade farewell to the Thigpons 7, at. loa*t, never expecting to see them again ; but I i<''!-OIHM! without, ray host. as the sequel will show. Now 1 see th;if Falstalf is u>ij>in^ for dinner, so we will postpone the romarndcr till soim more convenient season.

CHAPTBB V.

n

Falstaff had the carriage drawn up under thesluide of some large trees by the side of the road preparatory to taking din ner; but scarcely had the company alighted, when iho v:i,iu be gan to fall heavily, and there was a general seramblv far places in the ambulance. This vehicle proving iusuflicicuc, however, otwsfohhnereertyleththeresreeetpfnuoaltrracntcctoeeohd,mae emthlxaoocodurediesepaepsttoiaoorannnt dtfohtechfawhetitlhdfonoerpoweonplsls.aiivtreitaAnyn,gHfdtitedwtrhehooiagnoc*gf',>o.*'ntwltsiaThoidsehreiogrstaaeowdnbbltatelesoetmsinetmeehsnnkee more remarkable, as it was a fine building situated immedi ately on the side of the road, only a small yard separating it from the public highway, and the open doors and \vindo\vs

pfsahriTooliwthneeegcdtlitaohndnaoietfarspto,trmmeomvotehvpdeetdfar,aattiatsnhle,ceftuoorrgimetmyne.otdltehtmehreemnEsvdeeel,vcelatsrhieandnt,oamannyoridenevsbeiyrsetitghoaef ting committee to explore this enchanted castle, whose in eammfrlnooaadsntterettdoshdnesdoseyooearopmrtessetetdopohoneebddoeuwihitnnheitddaeoedrb,otsyhpimdeeseanor,r,mocwsohehhmeoiidncswhviooinysvviigeeberrlladeeeialsndocphnser,golelloa;ihtddhaailneplylrdhstwaopliasutthhnhtotxeisu.ntelogvdneTeterrhhias)ee.,l rebavutithdneeronttghlryienaegxtepmreedcttiistnohgreditreoreyftiehnsadenexaicscehputsoupnalelaiiannBathlrueteiaclpBeaseraotmrfdef'unsrtc*nhiatoumfrtbeiedirny; housekeepers. The upper rooms were entirely bare, both of furniture and inmates, and they returned to the piazza to tind the gentlemen comfortably settled in the chairs which it con tained, and ready to laugh at them for their ill success.
" Confess, young ladies, that you expected to find a hand some young Prince secreted in some of the rooms of this utyaterious house, who would immediately fall captive to the

QUIMBYS
'thnrms of KOHIO one of you!" said the Historian. " Under what lioa<' .o,iill I place tbis incident in my book of travels?*
- A- ;> !>w Hunt* of course,*, said Oapitola- " That is what p"-rls fiaifl wo were ffoiiijj to the mountains for."
* 1 aj airaid t.lte t/ear caught here will not prove a royal I nick," .sjVNl Me, <*from tlu- look of" some clothes banking in one <L the rooms. They were certainly not purple and fine unco. I think I shall wait till I get to the Falls to do my bunting perhaps, I may catch the Hermit in my toils.*
" Well, 3 pro}K>s<> we 'use the gifts the prods provide,* said the Historian, lt and take onr dinners on this piazza. Perhaps when its savory odors reach the Lares and Penates of this household, they ufey speak and solve the mystery that sur rounds it.*
This proposition was acceded to by the others, as the rain still continued ; the provision trunk was brought, and they made a merry meal; the Historian proving^the life of the par ty, and keeping them constantly amused by his oddities. He declared that he believed the owner of the place must be a fairy princess, and he thought he would remain and see if she woulcl not make him indeed " monarch of all he surveyed ;* and when all were once more in the carriages, he was seen on th* piazza with his chair tilted back, and his feet a la indepen dent Virginian, coolly muching the cake with which he had filled his pockets.
As they were about driving off, the owner of the place, a plain, bluff looking farmer, rode up on nortieback, and the gentlemen of the party explained their uneeremonions occu pancy of his premises. With the ready hospitality of a native Georgian, he expressed pleasure that his house had been of use to them, and explained its vacancy by the fact that his servants were in the field, and. he had been oft to attend a church meeting.
" Behold the hero of your dreams,* whispered the Historian to the girls ' I am sure he is a bachelor from the cut of his eye. Are you not afraid to leave your property so exposed t* he added aloud to the man.
" Oh no; this is an honest neighborhood,* he replied, " and, l>esides, an old bachelor like myself is not generally supposed to have much to steal.*
Amid the sly jok** and glances which this speech provoked, the ambulance drove off, followed by the other carriages. It soon began to rain so heavily that the gentlemen insisted up on putting all the ladies and children in the ambulance and carriage, and braving the inclemency of the weather in the open buggies.

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

31

The steepness of the hills told that they were approaching the mountain region, while the steamy breath and wet sidee* of the horses to the amDulance showed that they felt the change from the level roads to which they had been accustomed. The spirits of the party seemed to sink with the increasing gloom of the evening, till some one proposed some music to cheer them all up. After a few minutes consultation, several joined in a familiar air led by lady Montague's soft, clear soprano ; Meg added a rich contralto, while Miss Patty proved that her voice was not so diminutive as her body, by furnishing a spir ited alto, and,the driver, Don Quixote, after some persuasion, supplied a mellow base; the rest were content to listen, and for miles grand anthems, and old fashioned hymns, such as might have resounded among the mountain fastnesses where the stern Covenanters held their meetings, kept time to the measured tramp of the horses' feet.
About five in the evening, the roofs'and spires of Gainsville were seen in the distance, and there was a general rearranging of hair and dresses, so as to present as respectable an appear ance as possible in passing through the town, which is the county seat of Hall, and contains a fine Court-House, a num ber of handsome residences, several churches, and a popula tion of about four hundred souls. Its beauties were, however, lost upon the party, as they only passed through the suburbs, their only recollections being a long, muddy street with a row of small shops on one side, and on the other, a church yard, overgrown with grass so rank as to almost hide the discolored and broken tombstones that filled it.
The only moving thing to be seen in the street was a group of school children of various sices, headed by a teacher so short, fair and fat, that he looked like a large roly poly dump ling, and was certainly a good walking advertisement of the feeding powers of the community teachers and pastors being proverbialy as lean, lank and scrawny as their prototypes church and academy mice.
It had been arranged that the party should spend the night with some friends living four miles from Gainsville, and they had hoped to find some member of the family in the village to guide them over the remainder of the road, in this, however, they were disapiK>iiitvd, but, as the rain had ceased, they de termined to push on to their destination. Muss Party Pace, who had passed over the road several times while making a visit to that part of the country in the early summer, was placed iu the buggy with the Historian to guide the party, and they struck into the dense woods laying between villc and the river.

33

AUNT QLIMBYS

]>ou Quixote, in the absence of the Historian, endeavored to giv5t-lio party in the ambulance some outline of the coun try through which they were past ing. He to!<l them that tliey u i-.re now entering upon the mineral region of Georgia, that a )ialf million dollars worth ot geld had been found in II:tk county alone, and several diamonds, one of which had IHM-M Hold for two hundred dollars; while it wag the opinion ot sciciititic men who had investigated the subject, that large quantities of diamonds, besides iron, silver, lead, ruby, tour maline, amethyst, emerald, granite and sandstone, would re ward, whoever had capital sufficient to sink the mines deep enough to reach them.
These statist'cs found very inattentive listeners, each one being intent upon finding the road, and watching the move ments of the guides, who, being suspected of cherishing a pmchant for each other, were the subjects of numberless jokes, us they rode along uuder the same umbrella, evidently well satisfied with themselves and their surroundings. A pause to adjust some part of the harness, gave our Artist a cliauce for another ludicrous caricature of " The Historian on a Dear 1 lunt," which went the rounds of the party, and served to keep up their drooping spirits for a time.
At length they came to a. decided fork in tlie road, and Miss Patty, after a moment's thought, decided that the right hand road was the one to take, and they turned into it, though her hesitating manner had given general uneasiness to the party, for night was coming on rapidly, and a heavy cloud looming up in the west gave token that it would bo one of storm. A dozen discontented voices begged tlie. guides to pay more attention to the road, and less to each other; injunc tions to which they paid little attention.
The liarmony which had hitherto reigned in the ambulance, was now disturbed by Mrs. Gumimdge; who having fallen into what Falstaff called one of her " low jingling ways," began to lament that they had ever undertaken the trip. The indig nant remonstrances of her companions brought on a wordy war, which lasted until Miss Patty called back to say that she was afraid they had taken the wrong road, as she did not rec ognize anything around her.
The murmurs of discontent were "not loud, but deep,** from all except Meg Merrilles, whose anger exploded in a quick Hush of abuse at the stupidity of her cousin, Miss Patty, which was so vehement, and unlike her usual good humor, that it unmsed the whole party, and cleared up the vapors like a ver
itable electric current.

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

33

A fortunate cross-road relieved them of the dilemma of turning round in that dense forest, and brought them into the other track; but, as they were still uncertain about the route, it was decided that they would stop at the Hist house, if the wilderness in which they were involved could furnish one large enough to accommodate the party. As the horses began to show signs of great fatigue, even the roan drooping his usual lofty head, the ladies alighted and proceeded on foot; while it took all the skill of the gentlemen to guide the carriages over the miserable road.
At length the barking of dogs announced their approach to a house, and gave fresh alacrity to the steps of the walkers; but the relief was of short duration, for it turned out to be a, log cabin situated in the midst of a 'collard patch, and giving but faint hopes of a<^oruiiMxi;:tiou for the night. On interro gating the master of this doniicil, he declined attempting to accommodate the party, butsaid they could easily reach their previous destination, though the Chattahoochee, only passable by means of a ferry-boat, intervened. lie ottered to guide them to the river, distant about half a mile, and they started ocne more, and soon reached the ferry, situated in. the midst of low grounds over-grown with a heavy crop of carrot weeds, with no house in sight but the log cabin of the boatman situ ated on a distant hill on the opposite side of the river. AY hen the gentlemen had exhausted their lungs with hallooing, two stout negro men were seen making their way ti.rough the weeds in the direction of the river, and after considerable de lay, a large raft, used as a ferry-boat, was brought over, and the carriages carried over one by one.
Once more en route, the darkness began to descend rapidly accompanied by heavy rain. The road was miserable, and the rate of progress very slow. The first mishap was the jamming of a wheel against a tree, owing to the carelessness of a negro driver. After some difficulty, and any amount of hallooing, the obstacle was removed, and they started again. A few yards further, the foremost carriages were very near being precipatated over a precipice; general consternation prevailed, especially among the gentlemen, wl;o were the only ones fully aware of the amount of damage they bnd escaped. At length the wished for haven came in view, and raised the spirits of the party, though considerable unprrhension wa felt as to the reception such a large party would receive at tliat late hour.
A cordial welcome soon put their doubts to flight? and after a plentiful snpi>er, the party gladly retired to recruit their ex hausted energies, and even the most mischievous of the girls

34

A UNT QUIMBY8

was glad to-go to sleep quietly; so silence soon reigned over the house.

CHAPTER VI.
The bright light of a cloudless morning found the entire party with renewed health and spirits, and ready for any iwh'uic oi' uiausemo.nt that might be proposed. After doing simple justice to their hostess' bountiful breakfast, a council %if ti?e oluers was called, and it wa decided to accept the eorliial invitation of their entertainers and remain where they -.vere till the next day, so as to give the horses a chance to isMx-torc attempting the mountain roads that lay before i IIIMII on the morrow.
The rest was a* acceptable to man as boast, and it was a plejusaiit thing to be the guest of this old-fashioned farm 11 on so wit ii its sloping roof, narrow halls and quaint rooms lighted b.v loei^, windows with most diminutive panes placed far al>t>ve the reach of the tallest person: ah* bearing the Ktarnp of a past age, while the well cultivated fields, fertile orchard*, t*ntl numberless barns and granaries told no tale of the neglect and decay which so frequently accompany anti quity. The master of the place was absent on business in another .State, but his wife and her children dispensed the hospitalities*ol* the house with a cordiality that made every one feel at home, and presented a pleasant picture of country life in Georgia among the better classes.
Jjady Montague and her children went off to visit some rela tives iii the neighborhood, the other matrons and the young people gathered on the front porch to enjoy the beauty of the summer morning, and discuss the adventures of the previous day ; and their blithe voices and merry laughter made the old house ring. The Historian, especially, seemed to imbibe* elixir with every breath of morning air, and by his jokes and teas ing soon had all the young ladies of the party arrayed against him, and eager to repay him in kind. Mrs. Gnminidge alone took his parr, and for some time was the only one that escap ed a sarcasm that was too good-humored to offend even its victims, who one by one warned her that his complacency to her was only the playful gambols of a cat with a mouse that will yet softer irom its sharp claws.

REMINISCENCES Of GEORGIA.

35

The topic of to-morrow's journey was at length introduced, and he declared that he believed that they had reached the end of the road that this was the jumping-off place one step beyond which* would land them all in nothingness and their only mode of progression henceforth must be like that of the craw-fish backwards.
"You remind me of a conversation I heard between two ne groes in a show in Richmond during the war" said J)ou Quix ote. "One was telling the other of a splendid farm he owned with trees on it seven hundred feet high, forty feet through the body and only one foot apart. Do you have any game down there 1" enquired the other, who was quite a proper talking darkey. "We have a little game of seven up. some times." "OhJ I mean deer, rabbits, &c. "O* / yes, lots of dat sort ov game. Deers forty feet from one tip of cle horn to the other tip of de horn jest a tearing through de woods.' ' Well, now I think I have got you. You say the trees aio seven hundred feet high, forty feet through the body, atd stand only one foot apart; and the deer are forty feet from one tip of the horn to the other tip of the horn, and just a tearing through the woods." "Yes, sar, all dat just as true as preach ing." "Well, now I want you to tell me how those deer got put of there V* "How dos deer git outer der f Taint any busmess ov mine how dey gits outer der," said the other, evident ly iioii-plussed. "Yes, sir, you have got to tell me or I shall think you have been lying." "Well," scratching his head, and suddenly struck by a bright idea, "I'll tell you, dey gits out der like McClellan gits out de <Jhickahomiiiy swamp (ley draws in der horns and backs out."
You think we will have to do the same Mr. Historian ? - 4J believe I will try McClelland plan, and beat a retreat in the morning," he replied laughing. "And I am sure of having at least one companion in Mrs. Giunmidge." "And thus show another attribute of the deer cloven foot," said Our Artist scornfully. "I wonder what has made you and Mrs.Guimuidge so dissatisfied with the trip all at once? She has been grumb ling ever since yesterday evening." "I shall not attempt to explain the motives that influence nty conduct, for none of you could appreciate them any more than yon do the manj but I can easily tell you what is the mat ter with Mrs. Giuiunidge," he replied. "Her love affairs liavo not prospered as she expected they would. She has not been able to catch a <le<t r." This saucy hitv delivered in the very presence of one of the gentlemen for whom sli*- had been accused of setting her cap, thoroughly discomfited his ally, and delighted the rest of the

36

AUNT QUIMBY8

company, who kept till the p|icaraucc a diversion.

tip ;i running fire of raillery at her expense of peaches, apples and sweet cider created

eeqtcthtmohshouacrla*iaW tdool?thnr,uwehtatwghiisiitrhelaliyeaartdUwertMtphuglhaCapeeiakerrittetpgetthtioaceiiantknrrctteeedithhnlmateceelhgrcmmarlewlyioaenohsfrnttefeheih'dctrtdeheihhvetornawocsomtnieohgohtentmehoh-rtywltm,reeeafabacraoblsdaeeaufafsreddaotnhrhisridmehHeweesOdae.inomannmnefetoeMxsuuad,wtcwtahpanthnthbrriooiyg,eeycfhcvhvawteliko.arntthrwedhtiyeciielsvepeoitesrniohnfplafheigeasgoavscstasrmeahstinnitneeaneetsislddgr-stl tf'Mt|tiwihhernjaeTe.iteigttrhfoeghdtarueetnifntnirmcnaetonerflmoetetbemhrrmrne,ewnaleiitonnrhohnwe,ogir,ctnaohhlstaoftatlamdtoeltheiwiir;ealetessshyab,ttsensy.rlr,dtieephwrtwupeawhrrpehiaendicedsehnodlwyaftHf,aihOngosaeenanyanee.ndxeodb,rcnheayiccatoleeifuo,dtdnrcemeureodoltrfdlhrooeteriwfmiomtnohrapgaedrijdinvmoureavsafilerrttfihimaetsceseeteerhisiornntnaaotoannoipo-nddna-f

mrtoaonW1wdiumhsmeeinstthbtloheohdekewor. nhdotahleielypsahqrautdyoy,taptohofericerhn.thAeorustatneitnssQmueininmctlbufyrdoewmda,shrweeraqsmueeosmntecode

oawthshmnsoikeel"sils.itlIneeep,asgrsmf"ortcabohemnelaeicctdoasors,ulwehdsaeeitthn,hfwadr:uini*emllcnauyydsnosu,uuptaowpblarellhyylyaro,rewwwawwdhihlyaaiiltcitsnnhekgevmnseIosrtyowp1t,rodcomooImmtashiyophse,ea"iahrnvtasioehvtorenemufofatsoiuhnakr.n;iegdmdosawtaoitnsneiohtynohno,uorlyarItf

TTIK GEORGIA WBDD1NO.
rssgfglbrtlieioyototoVuzu*rmsirvpeieaotMtage.es,unvnoblwtmrnygidfr.nhwdteMbiaCheKidshvec-|laarK'lhriiaafisrhllt>enpulle.ltaafdldtde,CVsgpoft.liisuelnhaeintuorrru'deuissglnnmaIhitmitiotniwwpsfu^y^oneohlia-aaadhraucecrcolltlndelmeahiuhs-tOeddsi,is*oilmcHicatwsiooolwgttnopthunleehadihiaotrtlotnehc-tilorachlmbsoadeolhefumCico,fa.otstiefymhswoaleywsdt;pcmeiihmotocillntoyieoriifla^neloaeletdrosnskahihliintiicttiotesitncnahhoiitiHntdoleicterlenis>nd,bteicvmkseyamtacbe.eteienththar.eoiaoklw'otaeaetsrfe.nnhntassToebsglewfhlrThaecfvuplloedoinaehyitlirend,kanhfehgnstvc,iooopneetiwauunhtLxdagwntslecceso,eedhleoesnmtl,wfeedpn-hackwrdoatiaocenttnesitmthhfpitdconahaae1eto;

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

31

Jghtly over her howl, that it was difficult to believe her the mother of two grown daughters; for May, the second daughter, was now sixteen, very tall for her age, and bidding fair to rival Meg in bounty.
Many quiet but pleasant days passed in assisting the family in the numberJOSH preparations necessary for a large wedding; for Georgia* house keepers do not give carte blanche to some confectioner for the furnishing of such entertainments, hut, even the wealthiest, pride themselves on having everything prepared under their own supervision, and often produce mnster-pieces in the culinary art that would not sit nine a regular artiste* So. for days we lived in an atmosphere UH redolent of sweets as that of Araby the Blest, till pun tries ami store rooms were overflowing with cakes, looking like, mounds of cry8talized snow, amber jellies, golden fruits, and "lucent sirups tinet with cinnamon'.'7
Two weeks before the wedding Mr. T,n;imi a:-rived, bringing with him his younger sisterto spend the intcrvcmng'time with us. I found 'Meg'* betrothed a dignified, intelligent gentle man, for whom I formed a sincere friendship during his vi**it of three days. I \ o left, promising to return the week before the wedding and bring with liim the couein with whom I. was to stand, and upon wh'oiu I, ot course, wished to make a favor able impression., a lie was a young lawyer of considerable eminence.
Mil 'lie Ijainar was a- gay sprite of a girl, very unlike the portly lig.ii v that now sits before me, smiling at the memory of those old dajs, wbfji \ve churned syllabub, whipped cus tards, and frosted enkes together, and contrived to extract so much merriment from these homely operations, that Miss .Inracy Cornell, the housekeeper, declared we were the "livlient and spryest gals it had ever been her fortin to meet." Poor Miss Juracy! lier oddities, and the numberless tricks we play ed off on her, have, been the occasion of many hearty laughs since.
The day before her brother was expected, Minnie threw down the paiHM- V-oi-n with which she had been icing a l.st. batch of cake nn<i*.-xcUiimed : " If I taste or smell any inure sweets, I am afraid Home of the beaux may take me lor a veri table sugar-plum, and devour me at the wedding. IK>, Meg, let's go and take a long walk to bring back your roses, or you will pass that ni^ht for u monument erected to the memory of the late Meg Cartoon."
But Meg wars too busy putting the last totiehos to a dress to hoed her chatter. Mrs. Caiitou ueecled May, so .slie turned to me.

38

AUNT QU1MBY8

" Queen ie, we'll have to be dignified all the time we are in Macon, and this is our last cliance for a frolic before brother and all those tiresome men come; so let's have a good time. Suppose we dress up as beggar-women &md j>ay the "factory folks" :i visit.
1 agreed, for in those days I was always ready for anything that promised fun, and we hunted up all ahe 'old garments that we could find, and arrayed ourselves m them, amid the laughter of the children and servants. Wo were grotesque figures when our toilets were completed. Minnie wore an old black dress of Mrs. Carlton's, without crinoline, a red plaid shawl, black calico sun bonnet, and blue cotton gloves. 1 was equally as ludicrous in a blue and yellow plaid homespun, bor rowed from Miss Juraey, which was immensely large in ther waist, and so long and tight in the skirt that I could scarcely stop. My hair was twisted after the most approveil factory fashion, in a tight roll at the back of each ear, while one of t he boys' broad brimmed straw hats was tied under my chin with a red silk handkerchief-
Thus equipped we sallied forth, and, entering the village, stopied at every house, sometimes asking for bread, at others permission to stay all night. Kobody recognized us, but all refused to entertain such suspicious looking characters; and, after having as much fun as we wanted, we strolled off up the river to look for holly and mistleltoe to finish the decorations of the parlor. Here, in attempting to jump a muddy ditch, I fell in, dragging Minnie with me, and as soou as \ve could extri cate ourselves from the mud, we scampered home to change our wet clothes. We wore creeping in slyly by the back way to keep Mr. Carlton from seeing us, when a young gentleman suddenly stepped from behind one of the pillars of the colonjide, and twitching Minnie in his amis, pressed his moustacked lips to hers. The shriek she gave, so alarmed me that I be came entangled in my wet dress and roltad down the steps, to be picked up by a strikingly handsome young man who was returning from the stables with Mr. Tj:ii>utr. lie placed me on my feet, and there J stood. rvaidy to sink into the earth with mortification; tor my hat liad fallen off in the tumble, and I felt his kern eyes scanning my blushing face, and taking in every detail of my absurd dress. Mr. La mar, who was a little behind, took in the situation at glance, and without pausing, said carelessly in the tone he wonld use to a servant, " You should be a little more careful, Martha,77 arid passed on with his companion into the house.
Minnie, in the meantime, had made her escape unnoticed, after discovering that the supposed young gentleman was

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

39

May Carlton who had dressed v.p in her father's clothes to
frighten us; and on reaching our room, I fonnd them both in convulsions of laughter at the impression I must have made on Herbert Ijindsay. In spite ofmy vexation, I could not help joining in their merriment, and it was some time before Meg could sober us enough to prepare to entertain the gentlemen who had arrived in our absence.
I made a careful toilet aul descended, hoping that Mr. Ijindsay might not r2cogmze in the stately young lady in fashionable attire, the scarecrow whom he had probably taken for a mulatto girl. There was no sign of recognition as lie bowed with courtly grace at the mention of my name, though once or twice during the evening 1 detected a gleam of amuse
ment in Ms dark eyes as they rested on me, that made me fear lie was recalling the contrclenip of our meeting. In spite of this uneasiness, the evening passed pleasantly, and I form
ed a very favorable impression of the gentlemen* who were to
act as groomsmen. They were staying with a friend in the neighborhood, and
were to accompany the groom on the morrow to the county town, distant about twenty miles, to procure his license, and would not return till the day before the wedding, so that I saw nothing more ot Herbert Liiidsay, till we met to take our
places in the bridal train. The attendants were eight in number; the ladies being Min
nie, May, Carrie Lindsay, and myself. By Meg's request, I was first bridesmaid, and upon me devolved much of the du ty of entertaining the large company that began to assemble by dark, arid comprised the best people of the neighborhood, as well as many strangers from Atl'ens ard Atacon, in which latter city, the Lnrnars resided. The ceremony had gone oft en regie, tin IM'.!. !ia<l blushed and cried in the most approv
ed manner without making her nose or eyes red, and with her attendants around her was standing near the centre of the room, conversing withja large group of her husband's city rel
atives. Conscious of looking my very best in my vapory white crepe and pearl ornaments, I was dividing my attention be
tween several distinguished gentlemen who had solicited in troductions, when, happening to raise my eyes, I saw Ike Thigpen's long chin hooked over the shoulder of a gentleman before me, coolly staring down into my face.
My first impulse was to turn my back on him; but, as soon as he caught my eye, he elbowed his way t hrough the group, and, extending a hand that looked like a joint ot uncooked
meat, exclaimed in a loud, rasping voice that attracted the attention of all around us:--"Well Miss Quiniby I I'm power-

4O

AUNT QUIMBTS

ful tickled to see you agin. Yon see we hern Miss Magrat was going to marry, so sister Civilia Bernicc and me, thought we'd come up to see her hitched."
Sure enough, just behind him loomed Miss Oivilia in the identical costume already described; while Ike was decked in a swallow tailed blue coat with brass buttons, a flaming red vest, butternut pants, and a stove pipe hat set on the back of his head which he could not be persuaded to remove.
It cost me a short, but sharp, mental struggle to brave the wondering eyes around me, and acknowledged my acquaint ance with this grotesque pair, for I had all the sensitiveness in regard to appearances common to my youthful years; but 1 shook hands with both, and. while they paid their respects to the biide, I slipped away, I thought unobserved, till, as I reached the door of tho parlor, Ilerbeit Lindsay's voice sound ed at my side asking me to atMjept his arm for a promenade. Tie led ine out on the colonade, suid walked up and down in silence till my burning cheeks cooled ; then with gentle tact led me to talk other things, and I soon forgot my mortification in the charm of his conversation.
Only once more during the evening did Ike approach me, and then it was to ask me to "pull some music out of that ar red box" meaning the piano. 1 was about to refuse, but Meg whispered to me to gratify him, and I complied by play ing some of my livliest pieces. Ike stood by in openmouth wonder for awhile, but suddenly startled the whole company by exclaiming, <A Lor sakes, the gal haiutgotno jiiits in her fingers."
This speech ended the music i.lmt t 'tlY, .nu 1. I -;;.\ ii^tbing more of Ike till at the sup]>er table I heard him request Her bert Lindsay to hand him "a sasser of that frozen butter what the <*ows give when they run in the sweet grass bed."
Herbert's looks, as he handed him the ice cream, which a fortunate freeze luid enabled us to have, entirely upset my gravity, ai.d, catching my eye, we indulged in a hearty laugh, and as Ike moved away l"wasable to explain to him the circum stances of my acquaintance with t his oddity, after which we amused ourselves by watching him.
He had forced himself up next to the bridal party, and Minnie, who was a very imp of mischief, saw in him fine sport, and began a conversation by asking him how he liked the ice
cream. " Well, its purty good, but just about the coldest thing I
ever put down my goozte," he replied. Seeing her give her partner a small cake with a name on it,
he inquired what it was, and she told him she had given the

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

41

gentleman a heart with bis lady love's name on it, and showed him. a plate of .similar ones.
"Ix>rsakes. J vender if thar's any chance of my finding my sweetheart's name thar," he said.
"Tell me what her name is, and I will look," she answered. " Pm scared she might hear me," he said with a foolish grin. " Oh is she here?*7 she exclaimed. **Then just tell me her in itials." "Well her initials is, Quimby" Minnie comprehended in a minute, and almost convulsed with delight at the joke she had oil me, selected a cake with my name on it, and. presented it to Ike who grinned from car to ear. Even my position in the bridal train could not keep me in that pot any longer, and I took particular pains to keep out of the way of the Thigpens for the remainder of the evening. Most of the guests from a distance remained all night, and at the breakfast table the next morning, Mr. Carl ton, instiga ted by Minnie, told of my conquest, and 1 had to run a per fect gauntlet of raillery, which I bore as best I might, though very much annoyed. There was to be a reception during the morning. Herbert Lindsay and several other gentlemen had told me they in tend ed to call, and about eleven o'clock I \vas descending the stairs after a careful toilet, when I heard Ike Thigpen's voice in the porch asking if I was at home. Determined not to see him, I flew down the back-stairs, through the garden, and, knowing Minnie would leave no place about the house unsearchod, I took refuge in an. empty corn crib, crouching down in the darkest corner careless of my rich silk and handsome laces. There I remained till my watch told me the dinner hour was passed; then, creeping round by the kitchen, 1 learned that my fc'Bnbly Jock" was gone, and ventured into the dining room to beg Miss Juracy to give me some dinner, I found Mrs. Carlton still there, and she told me that Ike, after sitting in the par lor some time looking like a fish out of water, asked, "If Miss Quimby was at home, that he had a few things to say to her." Mr. Carl ton and Minnie, eager for fun, had searched the place for me, but without success, and Ike had finally taken his leave. I was telling her my hiding-place, when Mr. Carlton came in to light his pipe, and the fuss he made over the " runaway" soon called every one else in, and the. fun at my expense, " waxed fast and furious," till Mrs. Carl ton, taking
compassion on me, drove them all out so that I could finish my
dinner in peace.

42

A UNT 0I77JrjiP/

My discomfiture was complete, when I learned that the gentleman luul called in my abwwe, and, with many regret* :vt not fleeing me, had taken their departure. f<r their home* in Athens. Nothing wan to be done, however, but let my \ vat ion evaM>ratc, in that woman'* solace, :i good cry, which I indulged i*i under th pretence of taking a nap.
The next day tlm bridal tniiu started for Macon, and among: the refilled and cultivated people 1 met there, 1 learned to properly appreciate Georgia e.huracter, and to know that the ThigiMms were exceptions. I never saw I key again, but the nickname ho had given me followed me back to Virginia, and in still my familiar appellation among- my frienda; while my littl*' int^-CH and ncplicwM do not knon that J have any other name than " Aunt CJiiimby;" and HO ends my story.
u C^ii4H'?iic Maid I must supply whatever she oinittel,n said our hoHtCKM, as Aunt Quiinby lelt the |orcli to put away her memorandum book. "She hax left out the romance of the story lcc4iuMc iteoneerniHl herself. My <-4tisin llerliert fell a victim to her eJiarm* in spite of the niitoward fate that ruled their eaily acquaintance. He visited her frtqm-ntly while she reniain/d in Oe<r^ia, and they were en^a^ed when she returned to Virginia. What broke it oil'. 1 never knew, though 1 ha\e always tms|>ected that May f/arlton. haI :t large share in the aftair, for Ilerbet married her several years air<-r\var<l, th(ugh he once said to inc, that, in spit4. ol iiiis;uulert<taiulingtiy Queenie must ever remain his ideal of a pert'e<;t \vomiui. lie is now a widower, and the, start Quecnie nave iast night when I told her, made me hojwthat their dilllciilry mi^lit y<t be ex plained ssitinfactoi-ily. Time only can prove ; meanwhile you will not. thank me tor Hitting here talking scmiiuciit, and neg lecting Your supiH^rs," and she hastened away, jingling her key basket, leaving the rest to comment, at their leisure, up on this glimpse into Aunt Quimby's history.

CHAPTER vn. The next morning found the party, with the addition of a ]K>rtioii of their hostess' family, again on the road. For boon they threaded the dense forest covering that part of Hall county, catching now and then, through the vail of leaves, fleeting glimpses of the Chattalioochee, rushing and tumbling

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

43

over the dams that impede fea course; but ere long they bade farewell for that day to the silvery gleam of it* waters, and began to ascend mountain aides 00 steep that it required the full power of the horses to draw the vehicles. The road still con tinued bad, though one forgave the roughness for the beauty ot* the apota through which it passed. Soon the face of the country put on a wild and finikintie appearance a* the eleva ted spurs of the Blue Uidge began to rise above the horizon; some, bold, craggy and prcciptions, lifting their naked heads towards the sky, as if defying the wrath of the element*; oth ers, clothed with a natural taj>estry of leafy green, and slop ing with an almost imperceptible declivity to the general level of the kind; while in the far distance Mt. Yonah, meaning in the Oherokee tongue the Great Beaf, kept guard over the realm of lesser mountains.
Some one has said that tin grading of roads with the conse quent destruction ofsurroumding beauties, disfigures a coun try, and prevents its pleasing features from being viewed save at a distance. If this be the case, it should le the fervent wish of every true lover of Lature that it may bo many years ere the utilitarian spirit of Mac Adam visits the country of which I am writing; for the roads in use there now, however rough, have the merit of bringing the traveler in close compuiiiouskip with surrounding beauties. They lead him over hills where he may catch magnificent views of mountain peaks and fertile valleys ontspi ead into a wide surface of checkered green, now dark, now light, and fading so gently into the dim distance far away, that you can almost believe it a world ot waters that bounds your vision. Then they dip suddenly into deep dells where merry brooklets, shaded by sycamores, wa ter-birch, and sugar maples, gather their trickling*, cool and clear as crystal, from the surrounding mountains; or, seized with a social nt, take their course through farm yards, or by cabin doors, whose inmates pause from their homely domestic tasks to gaze at you with eager interest, or profiler with ready kindness, the products of their dairies aud orchards, the only wealth which they losses*. But so rare are these si^ns of civilization, so solitary the roads, and dense the wooded growth that one could almost cheat themselves with the belief that they were journeying in piimeval days, and might expect to hear the solitudes around them re-echo with the war-whoop of the brave Oherokee, or Cliuctaw, or catch through the inter stices of the leafy curtain iliat vails their way, glimpses ot the wigwams of "deer skins bleached and whitened.*7
As the sole motives of the party was enjoyment, and there impatience to reach their journey's eud, their course

44

AUNT QVIMBTS

was cratic, learin<i much resemblance to that which in childish fable \v;tH said to lead to U /I ; n 3! MH!'S barn, in its old-fashion ed attributes uf tiiuc, distance. .\ijil liegiiiling incidents. They rode, NV:II\. il, l.i<iglifi!, sung ;i:.d talked,gathered wild berries, rested tliei:i.s4-!\cs upon lu^-^. lotfs, or shaded rocks, ate their lunch und'.T cm'ovkci ing vines :.niid fertile orchards, clnuik deep draught *N from cle*ir, cold tprings, and filled the long, bright d:i\. will, tin- j-.;ie lixii of youthful pleasures, the evanescent spaiXlc of v liich is n* difficult to iK>rtray by ien and ]*;t]HT a.s i. inip.isoii tin; ;ircjna of the golden vintage. Nor is it iii.-ib!c in tl^- l>iief H4>:u to \vhieh this book is limited, to nil ;ili(u: lialftlie incidents, which, however auiusin^ in tin- 04-curiviK-e. ji:iji:lit pro\-j " flat, Htivle and unprofltabl< M to the iviider; HO that :i general outline of the principal pla<-cs and events in all that can be attempted.
About 110011 the tourist.s jtasscd from Hall into'White, a nc-xvl.v e.stablished county, formed from ]>ortion8 of Hall, HaiH'isiiani and Kabiin; and alx>ut ai^lit i-eaelied the village of Cleveland, formerly callled Mt. \onah. It in a small place, containing one church, one school, tliree stores, and a blackKiuitirs shop, and chiefly remarkajle for the magnificence of the mountain Hceuery around it, ;vnd its proximity to Cedar {Springs, whose medicinal qualities have lately been discover ed, and, are said to l>e as remarkable as that of the Pool of Si loam; iusomucli as they make the blind to see, the lame to walk, tiie lei>er to be cleansed; and prove such a " fountain of youth*7 to the aged, that in spite of the want of accommodation a crowd ot " imiKjteiit folk" gather there every season. Such was the account given the writer by a voluble lady who had spent some weeks in a cabin on the spot.
The single hotel ot Cleveland looked so unpromisiag that the party passed through without stopping, and decided to camp in a beautiful grove surrounding an old church in the outskirts of the village; and to allov the ladies to make use of the tents, as the night promised to be warm and cloudless. They were delighted with this new feature of Bohemian life, and hastened to make their preparations for the night, un heeding the cynical smiles exchanged among the gentlemen at their expressions of delight at the pros]>ect of sleeping with onlv " the calm blue sky above, the grassy sward beneath them."
While a portion of the party attended to the horses, those of the gentlemen \\ ho were supposed to be most familiar with camp life fix>m their experience as soldiers, were called upon to erect the two tents, which the ladies had prepared before leaving Louie. But they soou found that the proportions of

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

45

cither wore entirely too small for the number to be Accommo dated: :m<l, after * great deal of trouble and discusion, they succet-dvd in making of the two, one rather rickety affair, that might cover the ladies and children by clow, packing, while th- gentlemen would sleep on their blankets under the adjacent trees ris a oody guard.
These preparniions being completed, and a lire, kindled, the matrons and servants set about preparing supper, while, tluyoung ie.ople, attracted by the beauty of the s<-< aery around them, strolled of in various directions. A party sca-iVd them selves on the steps of the chuieh, and there It-ash ieigh Obaldiseon, who h.id IH-UMI ix-niarkably quiet throughout the jour ney. distinguished himself by taking a seat too near a yelhrvvjaeket/s m-si. The infuriated insects suddenly surrounded his hfjad, ami he In^aii to light, stamp, and oil I UIMH OIK* of tin* young hi.lies to rescue him, to the no small a>iinr.i- ( uur- of rhc whole partA ; ami, as short as the step bet-\\o.t-n ilto sublime and the ridiciiloiis is said to be, it is far more diilictdt iii th" as <*ut thaii tlu- des'^-nt, so it was many minutes In-fore, the risi bles of Hie compimy becaine sufficiently composed to pay atteutioit to the glories of the sunset unrolled hefoto them. It was iiid<^ed, a lovely vision of the gate of evening, framed in by the strong buttresses of the mountains, and guarded by one solitary sentry, the evening star; while within the unbarred portal.-; you caught glimpses in the distance of dom?s of gold, mighty "pillars, and high arched roof spangled and veined with amber, pearl and amethyst; and surrounded by lauds fair as those of Beulah, overarched by fadeless rainbows and opal tinted skies, ssvect and peaceful as the spirits of the wearied saints who there tmd perfect rest unto the r souls: all illumin ated as from below the horizon by an impiisioned radiance, seemingly the very essence of the sun, whose disc had already disappeared.
The wondrous beauty of the scene crept into the hearts of even these gay observers. Nature spoke to them with her " still, small voice,"1 and there was a deep stillness only broken at length by the voice of Aunt Quimby, repeating solemnly:-- " Is not U<>d in the height of heaven ! He holdeth back the, face of his thixKie, and spretwleth his cloud upon ? Jlebindctli the sweet influence of the Pleiades, and looseth the honds of Orion. Ix> these are pan's of Ilia ways, but the thunders of his powers who can uid< rstand ?"
"Why is it," asked the Historian, as the georgcous )>ageant faded before tlu 'jooi shades of evening, u that i: vio.uing any great ezhibitiou of Nature's works, we feel so plainly the bar renness of our commou language to express wh'ai we feel, au<i

44>

AUNT QU1MBTS

instinctively fall back upon the grand words of the Bible f I have no doubt each one was thinking of some passage similar to those Aunt Qiiimby related."
"Because only the mind that originated these grand works, could frame language Hiiitable to describe them," said the Art ist. lUit I ujttture you, you must not think we are all each t ^kv-Ncrai>ei-H*f a* you ami Aunt Qnimby. 7 was thinking that mountain inset* would be glorious things transferred to can vas, if flu "I'tinhtm with which they have to be painted wan not *f> t-x | tensive."*
TK-. ffra\ity \\i(\\ which this utilitarian idea was advanced, was so led it,n .MM tlr.it a. heurty laugh restored them all to their iiHit<i.il l"\ol, aud they descended the hill to meet the walkers ;:ttl <Mtqtn'r into 1 r.cir adventures. They found them disposed to gn;.:dJ; <<-rri>>Iy :it the lack of supplies in the villnge, M'hich t ! > !>.ut , irtit^Mt in m-areli of crackers. cheerj, and fresh egg, T;tn\ ciiliere:* fables to add to their store; a* well as of the rtidenek.s :j tin- jn ilc inlr.ibitantH, which had Herioualy alarmel the hidi**i, .t-hoso icrvt-s were so unstrung that on going up to the old church in souix h of seats they becom) so alarmed that rlM-ir M'rc:uii.H brought the gentlemen to their assistance, and they timml they had been frightened by their own shadows rc'lfctau in the moonlight which streamed through the win dows.
These alarm* weix;, however, forgotten when they gathered ar<n<ml tiic long table, that the church Lad supplied, to jiartako of supper, which the matrons in vain tried to limit to )icad, butU'j-, fruit and coftV^e. Thei-e was a general out-cr>toi mon<, which Falstaft said reminded him of the Icelandic fable, vhi<:h lie proceeded to relate while waiti:igfor his coffe3 4o cool. >4A man, named Fusi, seated himself oue C^hriHtmasovi ;it :i CT*.-<* i\id, to wait lor the elves who coine nt this time wiih t-heir riches. It is only necossiir^' not to spak to tlicMii,or tiik' anything from during the whole night, otherwise they will vaiujsli, and all their riche* are turned into stones. Hat when the suii rises, one must say: "frod l>e praii^ed, now it is morning in the. heavens," and the elvew vanish, leaving llu'ir .-tore* b--Uind them. Fiisi, then, was Kitting by the cross roml, and an elf came to him, and asked him if he would Ttot fMirtakc of a piece of fat. The temptation van too great f*> in- rei**t4>4l 9 nnd he replied. 'Fat have 1 nevwr refu.-iedr lint alas! fat, elf, and all vanished from his sight.
In return for this story, lie was allowed to have- a, bonne. bfmcJtr v>f thi; <x>\ <t<Ml fat, and the others profited by his indul gence, and hel|KHl thenidelvea. When, the me;il wa at length over, the matrons and children retired to the teut, but the

young people lingered around the fire, Inred by the, novelty of their surroundings.

The slender orescent of the young moon had already sunk out of night behind the mountains, hut its place was supplied

by myriads of stars that peeped through every opening in the

leafy screen above their heads, and though they nftbrdod but little help to the camp-tire in routing the shadows that linger ed out-side of the circle of light iu sufficient force to inspire in the timid hearts of the Indies that inseparable adjunct of darkness--danger--and give the gentlemen a pleasant feeling of protection towards their fair companions. The sighing of the night wind in the heavy branches of the trees, an occa sional snort from the horses tethered on the opposite side of

the road, the distant and plaintive cry of tin- xvliippoorwill, mingled with, but did not disturb the. low hum of t-oiivei^ntJon

around the fire. Don Quixote regretted the ubsense of music which might lend its witchiitg strains to the sort influence of the hour, whose memory he could m>v-r ibi^v.t . bni :ii* this gallant speech was made while in the unrornaulie t mphiyjpoiit ot holding a long bar of rosin soup \\ith v,i:ir!i Miss Patty Pace was' washing out some poeket-handkei. lu ts, its effert was somewhat impaired by a pertinent question tioin M<'cr, is to which would ocrupy the most prominent phiee in his reui4-n<-

rance--Jose or s<;q. The fun which this excited, lasted till somti oi the elders,
pointing to the rapid irarch of ce:'tain lainilini' <v>!i8telltii ions towards the zenith, warned the others the 4t wee HUUI hours" were approaching, and with many good nights, and \vislit-a lor

pleasant dreams tne ladies set out for the tent. A rather unpromising prospect, for sleep was revealed by the
lifting of the Hap that answered for a door. The te:it, a mere fly thrown over a ridge-pole,- did not cover an extent of more than fourteen square feet of ground ; upon this hnd'beeii ioosely thrown the oats and fodder designed for tne forage of the horses on the morrow, and covered by all the l>ed clothes of the

party. In the centre of this unique bed were disposed the three

matrons and the seven children in attitudes more comfortable,

than graceful, leaving only a circular strip, about a foot wide, round the edges, for the 'accommodation of the seven young

ladies. After

a

prolonged

survey

of

this

contracted

space,

Die

Ver-

non declared that she for the first time realized the utility of

the Grecian Bend; for, whoever was most afflicted with it,

could best accommodate themselves to the i6sition they all

had to occupy during the night, that of a circular hedge to a

young vineyard; aud, having thus expressed her opinion, she

48

AUNT QUTMBY8

and Meg seized the one small piece of candle, and went off to

the wagon to overhaul the trunk that contained "the ward-

robe ot* the troupe," for some clean collars for the morning's

adornment.

The others, being left in darkness to make their prepara

tions for the night, soon awakened the sleepers by their un

wary stumblings, and a scene of disturbance ensued, mingled

with dismal calls for light, which were answered by one of the

gentlemen thrusting a lighted candle under one edge of the

tent in such clone proximity to some of the party as to produce

such a general stampede to the other side, as was very sear

knocking down the trail supports ot the tent. Amid the

"confusion worse confounded," which now reigned in this

cloth habitation, it was a proof of the amiability of the party

that nobody lost lier temper, but every mishap t provoked

irt'sh arntiKetiKMit.

^

At lat by Hint of pushing, squeezing, and skilRnl adapta

tion of theinselves to corners, as well as circumstances, every

one found a resting place for their bodies, and were agreeing

to be satisfied with this, when the appearance of Mrs. Page

with a bitt!(* of brandy and honey in one hand, and one of

l*l:mtiitict?i liittf-rs in the other, renewed the fun. She had

provided t IK-FA? medicines in cane of snake-bites, and now de

claring that it wa equally necessary to protect them from

cold, insisted upon each one taking a swallow. The change

of iKwture necessary to the accomplishment of this, was not

made without noise, which was at its hight when loud shouts

in the direction of the village attracted their attention. In a

inoinent all was still as death, every sense being concentrated

in that of listening. It was soon ascertained that they were

drunken shouts and rapidly approaching nearer. The wildest fear

took possession of them, as tales of the lawlessness of White

county rushed upon their memories. In vain the most collec

ted strove to reassure the others by representing the well-

known bravery of the gentlemen, and their power to protect

them. Their confidence in their male protectors weakened

with their distance from them, and when some one whispered

that the only two pistols in the company belonged to the ne

gro drivers, the panic reached its hight. Some began to

replace the few articles of dress they had laid aside, prepara

tory to hasty flight, they knew not where; others sat helpless

ly weeping and trembling in the darkness, afraid to speak or

A few moments of intense anxiety passed, then the voices of the gentlemen were heard in the vicinity of the tent. They had ascertained that the noise proceeded from some dranke*

OF GEORGIA .

49

revelers passing along the road to UK-U- IKMIK* \vithout-a thought of molesting them* nntl had returned ?:> ri-a,vsurc the ladies, ami tell tht4in they might? sle%.*p in JM ;;< tVi vli'v Mould lie under the neighboring trees and kop <niard. The rv.vulsion] <rf feeling \\hicli these words produced was M> jrreat thai Meg ctochi-red that they could all .sleep UK- balance of the night 011 a bed >t augers, beset by a tribe, of tluj l<> ^sul-tlies of which St. Klmo Utlkeil j but she soon found hers*-;! nii.stakcn, for they were seareely sc'-ttled u-gaiii, whou it \VJIH <ii-oMHM; that the tire httviu^- been built in a lio.q'-l.x'd, Hi, heas hail been driven do*ii the hill into the tent, and with a .s\\;mu o; bla<jk ants that had their nest in a hollow in the tr< ...uain.-i; which the- tent wa* placed, threatened to expel the JIUJIKIII in-

Very disturbed slumbers were the coiiseqii^m-e. nor did th<: gentlejnen fare much better, if one jniglit judy frtm t!)"ir l?roaimaiid lre<|ient exclamations ; and, late in tW ni^Ja, .ei.vulsions of laugfhu^r from Falstalf tliat seemed to shake, tbo ground, provoked by the solenui adjuration of I..os iis to tin-
not to juake a jnual of him before he was under tho sod.

CHAPTER VIII.
The first prleam of day found them all willing to leave tiieir uncomfortable couches, and Meg and Cap, the nj'wst elastic natures in the company, 'declaring they felt fully as much in need of "shaking up^ as the Smallweeds of Bleak House? iii'iii ory. started oft" to look for a nowing brook in which to make their ablutions; and returned after sometime, Avith <-hecks that had been 'painted by the rosy lingers of the. morning, to laugh at the generally haggard and uncomfortable look of tlie others yawning over their unpalatable breakfast of cold bi-ea'd and meat, while they parried with what skill they could the laughing banter of the gentlemen ou their partiality for /*></* life.
It had been arranged that they should make the. -ascent of Mt. Tonah, throe miles distant, so dispatch was tlie order of the day until they were once more in the carriages and leaving Cleveland behind them.
It waa a fresh, breezy morniug; brilliant f1a.-h"s of sun light alternating with deep shadows, making of ilic land scapo

.-0 .\ 0i : .* 01" pasture.-. i-m-Ti different, yet nil *o aJBOunding in IH-.MU.V. M;at n palm- r <vould have liopcred with delight over tn'.' :.i rjV< i* of |i.fht unit **hadf, iflotiou/. 'lifmlay* of color, and iraccfu* group*!*;;* wt* uark ood*, op-ii field* and rugged mountain.*. Karly morning among the mountain!* has a charm tor th* imaginative imnd unknown to any other time of the day; and that, ev*-n flu- elder** of thi* party wero trtie lovers of natun% illicitt bo HCCII tmtu the rt-adineHrt wit!i which they for(rot the <liisfoi<it<u-i* of the nij;ht in the 8w*.*.t inrtuonce of tUe hour. Th- luMi Hitting cloi<lf<, the brcteasy KTUKN, th rich odors of wild tio\v<r* titat ro>o. from the baukhol the daucingr brookl<'fM, tho 4ii'l!ow whiUo and ^or^t-oiis hue* of the red Wrdji that HnU4MV'i through the thickoU that bordered the road; atl \\'i<- nj'jv-<l Midi the keen 3wnt of cliildren.
'riif^, \\4-if now on \\\f I>order8 of thn Cherokoc conutary, anl the pnu-tit IH| < >< would i^t oneo rioti< a eljuig: in the geoloj; leu! toiiii'ititMiH of th< hnul; ami dt.-t^t the pre^eiice of liineMOIH- iii rh iiixaiiant growth of Hinall irmiti and gnwwO.H. Tin- coiiscitutum of tho noil :u I the ixx-k formatioua NMII^T KiuiiUtr to thosi- of the <l>itest*o V alley in New York,and tin* &li<-iiaiilo;;'u in Virginia, the tiinc utnjy yet come when the >viM-rii4 ws may Mi^soin i.kc tin* i/s4-T and this portion of (MHr^ia ui.i\ 1*4* as remarkable for i\.x agricultural, as itia uow tor ii> mim-j-al vvetilrh, and abundant wat4*r ]N>wer. The gen eral *il is uo'Ml: with ]>ro(H*r care alt kiiuln <>f grasti grow lux uriantly, and the \\liole conutry ui p(Mru!iuri%\ adapted to graziu^. <'or*i, \> ho^tt, r^o. oats, barley ixjid buckwheat, reward die faint' v iili <iito enp.s; while the orchard products are reJK rka:i\ a.huitdatit, attd the forest** are lich in oak, chestnut, \\alnitt, IH.MV h. whttv pine, spnicu- and hiMrdcK-k. The climate is very pure and healthy, the scenery u:ni\-jidwl in beauty;and, \vluMi*its a^rii-iiltunil and mineral wealth .siiall be o^,velo|ed, lli- N*v:!i iCaist portion ot" tbo State w?i; l>oM>me the gardeu|Kt tf Cirorj^ia. That the Air-Line Kali road will prove tlie oiNMi si'sjiine which will unlock these hidden treasure*, few -aii iloub* who have ver traveled tiiruugli this section.
The course of the traveler* lay through the narrow belt of chtstic saudrtione which riiux from Hog mountain in Hall county to IlalKTsham in the ^. K. corner of the State. This Htiata is tit*' houie of the diamond, scrue dozen having been already fouud; and, in 1828, the discovers* of gold both in vein and dciKsit, threw the people of this region into great excite ment, which gradually extended itself to the adjoining State, even Calhouue tailing a victim to the epidemic, and proving how poor a match great learning is for practical ennning, by paying ten thousand dollars for a mine not worth aa i

51
hundreds. In this instance he fell a victim to the well known practice of "salting," or transferring gold by slight-ot-haud to the pans while washing; hut he afterwards purchased a vein where the gold was imbedded in a strata of rock which prov ed of immense value.
Uow the rich quartoae veins, or alluvial material* that com pose the deposit mines are formed, is a <juc*tmii U-st left 1<> the geologist: but it is now well known, that, though the mining fever lias in a great measure subsided, there is more gold in this region than there! ever was in all the brink vaults in the United States, and that a pit can scarcely he, sunk in these Ittllft and valleys without iinding particles of *f h precious metal. For tliis reason, proprietor* soil with #reat reluctance even at fifty dollars per acre, as a small lot may contain si. mine worth thousands of dollars. Tho NacooclieeHydraulic Mining Company was established just before .lie l;u; war by New England enterprise. It has now in possession. either by lease or purchase, eight thouaand acres of the. best mining:: ground in Georgia, which is washed by a can til i \\clve miles in length that cost forty thousand dollars. They \vork on the California system with, improved machinery, uirl there seems to IK* no reason why fortunes should not ! more easily real ixed here, than in that ElDorado of the West, ;s fissure veins, such as exist in these mountains, always improve in sixe and quality. Very little, however, dul the gay party.i.ra* e, .-inji this irountry think of the hidden riches lieiieath th.'MV 'e,ei, fur the
{ment, at leant, their thoughts were not of ''tin* . .K ii earthy,"7
>ut were soaring to the top of the tall pcaiv tlial aix^se, be fore them in solemn grandeur, preHent ; n<j on the side next; to them a parjmudiciilar wall of grey free-stone more, than a thousand feet in hight, from the summit <>i A\ hi. h. in fair weather, a magnificent view of the surrounding country can be obtained. The ascent could only be made ou foot 'Vom the other side of the mountain, and all \vero oa^e; to att<-uipt it? but, on reaching the nearest practicable point for the carriages, it was found that the clouds had sudd*-nl> become .o dark and lowering :VH to promise only a thorough \ve-Uing; in pay ment for the toil of climbing, so thf accent \vas almndoned, and they turned reluctantly away. Hiri they vere oou repaid for their disappointment by iheiv eiii ranee into Xaeoochee Valley, the beauties of which far exceeded their already exalted anticipations, and of which words, however iitl.y chosen, can give but a faint idea.
Imagine an ellipsis eight miles in length aud half a mile wide, encircled on every side by mountains; of which Mt. Yonah, the tallest peak, stands sentinel at the entrance. From

52

A VUfT QTTT]lfBY>fi

the north-west come thtChattahoochee dashing down from, its h<'Ad-Mpi ings among the Blue Ridge, and, forgetting here the Indian Migniitoance of its name, ** .Flowered Itocks," flows on through, beautiful lowlands, and disappears between two abrupt inoun tain peaks.
The graphic words used in describing a valley in another Stat<\ rush UIK>II the mind in entering this, which might easily pans lor the original of the " Happy Valley " described. The writer says: * Everything which can enrich and delight has b-<-M lavished here in bounteous profusion. Here are greeri meiwlowK and vrido grazing pastures. Here are oaks, cedars, pitiux, the spruce; the silver, the white, and the black; wal nuts. pnp!an, locusts, chestnuts, hottias, and the white an<l piuk blcxsomed laurels. Here are pare, gushing springs, and noisy, babbling riila, which dash down from the mountain tops, as it' iu haste to bury themselves in the vasty deep. Here are freshing lb!fs, which rise not from malaria, but from pure Streams, bearing ou their downy pinions the glittering dew drop* and the rose of health, and not disease and death. Here are bracing breezes and cool nights, which strengthen uan for tlx- duties and toil of the long summer days. Here ire fishes, sweet-singing birds, and deer; and here are groves not inferior to that of l>aphiie by Oreutes."
"Wild ItixuratTce generous tillage, Here alternate meet the view;
Evry tiirnt through all thy windings, &iill re vial ing something new."
The entire valley of Nacoochee is owned by several brothers of the name of Williams, whose father made large purchases there when that portion of Oeorgia was a wilderness country, mainly inhabited by Indians. Charmed with the rich lands, pure air and water, and magnificent mountain scenery, his sons as they grew up, settled around the old homestead, and the entire valley is now owned by them. There are three res idences in sight of each other, and Mr. Cx. W. Williams of Charleston has lately bought ail extensive estate at the upper end of the valley, upon which he intends erecting an elegant summer resideiiec. A competent land-scape gardener will be employed to make the grounds a Central Park iu miniature, and when Ait thus lends a helping hand to Nature it must be a Momus indeed that can find fault with this lovely spot.
In 1834 some miners while excavating a canal discovered the remains of an Indian town at a distance of from seven to nine feet from the surface, imbedded in gravel. The houses, thirty-four in number, were built of logs from six to ten inches iu diameter, aud from ten to twelve feet iu length. Specimens

REMTN1SOSNCE8 Of GEORGIA.

S3

of curious workmanship, cane baskets and fragments of earth enware were found in the rooms, leaving little doubt that it was an Indian village, overwhelmed by the outbreak of some mountain torrent, carrying with it the stratum of auriferous gravel in which the houses are found imbedded; for the per ishable character of the schistose rocks which compose these mountains, renders them peculiarly liable to the action of wa ter, as has been demonstrated by the mining operations now in progress there. The mountain slide which buried this vil lage must have occurred many centuries ago, as the spot, was covered when the whites first settled the country, by a heavy growth of timber, which denoted the great antiquity of the catastrophe; and the ruins are probably those of Nacoochee, Old Town, said to have been visited by the Spaniards as early as the twelfth century, in search of gold and diamonds.
In later years, Nacoochee, the largest town of the Cherokce Nation, stood near the centre of this valley, strongly defended by fortifications which extended across the valley from moun tain to mountain. Along the lines of these fortifications, mounds were raised on which Indian chiefs resided in their mud-thatched palaces. . Not a vestage of the town now re mains. The once strong walls of Nacoochee are leveled to the ground, and but one single mound remains to tell the traveler that Indians once possessed this beautitul country, to which they must look back from the distant west as Adam did upon a lost Eden.
" Where oh! graceful NACOCHBK Are the warriors who of old
Sought thee, at thy mountain sources, Where thy springs are icy cold
Gone forever from, thy borders, But immortal in thy name.
Are the red men of the forest! Be thou keeper of their fame!
Paler races dwell upon thee, Celt and Saxon till thy lands.
Wedding use unto thy beauty, Linking over thee their hands,''*
The party found in Col. E. P. Williams at whose house they stopped for a short rest, a most kind and obliging host, and several hours were whiled away most pleasantly in listening to his account of the valley, and trying to transfer to paper the beauties around them.
Some one has advanced the idea that there are lovlier pic tures on canvas than are found in Nature. This may be true where the human face is concerned, for no living countenance ever yet bore the stamp of divinity, as plainly as it may glow beneath the pencil; but such is not the case with the works
* tfeMTw wivwTttta*rUM8wMiiiMiBiTer*r X. C.

54

ATTTiT QUIMBTB

upon which God has set the seal of his power. Where is the artist that can paint trnly the sun as a world of light illumin ating the universe, or tint I '-colors of such divinity*1 as to paint " the liended bow ui>on the heavens f 80 among the beanties of Nacoochee, the in iud wonders, adores, and places its scenes among the fairest in memory's gallery, but no pencil has yet been found that could paint the dissolving views of such a landscape, ever varying, ever changing. Nor can the photographic art produce a picture that will eqnal the origi nal, from the impossibility of obtaining such a position as will take 111 the most striking objects in the world of mountains that there opens upon the sight.
In spite ot the dark cloud that rested npon Mt. Yonah, the sure precursor of a storm before night, it was with considera ble difficulty that the gentlemen at length succeeded in per suading the ladies to re-enter the carraiges, so much were they delighted with their surround ings. Then Jraany a back ward glance told that they had.no fear of the fate of Ijot's wife before their eyes. Long after they left the valley, every back ward glance took in the grand proportions of Mt. Yonnh, and Mrs. Giimmidge repeated softly Kuakiii's grand description of the crest of the Alps: " The child looks up to it in the dawn, and the husbandman in the burden and heat of the day, and the old man in the going down, of the snu, and it is to them all as the celestial city on the world's horizon ; dyed with the depth of Heaven and clothed with the calm of eternity. There was it set for holy dominion by Him who marked for the sun his journey, and bade the moon know her going down."
" Let me give you a companion picture of American birth, addressed to a mountain ot your own State," said Our Artist, *' but I think equally applicable to Ml. Yonah:" " It satisfies the eye, and tills the soul witli a calm and solemn delight. Whether touched by the fleecy clouds of morning, or piercing the glittering skies of noon, or rej>osing in the mellow tints of evening; whether bathed in the pale light ot the moon, or en veloped in the surges of the tempest, with the lightning flashing around its brow, it stands ever, ever the same; its foundations in the depths of the earth, and its summit rising in solitary grandeur to the heavens, just as it rose under its Maker's hand, on the morning of creation, and just as it shall stand when the last generation shall gaze upon it for the last
time." " I, too, have a mite to add that may increase your interest
in Nacoochee and Mt. Yonah," said the Historian, producing his note book. " Mr. Williams was kind enough to furnish me with some traditions of the Valley written by himself, and I

.

65

copied them verbatim. Yon all noticed the bhisted pine that stood on the top of the mound f During the war it bore aloft the Confederate flag, but died with our lost cause. It is centu ries old, and was placed there to mark the grave of Nacooohee, the Cherokeo Evening Star, from whom the valley takos its name, and this is the legend: *'Nacooehee was the only daughter of a noted Cherokee chief. She possed remarkable beauty and grace of manners. This lovely maid, of the valley was woed by many a gallant youth; but, unfortunately, was won by a brave young warrior of the Choctnw Nation, a tribe at that time bitter enemies of the Gherokees, and fre quently engaged in fierce warfare with them."
One dark night JSaehoochee disappeared from her vine-clad wigwam. She bail eloped with Sautee, son of a Choctaw chief. The father of Nacooehee summoned a hundred stout warriors to go in pursuit of his erring daughter. The valleys ana mountains echoed the terrific war-whoop, as tliey were searching every hill and dale.
Days and nights passed, but Sautee and.the bright-eyed In dian girl could nowhere be found. The enraged father refused to eat or slec>p. Ho believed the lovers bad sought refuge un der the Great Bear (Yonah) of the valley. Renewed and more diligent search wa made. Sautee had selected a bridal cham ber for his yon Jig princess amid the rocky fastnesses of Mt. You ah, which was amply supplied with venison and wild tur key, lie regarded the rugged cliffs rising in their native grandeur, as secure from, the intrusion of friend or foe. NacoocheeV new home must have been a second Eden ; before her stood a world of mountains, rising one above another until their lofty peaks were lost in the bine sky; while at her feet nestled the lovoly valley of Nacoochee and Sautee, covered with fragrant rtor eviug trees, and brilliant ihododoudroiiM and uzaliiis. From the crevices in her granite palace gushed forth pure perennial streams, which are joined by a thousand mountain springs that constitute the head waters of the pic turesque Chattahooc.hee river, and like the rivers which run out of the garden of Eden, abound in gold.
The cries of the wolf and the night-hawk disturbed not the slumbers of the youthful lovers. But Naeoochee and Sautee could no more hide themselves from the revengeful savages than could Adam and Kve hide from the presence of the Jather of the human family, after having listened to th? beguil ing serpent and eaten of the forbidden fruit. A savage shout announced the capture of the foe who had dared to rob the oUi chief of his daughter. Hasty judgment was pronounced; Sautee was to be thrown, in the presence of Nacoochce, from

5C

AUXT QUIM&Y8

the highest precipice on Mt. Yonali. Bofora the sentence was executed, the warriors engaged in a death s>ng and war-dance around the strongly guarded prisoner. This was kept up un til the setting sun had dropped behind The western mountains, and the evening star was looking down upon the tragic scene. At a signal from the old chief, four strong warriors seized Sautee, and with one terific yell Imrlrd him headlong into the chasm beneath. Quick as thought, Um^XM-hee sprang from the strong embrace of her father, and sho.itiug, Santee! Sautee!threw herself from the overhanging precipice.. Their mangled remains were found side by side in the valley. The terrific shock well nigh broke the heart of the aged father. He directed that J^aeoochee and Sauf.ee .should be buried oil the banks of the Chattahoochec, in on-* grave, and had a mound raised ov* v r them to n.Mrk the s >ot. This mound is now the property of Mr. G. L. "Williams, ld< %st son of the late Major Edward Williams. It lias been planted in vines and blue grass. The cypiv.ss, ivy and rhorodendrou cover the graves of Nacoochee and Sautee.
The valleys of NacoocLee and Sn-utev, which tire twin sis ters and unite just below the residence oi Col. U. P. Williams, were named to i>erpetuato the memory of the young Cherokee girl and her (JkoetoAv lover.

CJlAl^TKE IX.
Clarksville, the county seat of Hiibersliam county, is sttuatodon the So*iue river, eight miles above its junction with the Chat tali ooehee. TJe picturesque grandeur of the scenery surrouiuliiig it; the lolly peaks of the Blue Ridge crowding the horizon, like stern visaged priests, chanting the ranita* vanifffum of earthly hopes and joys; the gorgeous sunsets, that hang their cm Uiins of scarlet, blue and purple rare, around these tabernacles oi Clod's power, all seem to whUper to the inhabitants
"Muse on Gou softly, offer a purt- hcnrt, For meekly Hum to serve Him, is thy part/'
But the silent teachings of these marvellous works are lost upon the people, if one might take the physiognomy of the vil lage as an iiulicntion of the character of its inhabitants; apretcutious exclusiveiiess being the marked feature of the place,

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

57

The shops and smaller bouses on the principal streets do not range themselves in regular rows, but each one separates it self from the others by divers palings, yards and fences: and each strives, by some architectural ornament, or by placing itself nearer or farther from the street than its immediate neighbor, to attract the special attention of the passer by; while the larger houses, not satisfied with even this distinc tion, have sealed themselves on the adjacent hills, and, sur rounding themselves with extensive grounds, seem saying to those below "Stand afar oft*, for I am more holy than thou." These are the summer residences of wealthy men from South Carolina and losver Georgia, who come up every year with their families, bringing crowds of company, who either stay with their friends, or board at the hotels, and thus give an artificial excitement to the town, though they have very little to do with the people, being quite sufficient to themselves. The churches, four in number, partake of the disposition of their congregations, and retire in lofty seclusion to the least frequented portion of the town; while the three hotels, though compelled by the nature of their business to seek the public places, seem to do so under protest, and endeavor to look as indifferent about patronage as fwssible.
Such being the general aspect of the town, our party felt no disposition to linger, and, though it was already late in the evening, they only stopped long enough to procure a guide, and pushed on in the direction of Tallnlah Falls, distant twelve miles.
An incident illustrative of of the chivalric spirit of the young men of Clarksville, occurred just as the party was driving off. One of the young ladies dropped her veil, and the wind wafted it within a few paces of a pompous looking young gent in a full suit ot white linen, who was sauntering across the square. Without pretending to pick it up, he called out that one of the ladies had dropped a veil, and cool ly walked off', leaviug the article to be replaced by one of the gentlemen of our party, who descended from one of the car riages for the purpose.
This incident kept them all amused for some time, bnt, nt length fatigue and hunger began to have their effect e\ en on their light hearts, and there were many anxious inquiries of the guide as to the distance to the Falls and a geucrul wish for some haven of rest. This did not present itself for several miles jno signs of human habitation being seen except a few in iserable log huts, breaking now and then the monotony of the pines that lined the road.
The evening grew chilly and more cheerless an night ap-

08

AUNT QUIMBY8

preached, the heavy atmosphere and wailing wind proving that the storm, which the cloud on Mt. Yonah had foretold, was now cloee at hand, and the weary travelers began to heartily regret not remaining to test the hospitalities ot Clarksville; though iTalstaff, who had the guide with him, drove mer rily on as if assured of a warm welcome ere long, and the rest were obliged to follow.
Suddenly, just as the patience of the most forbearing began to give way, they emerged from the woods directly in front of a moderate sixed frame house, surrounded by a neat yard and numerous outbuildings. Upon the porch sat a large motherly looking old woman dressed in a blue and yellow homespun dresSg a check apron, and wide bordered cap, and leisurely smoking a short pipe.
The homelike look of the whole place touched a responsive chord in each heart, and doleful were the faces when Falstaff, who had been to the house, returned with the announcement that they could not stay all night. The necessity was so ur gent, that another deputation was dispatched to parley with her, and the good lady at length relented, and agreed to give up one room and the hall to their use, and allow them to occu py a neighboring grove with the horses and carriages. Even these scanty accommodations were eagerly caught at, and. they quickly took possession of their new quarters. They found tiie house scrupulously neat and clean, the snowy beds giving promise of a pleasant night's rest just then the most desirable thing in the world ; but before this could be obtain ed, the wants of the inner man must be attended to, and the common question : " What shall we have for supper T* was not very easy of solution when it concerned a meal tor twentyeight in that backwoods country.
The principal objection to entertaining them urged by their hostess had been the ill-behavior of a party who had stopped there the week before, but the polite bearing and quiet man ners of wr party, had already impressed the good lady so favorably that she readily agreed to allow them the use of her neat kitchen, and furnish whatever they might need from her dair;-. They were all thoroughly tired ot cold bread, and there was a general outcry for a warm supper; so, though there was no stove, a portion of the ladies set themselves to work t> cook a meal.
The negro drivers were directed to make a fire in the iinmens* fire-place that occupied one end of the kitchen; Miss Patty filled the tea kettle and hung; it over the blaze; .Lady Mortagiie made biscuits which Lady Capulet baked in a spider ; the sentimental lola showed herself an adept in.

REMINISCENCES Of GEORGIA.

50

dressing and frying chickens. Aunt Qnimby made the coffee, while Mrs. Page, with the assistance of the gay colored china from Mrs. Anderson's corner cupboard, set the table in a more civilized fashion than had yet blessed their Bohemian life; and, when the gentlemen were called in to supper, they found a goodly meal of hot biscuits and corn bread, fried chickens and cold hum, butter, milk, and hot coffee, to which they did ample justice, and paid many compliments to the fair cooks.
The meal was scarcely over and everything housed for the night, when the rain descended in torrents. The knowledge that they had a shelter from the fury of the storm, only made the sense of comfort deeper as they gathered around the lightwood fire which had been kindled in the sitting-room of the family, which consisted of Mr. Auderson, his wife, and several grown sous and daughters; but they were all too weary* for much fun, and the ladies soon dropped off one by one to their room to find that the matrons had, with Mrs. Anderson's per mission, moved the feather beds on the floor, leaving the mat tresses on the steads, and thus forming four comfortable beds large enough to contain them all; and in these they soon dis posed themselves for dreamless slumbers that lasted uninter rupted till morning. The gentlemen wore equally comforta ble, if one might judge from the loud snoring that proceeded from the hall where they had made their beds.

CHAPTER X.
When they awoke in the morning the rain had ceased, and though the olouds were still dark and lowering, faiut gleams of clear sky, and the merry voices of bird and insect life guvo promise of a clear day, which was verified by the sudden ap pearance of the sun while the party was lingering over their late breakfast.
As it was Sunday, it was decided to make it indeed, u day of rest both to man and beast, by remaining in tl-ii present quarters till the evening, and tin*, party scattered i-i-h to fol low the bent of his own inclination in wailing a\vy the hours. Some took advantage of the leisure to write letters and journ alize; some read; others more devout stole oft'anl,
1 in the .larkltn* w-vnl. Amid the cool iud silenoe, knelt doxvti And offered to the mightiest solemn tliai.k.* And uupplieatuMi."
On every heart was a HaL>bath stillness, a delicious sense of

0

AUNT QUIMBY8

peace and quietude evoked by the panorama of loveliness around them, and only known to those who appreciate the beautiful in nature and art. Ere noon, however, they were to nee another aspect of Nature's face, for they were all driven into the house, and for the first time witnessed the majesty of a storm amid these mountain heights. The deep grating of the thunder, ag it reverated from peak to peak, the vivid flashes of lightning that leaped in forked chains from cloud to cloud, the deep roaring of the wind, and the rush of many waters among the mountain gorges; all contributed to make up a scone of wild sublimity, that, like all the sterner aspects of the Almighty's power, awed whilo it delighted.
Thunder storms among the mountain* are, however, gener ally of short duration, and this soon passed off to the lowlands, and the gentlemen weut out to feed the horses preparatory to starting. Lady Montague proposed that, as this was the time they were generally at church, they should all join in singing Home hymns. The note books were produced, though, through deference to the uncultivated tastes of the family, only famil iar tunes were selected; but one of the matrons came in after* a few miuutes to tell them that Mrs. Anderson said that was not what she called Hinging, she liked the " in si la style," and the choir gave up iiidespair.
By 12 o'clock they were again on the way to the Falls, dis tant five miles. The road lay through a country so \v ild and uncultivated as to be almost savage. God created both the roaring cataract and the gentle purling stream, both have their office in the economy of nature, but how widely difiteremt their effect upon their surroundings. The course of a smoothly gliding stream may be easily traced through the landscape by the luxuriant vegetation that soeks its banks. Tali birch, silvery-barked sycamores, and graceful willows and alders bend over the stream, watching the reflections of their own beauties in the pellucid mirror and nodding and co quetting with the dancing ripples ; while at their feet the pur ple violets, modest daisies, blue-fringed gentian, meek-eyed forget-me-nots, feathery ferns, sweet scouted heartleaves, and thousands of other pi ants love to congregate and play at hide and seek among the rich grass which mark the path of the lie-giving waters. But these graceful shrubs and plants seem to shrink away affrighted by 4< the whitening sheet," " silver splendors" and dashing waters which weave the "eaazntad arras of the rainbow," and the banks of the cataract are gen erally barren and sterile, or, if vegetation appear* it is in the form of the hardy pine, or sturdy oak, those pioneers of the vegetable kingdom, accustomed to, mid undaunted by the war

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of elements. Now it seemed as if in penetrating into the arcaia of Nature's mysteries, they were leaving all tbe footprint* ofman behind them. The road grew from bad to worse; w rainy places they were obliged to alight and walk over spots w'lere only the most careful driving could transport the empty vehicles. No sound broke the, stillness, save now and then tie rush and roar of some mountain stream, tumbling*over tie rocks in frantic haste, and the melancholy sighing of the wnd in the tall pines that shut in the road. Even the voice oi insect life seemed to have deserted the neighborhood of the gorge of waters, the thunder of whose voice they went mo mentarily expecting to hear.
After a time the woods grew more open, and the broken r<nd descending a steep hill, stopped suddenly in front of a crazy looking building, which seemed to bar all further advauce in that direction. The guide informed them that the descent from there to the river, distant about half a mile, was so steep as to be unsafe for the carriages, which would have to be left at the house before them, known as IJeal's House.
Both building and inmates were of a very nnprepossin^ 1PjH^vraiice, and, after some discussion, it was determined to leave the various articles m the carriages in care of the two servants while the party made a deseeiit to the falls. No time was to be lost, as it was already late in the evening, and eaeh gentleman selecting a partner, hurried oil after the guide lowii the narrow path that Jed from the back of the house to the river, and soon reached the edge of the gorge, where, huii.Iredoffeet below, the imprisoned waters light and rage against their rocky barriers like things of life.
The Tallulah river is the western brunch of the Tugaloo, and here seems to tear its way directly through a range of moun tains more than a mile in length, forming an awful gulf, vary ing in width from three to six hundred iect, and walled in by stupendous fronts of solid rock, impregnable to the assaults of man.
l>owu these perpendicular walls of rook small streams pour into the river at ditteieut points, forming four beautiful cas cades, known as Stair-way, Hawthorne, Vandevere, and Uibbou, Caseades. The descent to the bed of the stream can only be made on the we*t side by the tracts of former rivulets that have worn hollows in the solid rock down which a precarious foothold may be found by the aid of the shrubbery that grows in the hollows.
Not deterred by these difficulties, the younger portion of the party prepared to n ake the descent. The guide, armed with a long stick, took the lead and the others followed in couples,

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tbe gentteen bearing the children in their arms. For a tine tfca route, though descending constantly, was comparatively ttnftotlft, bat they soon struck the ravine worn by the water. and then eame the tag of war ; the path being so narrow aid precipitous that it was with difficulty they could keep their feet.
Some crabbed old bachelor has asserted that there are tvo thing* that were nevet intended for locomotion, viz : ducts and women ; but he would have changed his mind could le have seen the activity with which the ladies, though encum bered with crinoline, overcame the obstacles in their patb ; creeping over some, around < thers, and swinging themselves from point to point by the aid of the bushes with an agility that bade fair to rival their male companions; laughing at each mishap, and enduring fatigue not only with fortitude, l>ut a gayety that produced strange echoes among these frightful solitudes.
About half way down the cliff, they came to a spot which might be very appropriately termed the "juraping-off plaes," as the path runs over the face of a sheer descent of ten or twelve feet, which can only be passed by swinging down by the bushes to the next ledge, which is so narrow that you are suspended over the foaming maelstorm of waters, hundred* oi* feet below. Kven the most adventuresome of the ladiea paused at this obstacle, and it required a good deal of persua sion from tlte guide to induce them to proceed. At length Aunt Quimby allowed herself to i>e lifted clown by Rashleigh Obaldistoii's strong arms, and she was followed by all the young people, except Miss Patty Pace, who decided to re main with the matrons and children, they having declined risk ing their necks further.
A lew yards of careful creeping along the ledge brought them to a place where a huge stone had fallen from the top and lodging against a flat surface of the clift, formed a narrow passage of several yards in length, only to be passed by crawling on the hands and knees, and known as "Reed's Squeeze* from the fact that a large man of that name had l>ecome so tightly fastened in its narrow counties that he could only be extricated with great difficulty.
While the guide explained the origin of its name, there was a general anxiety as to how Falstatf, who weighed largely over two hnndred, would accomplish the feat, repeated calls to him not to attempt it until all the company reached the spot. He very good-naturedly waited till all came np, and then went through safely, but with so many queer remarks and grimace*, that the rocks rung with their shouts of merri ment.

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A few steps further and a scene of such wondrous sublimity burst upon their view that both words and laughter were checked and they stood
"Amazed confounded blinded with the blaze Of concentrated beauty."
They had now reached the led of the river, which is here chafed and maddened by its angry rush of several thousand feet over the Rapids al>ove the Falls.
Suddenly, as if gathering up its full power for the leap, it whirls rapidly around the face of a prjoecting cliff, and flings itself headlong over the cataract of Teinpesta, Ailing the gorge with its tumultuous roaring, and scattering clouds of spray over the hardy evergreens that cling to every crevice of the belting cliffs overhead. The height ot the ledge is 14O feet, horizontal shoot of the water 14 feet, depth of chasm at this point 245 feet, width ;550.
A better idea of height and depth can rarely be attained than that presented by the fall of Tempesta. One feels there as if he had penetrated to the very center of the earth. In the half twilight which fills this chasm, where none but the noontide rays ever penetrate, every thing is seen in dim and misty hues, and no souutl is heard but the wild dashing of the turbulent waters, and the weird voices of the wind; sounding like the shrieks of lost spirits condemned for eternity to these dark re cesses 5 while overhead bends a sky as pure and bright as the heaven from which they have been banished.
The wish of each heart, when the first feeling of awe struck admiration had passed, was that they could imprint the scene before them upon some more tangible tablet than that of memory, and in this they were gratified by a chance encoun ter with a party of artists, who were taking stereoscopic views of the various FalL>; and to their skill, these sketches are in debted for the illustrations which we have been unable to have inserted in this edition.
As it was growing late in the evening, the guide hurried them to reasceiid, so as to obtain a view from another point before night. If the clcxcent had been difficult, the <t*ct*nt was still more so. Cap declared that she never realized how much lean people had to be thankful for, till she saw the strenuous exertions, and spinal contortions of Lady Montague, Falstaff, and Mrs. Guminidge, the fat ones of the party.
Once at the top they paused at si spring to quaff what, in deed, seemed to be "waters of hfe" to their thirsty spirits, but which were very near causing an accident that would have changed all their mirth to mourning. The spring was much nearer the edge of the cliff than any oi them supixxsed, as it

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waft surxoimded by a dense growth of bushes, and the Histo rian in a playful race with Cap to pain possession of the dip per, ran too near the edge, and only Raved himself from fall ing over the dizzy height by clutching at a neighboring limb, which was fortunately strong enough to sustain his weight till he could regain his footing.
"Yon and I were very near taking an unintentional leap, just then ; I wonder if they would have named the s|>ot "Trov er's Leap,* he said to Tap, trying to laugh at the terror which had driven the color from every cheek: but his tremulous voice told that he realized the danger he had escaped, and he hurried them away from the dangerous locality.
Another short and comparatively smooth descent brought them to the "Devil's Pulpit." This is a solid mass of grey freestone, like an old fashioned pulpit. The hollow booming of the waters at its base, the clouds of spray that fill the a>, the awful chusm with its boiling, seething and raging waters which it overlooks, all suggest the horrors of the bottomless pit, and, prottably MOM for it it* name. The top is flat, almost circular in form, and affords a pleasant resting place except when the sun is directly overhead, whon its rays are reflected with such power from the white surface of the sandstone as to dazzle the eyes and blister the feet.
From the top is a splendid view of Oceanna. The periK*iidicnlar height of this fall is 92 feet, horizontal pitoh of the water 2O 1 1! feet. The river at this point seems to have reached the heart, of the mountains, the depth of the chasm being 413 feet, width GOO feet. Words fail to give an idea of the silver splendors of this fall, framed in its dark buck-ground of rocks and'trees, and our party would fain have lingered for hours gazing upon it beauties, had not the waning light warned them that no time was to be lost in seeking shel ter for the night; and they turned reluctantly away, promis ing themselves to return 011 the morrow when the presence of the sun would add additional charms.

05
CHAPTER XI. They reached the place where they foul-left the carriages to find that the servant* had transferred their content* to the house, which looked even more gloomy in the grey twilight than when viewed by daylight. It was a two-story building in almost the last stage of dilapidation ; the broken roof hav ing fallen in in several places, and 0110 end of the half tumbled down piazza being used as a wagou shed. The inmates, consistiug of an old woman and several young ones, were as un prepossessing as their house ; but, as it was the only available shelter within five miles, the gentlemen proceeded to make the best arrangements they could for the night. They were) only able to engage one room, the others being occupied by the artists. This was found to bo as dirty and uncomfortable as could well be imagined, but the ladies, wet, tired ami hun gry as they were, set themselves to make the lieafc of their surroundings by having a large lightwood fire kindled, and sweeping the floor throughly. Then, while some rested and dried their damp clothes, others brought wood and water and made preparations for supper. Fortunately nothing was to bo done but make a pot of strong coftee: and, while this was boil ing, they were called out in the yard to see the Hermit, who had accompained the artists' party from the fall. It wan so dark that they could only distinguish a tall figure dressed iu white clothes to whom the gentleman were talking in loud tones, as if he were deaf, but gaining very little beyond mon osyllabic replies, uttered in a strange monotonous sounding voice. He invited the party to visit him the next day, but positively declined their urgent invitation to remain ami take suppor with them, though he accepted some ears of green corn which they had just purchased, and with these under bis arm, bowed low to them all, and took the direction of liiw lonely hut. Supper being ready, the ladies insisted that their compan ions in misery the artists should be invited to join them. The invitation waft accepted. They proved to be well known gentlemen of Athens, and, though most of the viands were cold and served in tin plates and cups, the meal was a merrier one than is often eaten from cut-glass and silver. The conversa tion ran upon the Hermit and his eccentric!t ies, about which the ladies were very curious, and the artists narrated various

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incidents of* his life there which made them more anxious than ev>r to seehim in bin hermitage.
He had arrived amid those solitudes during the winter of isti<, but, as the Fall* are never visited at that season, his presence WUM not discovered until the winning spring. He liad built him a rude cabin of logs in the vicinity of the Falls, and liad remained there for the past two yeans holding little communication with any one except Ksquirc Vandevere, an aged hunter and trapper of the Tallulah Mountains, who was a celebrated Indian fighter in the days when the red skins held Northeastern lieorgia, and is the counterpart of Cooper's hero f Hie forest Natty Buui]>o the Leather Stocking.
The Hermit gave his name as John Cole, but refused to tell whence he came, or the object of his sojourn in these dreary sol it mlcx.
\Yheii snp]HT was over, the younger portion of the company dis|M>rsed in various directions ; some to sit in the carriages till bedtime, other sentimental pairs to promenade the piazza, oblivions of the inequalities in the floor.
It w:is late when the parties separated, the artists invitimg the gentlemen to share their room, and the ladies retiring to theirs, but not to sleep.
The bed, the single article of furniture the room contained, hail IHSCII, upon inspection, pronounced entirely untenable, and they had decided to pass the night upon the floor; but Manolia, who had visited the Falls the year before, and stay ed in the same room, gave so thrilling an account of the hor rors she had endured from the bed-bugs and other vermin with which the house was infested, that it drove sleep effectu ally fi\>n i their eyes. Besides, every attempt they made to dispose themselves in the space allotted them by the matrons, only demonstrated the truth of the philosophical maxim that two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time, till Aunt Qiiimby declared that they reminded her of children's toy blocks, which, if properly iittcd together, the box in which they wen1 Inmght, will exactly contain them, but try any oth er way, ami the- last one will displace all the rest. As there apicared to be no master builder among them, she proposed they should stop trying to fit themselves together, and have :Ul the fun they could till morning.
This proposition was received with such enthusiasm that it awoke Lady Montague, who, worried at being aroused from her first nap, proceeded to administer a severe reprimand to Manolia, who was her niece, meanwhile hitting the whole par ty some clever licks over her shoulders. Manolia, who was a tender hearted little thing, shed a few quiet tears in the cor-

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nor of the "blanket allotted to her, but the others only laughed, while gentle Mrs. Pago was roused to their defence, and de clared the girls were excusable for making a noise when it was impossible for them to sleep. Thus encouraged, the fun waxed fast and furious, Miss Patty Pace contributing no small amount by her queer antics. That good laily and Mrs. Gummidge declaring that they intended to make a Ix-tlrr impres sion on the Hermit than the others, fell to work washing various articles of clothing which they hung on chairs around the fin- to dry; and it required such vigorous exertions on the part of Miss Patty to prevent their being overthrown by the restless movements of the others, that she at length declared she believed she was snake-bit, and must take some of the med icine provided for such occasions; and diving into the trunk, produced the black bottle and proceeded to test its contents. But in vain she shook aud tasted; nothing but honey would come, and her queer speeches and grimaces kept them all in convulsions of laughter, though they did not discover till the next morning that she had gotten the wrong- bottle, and was drinking strained honey all the time.
Mrs. (rmnmidge had appropriated two chairs and a trunk for her sleeping place, and permitted Aunt Quimby to sit in a chair and make a pillow of her body; and the last sound the writer heard that night was Lady Capulet requesting some one to put their feet on her, for she was like the little Irish boy whose mother was covering him with a door, "It was not everybody that had feet to cover with."
So passed the first day and night at Tullulah.

CHAPTER XTT.
Tho inji'nt passed so uncomfortably that most of the girls were gbid 10 rise at day-light under the excuse of fufilling an engagement made the night before to see the sun rise over the Ocean View.
This is a high point about a mile from the Falls where the eye can M-ander for miles over a level country, and as in the dim twilight of early morning, you cannot, see the range of low mountains that bound it in the far distance, you seem, indeed gazing upon the "blue illimitable sea;" and the illusion in farther heightened by the mists rising from the numerous streams

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4UXT QUIMBYS

threading the country, that look like foam-capped billows rol ling shoreward, while the distant roar of the Falls seems
"But the noiae of WAVES Dashing against the shore,
And the wind from some bleaker quarter Mingling with its roar."
Over this scene, when the party reached the spot, still hung the dim hues of night, and all nature seemed waiting with hashed breath the advent of the sun, whose rosy heralds were transforming the east into a scene of glory, and tinting the vaiwrs below with the most delicate tinge of red. Another moment,, and the voice of God seemed to re-echo over those mountain summits, uttering tnat sublime fiat, "Let there be Light" and there was light, as the sun shot above the hori zon.
*******
"I've been roaming, I've been roaming Where the MOUNTAIN dews is sweet,
And I am coming, 1 am coming; With its pearls upon my feet "
sang Meg half an hour afterwards, dancing gaily into the di lapidated kitchen where the elders, with rather grain looks, the effects of last night's discomfort, were making prepara tions for breakfast. "Good people, if you had gone with us you could have taken such draughts from Nature's fountain as would have made you forget such sublunary things as eating aud drinking.
"I think I should prefer a draught of something more tangi ble this morning," said Mrs. Gummidge, sourly. "And you will make a pretty appearance before strangers with your draggled dress."
" Well, that will only give you and Miss Patty a better chance to make an impression in your clean clothes," she answered laughingly; and, the balance of the walking party having now entered, their gay spirits soon routed the azure imps, ard all preceded with fresh energy to their do mestic tasks. Aunt Quimby, declaring that she was growing gramnivarious from long abstinence from vegetable food, went out in the neglected garden to search for salads, but could only find some tomatoes, which she proceeded to prepare by a Virginia receipt. Cap, Meg and Mrs. Gummidge' }>rspared a large oven of stewed corn, regretting the absence of beaus to form a succotash. Ladies Montague and Capulet made bis cuit in the same tray in the most amicable manner, and the rest bustled around setting the table in the yard, declaring it

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sacrilege to exchange the bright sunshine for such a house. The gentlemen rendered what aid they could, and to snch a height did their merriment lise, that it was only after 'bur trials that the artist succeeded in keeping them still long enough to take a photograph of the breakfast party.
The meal being at length dispatched, hasty preparations were made for another descent, and it was amusing to a look er-on to watch the sly maneuvers among both ladies and gen tlemen to secure as companions those they liked most; for though it had been proclaimed that there was not a Uouieo and Juliet in the party, there were several couples that, divide them as you would, were sure to be near each other again in a few minutes; and there was, probably, the usual amount of jealousy and heart burnings, for, noble as were the natures of those composing the party, in temper, which Lever calls "tin* great coats of humanity,' there was tlie diversity usual among
such a crowd. It had been decided that they should first visit the Hermit
in his retreat. A narrow path, winding for some distance through the thickest of the woods that covered the plateau above the Falls, led to the Hermitage. It was a low cabin built of rough logs, fitted together with no better instrument than an ax and covered with rough clap-boards. At one end was a stone chimney, while the space before the door was sur rounded by pine poles supported on posts, and some attempt at ornamentation made by clearing away the underbrush and laying th ground oft* in the shape of a star.
Their knock at the low door was answered by the guide whom they had not seen before that morning; and in a fe\v minutes the Hermit iii.ide his appearance. He was a yonng man of about twenty-four, of medium height, florid complex ion, dark brown eyes, moustache and hair; the latter, worn in long elf-locks on his shoulders. The \\hole appearance of the man denoted one fond of the good things and social pleasure* of life, but this convivial disposition was poorly concealed un der a mask of studied gravity aud humility. He never lift ed his eyes to the chicle of blooming laces around him, but invited them to enter his humble dwelling in an affected drawl with his eyes upon the groiiir.i.
Falstaft*, the spokesman of the party, declined the invita tion, as they were anxious to make, as many descents as possi ble. The recluse regretted not bein^a Me to accompany thfiii as he had promised to guide the arrists to some points inac cessible to ladies but hopc-d to see them again during the da\ . and that they would call as they -iime back.
"He need not have put that -again' in that last polite

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speech of his," said Meg, as the party moved on, "for he has not seen ns the first time yet, unless it be the hems of onr robes. Mrs. Gum midge must have had a hint of his peculiari ties when she washed the mud out of hers last night."
"Perhajw he goes on the principle that, 'all's well that ends well/7 said L*ady Oapulet. "If so, he has fanned a deplorable opinion of most of us."
44 11 is my opinion that the Hermit is a humbug," said Cap, SIM i t4iiiioiisly.
"Why; because he did not look at any of yon T9 asked the Historian, who heard-the last remark.
"2so, Sir; but because his appearance, manner and mode of life are affected in the extreme. His face bears no likeness to those
"Holy men who hide themselves Deep in the woody wilderness, and GIVE Their lives to thought and prayer."
Ou the contrary, it brought before my mind. Friar Tuck, and 1 will wager anything, that, like that jolly Hermit, he keeps 'dried peas and other pulse,9 tor the entertainment of his guests, n.nd regales himself in private on venison patties."
"Or on sardines," said Mrs. irunimidge, "for I saw a num ber of boxes thrown out round his house, and Ro&cius says he threw away the corn we gave him last night before he had gone live yards from the house."
"The guide tells nie he gave him an excellent breakfast of fried chicken, eggs, and other nice things," said Falstaff. "I almost wish I hail accented his invitation to eat with him/'
" I expect he is some escaped convict hiding from the offi cers of the law," said the Historian, but this suggestion re<-<*ived but small favor from some of the ladies of the party, who h*d been captivated by his handsome face, and the air ot mystery which surrounded him.
Thus conversing they reached the head of the ravine down which their course lay. It v\ as even rougher than the descent of the evening before, and required the most careful footing, so that conversation wan impossible, beyond a call for help now and then, as some of the ladies became entangled in the loots and bushes that l>cset their way. So rapid was the in clination, that in spite of FalstaiTs gasped injunctions " to go slow," the whole party were in a run most of the time. A few yards from the bottom, Lord Chesterfield and Mrs. Gummidge, who happened to be together, both lost their footing, went sliding down the cliff, and, not stopping at the bottom, went I'oet foremost into a cavern in the rock, leaving their heads

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and shoulders outride. Fortunately, no bones were broken by their tumble, and the only injuries being a few bruises and blushes, the affair was forgotten in a hearty langh, and they gave their attention to the scenery.
They were now upon the verge of Hawthorn's Pool. This pool? situated between the falls of Oreauua and Hur ricane, was the scene of a terrible accident nineteen years be fore. A. young tourist of the name of Hawthorne, was precip itated by accident, into the p*ol, .and, instantly disappearing from sight, was never seen again in life. His mangled body was afterwards found at the foot of Hurricane Fall. The water wears a look of the greatest placidity, mirroring in its bosom the overhanging rocks and trees, but it has probably a rapid rotary current at the bottom, as any object thrown in instant ly disappears from view. Liooking up the river from the tree that almost bridges the pool, the most striking object is a dis tant view of the Devil's Pulpit. The skill of the artist produced as good a picture of this as the distance and surrounding foliage would allow, and, viewed with a telescope, the peculiar characteristic of this structure, built without hands, can be clearly traced; and in its silent ma jesty and grandeur speaks of him " who marked for the sun his journey, and bade the moon know her going down." far more forcibly than the voice of the most eloquent preacher. As the morning was wearing away rapidly, they could not stay very long at one point, and retracing their steps for a short distance struck into the path that leads to the banks of I/Ean d' Or. The feature that most strikes the attention of the tourist in approaching this cataract, is the perpendicular wall of rock that towers above him for two hundred feet, and which is worn by the action of the water into grotesque figures. The party amused themselves by tracing a likeness to familial things in these fissures. One saw a goat, another an arm chair, another a profile; while the more romantic caught glimpse* of mossy towers, rock bound castles, impregnable fortresses and overhanging battlements, which might have been the'alxHlcs of the Titans when they played at football with the hills and
mountains. Approaching nearer to the river bank the fidl splendors of
the cataract burst upon their view. The perpendicular height of L'Eaii IVOr is only 32 feet; from the base to the top 7O feet. The descent being less rapid, the water comes down with a more even flow than at the other cataracts, and the un broken sheet, reflect in g from its bosom the full rays of the noonday sun, has obtained for it its name of "Water of Gold." Near the centre of the fall is a projecting stone, the end of

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which is won into a fantastic likeness to aa animals face, and it looks like aoaac huge sea monster looking-ont over the turbid waters.
Two falls remained to be seen, but through the iacompetency of the guide; they were not visited by any of our party. Capltola, alone, by a succession of daring ventures, .which nearly threw the other ladies of the party into convulsions, and seriously alarmed the gentlemen, managing to catch a glimpse of them from a distance. The artist, however, made several visits to thorn, and succeeded in obtaining a good stereoscopic view of Hurricane Falls.
The Hermit, who with the assistance of Esquire Vandevere h:vd taken the measurements of all the prominent places about the Falls, furnished the following dimensions: Perpendicular height 52 feet from the base to the top 110 teet. Depth of chasm at this point, 495 feet, width, 55O feet. There is ano ther small fall six hundred feet below Hurricane, called Ser pentine, bat so difficult of access that it is very seldom visit ed, and no position can be found from which a sterescopic view ? an be obtained. The perpendicular height is 133 feet, from, she base to the top 8O feet.
The river, having now done its work of tearing asunder the mountains, rapidly loses its tempestuous character, though the impetus given the water by its successive plunges is seen in its arrowy rush over the rapids below the falls. Looking down from tl*e foot of Ribbon Cascade yon can see the banks gradually widening and lowering to the ordinary height above common water mark, while the stream, mak ing a sudden bend to the west, leaves the mountains behind it and flows on through fertile lowlands to its junction with the Chattoojra ten miles below.
The guide representing the other falls to be inaccessible, the pai-ty reluctantly retraced their steps to the Hermitage, to find a note tacked on the door apologizing for the absence, of its master and requesting the ladies to enter and rest them Helves. They accepted the invitation, but found little to gratity their curiosity. A cot bedstead, a comer cupboard, one chair, and a few hooks comprised the entire furniture. There was a small kiln in the yard which he was said to use for cock ing purposes, though no eatables of any kind were to be seen. The resources of the house were soon exhausted, and after writing their names ui>on the paper which seemed to have been placed for the puri>ose, they returned towards the house, pausing to catch one other view of Teuipesta from the Devil's Pulpit,

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Seating themselves in comfortable positions there they So ftened while Miss Quimby read aloud the following story.

CHAPTER XHI.
THJS X.BOKKI> Or
On the beautiful banks of the Tallulah river stood a simple, bnt neat, dwelling.' Though the walls were of rough hewn logs, the climbing vines over the doors and windows redeem ed their harshness, while the furniture within wore an air of cleanliness that told of refined tastes among these dwellers of the wilderness. John Goodwin's own sturdy right arm had redeemed this spot from the forest around, and hither he had brought his wife and infant labes to share with him the hard ships and toils, as well as tl s pure waters and life giving airs of tiiis mountain home. His wife, Esther, a woman of uncom mon energy of character, had uncomplainingly given up home and friends to follow her husband beyond the remotest bounds of civilization; and heife, cut off from all society, the true strength and purity of woman's love displayed itself in bright ening and adorning by her industry and skill their forest home, and making herself, indeed, the light of her husband's eyes; seeking 110 other companionship during his daily absences in the fields than the wonders of nature spread out around her. The lofty grandeur of the mountains, the solemn stillness of the forest, unbroken save by the ceaseless thunder of Tallulah Falls, only a short distance from her dwelling, filled her mind with lofty images and beautiful thought**, which she never dreamed of expressing even to her husband, whose plain sturdy sense was apt to laugh at these fanciful thoughts aud romantic dreams of his wife.
There were none but friendly Indians around them, tor the Gherokees were at peace with the white men, aud the tribe hav ing become accustomed to their presence among them, paid them many little acts of kind attention, which they returned by as sisting them in many of the arts of which they were ignorant; and among these simple hearted people, the "Great Medicine Man,9 as they termed Goodwin, was a person of great impor tance to be consulted in every emergency of their uneventful life.
Thus years wore on till marks of advancing age were to bo

T4

AUNT QUIMBJP8

see& on the brows of both Goodwin and his wife, and their two sons had grown into stoat boys of twelve and fourteen, who assisted their father in cultivating the fields, which now ex tended for acres around their dwelling; while their daughter, now sixteen, bloomed fair as the wild rose from which she took her .English name, though she was known among the In dians as Swannoa meaning the Beautiful. As her daughter grew up to womanhood the mother's heart inclined more con stantly towards the home in North Carolina where her own happy girlhood had been passed, and she said every year, "I T i! I persuade her father to send Rose back to our own people to be educated;" but the year passed, and the mother's heart still refused to part with her darling.
At length there came a winter whose severity had not been equalled iu the memory of the oldest inhabitant; and, in Unit mountainous region, all creatures exposed to its influence suffered severely. The Indians, improvident by nature and habit, considering only the wants of the day, were soonest lia ble to any influence that effected the means of subsistence which the fields and forests yielded, and cases of suffering were soon very common among them. These, whenever known, were promptly relieved by Gootlwin and his wife, but their small stores could.do but little for the hundreds around theiu whose privations soon brought on an epidemic fever which swept them oil by hundreds.
A slow and lingering spring at length began to dawn on the land, though winter, the stern old warrior, still lingered upon the mountain tops, ready to take advantage of any incautious movement of the forces mustering in the valleys, and fast showing their strength in the crimson banners of the maple, and the iipspriugiiig spears upon the hillsides. Gopdwin was once more busily at work in the fields, but his wile noticed that there was a gloom upon his brow, while the trusty rifle, which had rarely been removed from its post of honor over the fireplace save* on the occasion of some deer or turkey hunt, was now his constant companion; and she soon learned the cause of his anxiety from the squaws who were daily visitors. They said that many miles away towards the rising sun. there lived a tribe, the bitter enemies of the Cherokees. These, learning of the suffering of the tribe in the Tallulah mountains, were preparing to make an invasion upon them, iu which case, both Whites -and Indians were likely to gutter alike, and that her husband had been warned of their common clanger by the warriors of then? tribe, who were on the alert to repel the threatened invasion of the Choctaws.
But the mild bright days crept by without any fresh inceii-

REMINISCENCES Of GEORGIA.

7ft

tive to their fears, and the awakening beauties of the spring began to banish all apprehension from their minds, and 1Mb settled back into its aecustomed quiet channels.
One morning Croodwra and his sons went to a distant field to work, saying that they might not return at the usual dinner hour, as they were anxious to finish planting a piece of corn. G-oodwin carried his gttn as usual, though he said to his wile on leaving that his only use of it would probably be to shoot the wild pigeons which were flying over in large flocks ; and, chnckinghisdanghter under the chin, bade her prepare herself to make a famous pigeon pie on his return.
The hours of the morning passed swiftly both to Rose and her mother, each busy about domestic duties. More than once in passing oat of doors, Bose thought she detected-moving foims on the edge of the woods nearest the house, bat they gave her no uneasiness, for the Indians were generally abroad at this season in search of the berries which formed a large por tion of their subsistence.
As the sun touched the noon mark, the horn used for the purpose was sounded to summon the laborers to their dinner, but they did not come; and, after waiting a short time, Rose proposed to her mother that she should take it to them and bring back the pigeons they might have killed to prepare them for supper. Mrs. Goodwill readily agreed ; the bucket was soon prepared, and with a song on her lips the blithe maiden tripped away; her mother's eyes following with pride the lithe form and graceinl movements till they were lost in the woods which screened the Falls from view. With fearless step she trod the brink of the awful chasm along which the narrow path wound, undismayed by the foaming waters be neath, and was soon with her father and brothers.
The sun descended towards the west and finally set in flames of crimson and gold, but still she did not return, and, at length her mother went to meet them. She had almost reached the field where she expected to find them, when she was startled by the sound of shots, and a moment after the woods resound ed with the terrific warwhoop of the Indian, which the mountain echoes repeated again and again. Breathless with terror, .she crept under shelter of some undergrowth, and threw herself flat upon the earth.
A few moments of death-like stillness succeeded the terri ble outburst of sound which seemed to have shocked all Na ture into quiet, 'and she tried to collect her thoughts and consider what was best to be done. In a few moment*, though no farther sound was heard, her quick eye detected throug the gathering twilight dusky forms flitting from tree to tre

7

AUNTQUIMBY8

and eke knew that she was surrounded by hostile Indiana.

Prostrate she lay, her pale lips forming inarticulate prayers

for the safety of her loved ones to that (Tod of her .youth whom

she had almost forgotten in her wilderness life. Fortunately

for her, the Bed Skins were too iuteut upon their object to

notice her; onward they crept, stealthily as panthers, and

soon another yell rent the silence, and the fiery glare that

Ailed the valley, told that her homo was in flames.

How the long hours of that night passed to that lone watch

er, none may know but that Eye that never slumbers or

sleeps; but, when morning dawned, the wild eyes and blanch

ed hair of the woman that crept from under the bushes told

their own tale of fearful agony. She reached the edge of the

clearing and looked out. The still smoking ruins of her home

met her eyes, but no traces of the Indians were to be seen*

At length she summoned up resolution to approach the spot:

everything was destroyed save one small outhouse which had

probably escaped their sight. No traces of blood, however,

were to be seen, and with swift steps she retraced her way.

Reaching the field where her husband had been at work, a

fearful sight met her eyes. Both of her sons lay dead in the

furrow where they had fallen, and a short distance off was their

father with his daughter clasped by one arm, and grasping his

musket convulsively in the other hand. Each head showed

the fearful circle where the scalp lock had been torn away,

and life was quite extinct in all.

When the wretched woman realized this, one wild, piercing

shriek rent the air, and she fell lifeless upon the dead bodies-



*

Fifteen years had passed, and the stormy wind of a wild December night raved through the forest, and mingled its voice with the thunders of Tallulah Falls, unchanged by the years which had passed since the Creator spoke them into being. Around a hut, standing near the site of the Goodwin dwel ling, the wind whistled with such unrestrained rury that it sent the smoke in clouds into the room: but little did the crono crouching closely over the fire heed its whistling save an a* unusually loud blast threatened to overturn her frail dwelling, she raised her head, an expression of wild joy passed over htr haggard face, and she whispered to herself, "They are coining the hour of revenge draws near."
As if in answer to her words, a knock was heard at the door of t*e hut. The hag took a blazing brand from the fire, and, holdmg it high above her head, opened the door. With out stood aftlndian,the towering feathers of whoso head-dress

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

77

as well as his painted face, marked him as a chieftain o the

war-path. In a few words of tolerable English he told her

that they needed a guide over the winding* of Tallnlah. The

crone objected, though with the same lurking smile on her

face. He spoke again in a tone of authority, pointing to the

band of warriors behind him, as if determined to enforce bin

request, and with one glance behind she stepped forth into

the storm, and took her way towards the Falls. The Indiana

followed her in single file without noise of any kind, for they

wished to surprise the village which they supposed themselves

approaching.

The thunder of the Falls grew louder and louder till it

seemed to shock the ear. They reached the Devil's Pulpit; the

darkness was intense, and with only one moment's panne to see

that the Indians were close behind her, she stepped noiseless

ly aside. The chieftain passed her and took the fearful step

off the edge it was too clark for the next in the line to miKM

his form, and he too followed; one by one they ymssed into the

frightful chasm whose depth gave forth no sound, and a* the

last one disappeared, the hag threw up her hands with a

shriek of fiendish laughter, and exclaiming "It i tinfolied

I have my revenge," sprung over the fearful ledge and follow.

ed her victims. The murder of her husband and children was

fearfully avenged.



*

*

*

*



When this story was finished the gentlemen reminded the ladies that it was nearly 3 o'clock in the evening, and, an they had consumed all the provisions brought with them, they hud best be making a move, their nearest base of supplies, both for man and beast, being at Mrs. Andersoii's, distant tivo miles; so, with many a hist, long, lingering look backward cast at the beauties which had so bewitched them, they took up the line of march for Beal's House. Just before reaching it, they met some tourists who had ridden out from Clarksville to explore the FaUs, and a greater contrast than the two parties presented could scarcely be imagined. The one; wet. dirty, weary, torn and ragged from their encounter with bushes, rocks and wa ter ; the other; fresh, clean, dainty, and even di*ting*\ in toilet and appearance. No wonder our party shrunk to one side, and did not realize the force of the old song that in spite of dress,. "A man's a man for 'a that," and they did not re gain their self-res]>ect till they gained the carnages. Ouce within their friendly shelter, the single looking glass was tak en from its hiding place and eagerly passed from hand to hand. The images therein reflected could not have been very

tS

AUXT

j to their wounded vanity from the grave Itooes of them wore for some time. IHe, alone, was free from disqnietades, the evident devotion which spoke from
OtNadesteneto eyes during their ride in Fatetairs bnggy, <:*r.npenaathig her lor all annoyances, while their evident <& livikrasnesB to their surroundings afforded a anbject for continnal tearing to their companions whenever they came within hailing distance of the ambulance, which they avoided doing as much as possible.
Mrs. Anderson'S hospitable honse was greeted by the whole party as a temporary home, and the ladies were soatt ensconc ed in their room, from which they merged about sunset, rein stated in dress and self-esteem. Their hostess, who was exleeting their return, had prepared a bouiitirtil sapper for them, to which they one and all did ample justice, after which they dispersed to employ the evening according to individual taste. The matrons gathered around the pine-knot fire in the sitting room, wkich the chill air made pleasant, to enjoy the .sensible conversation of their entertainers; the musical por tion assembled on the porch and made the echoes ring with their favorite songs, wltilc several sentimental couples prome naded the moon lit yard in blissful forgetftilness of everything but themselves; and it was late before these various parties were willing to relinquish their enjoyments for the sound shiutbers which by twelve o'clock reigned undisturbed over the old homestead.

CHAPTER XIV.
"Make haste and pack up the traps girls, while we get the horses. We have no time to loose if we want to see Tacoa to-day," was FalstaJTs injunction as he rose from the table the next morning. Obedient to his command, hurry was the order of the day, both in words aud deeds, if one might judge from the nimble tongues that kept time to the busy fingers. By the time the homes were harnessed, trunks, baskets and car pet-bags were ready to be stored away in the various vehicles and the ladies once more in traveling garb awaited on the porch their escorts' pleasure, only giving in sly whispers their preference for any particular vehicle or partner.

REM1NI&CMXCB8 Of GEORGIA.

19

"I wonder wbo is going to drive the carriage thi* i___ _ _ Die Vernpo, with a aly glance in tfce direction of BaafcObaldietone who stood near her. "J am going in H, ad there will be a careful driver, for I hear the road is

a little loader and he will take the hint, Dia,* said merry voice at her elbow, her quick eye having detect* e4 Aer friend's penchant in that quarter. Die whirled round on her tormentor with a spirit that show ed her name was no misnomer. "I suppose you judge me by yoaraelf; Miss. I have always noticed that those most guilty o/ artifices themselves soonest suspect them in others.9 "On the principle of its being safest to 'set a thief to catch a thief? my dear," retorted Cap, with scarcely a glance at her friend's irate face, as she ran down the steps after l>ou Quix ote, who WAS on his way to the ambulance with an armful of shawls and blankets. "Don," she called, finding she could not overtake him, 'let me rideiii front with youf "Certainly;" he replied, pausing to make as gallant a bow as his burden would permit, "I shall esteem myself highly honored by such 'goodlie conipauie'." They were soon all stored away ; Aunt Quiinby and Falstaff lead the way, in his buggy, and the incorrigible Cap, seat* ed in the driver's seat of the ambulance, nourished her whip and shouted "Hi Ike and Bill," a command which made JDie, who was still angry, arch her brows and elevate her already retrousse nose, but which the horses obeyed by putting them elves into a jog trot; and, amid farewells to their hostess, shouts, laughter, and the rumbling of vehicles, the party were en the way to Tocoa. The road again wound through a dense forest, and once within its gloomy shades the spirits of the party subsided to a mood aft sober as their pace, each seemed occupied with their own thoughts, though more than one anxious glance was turned upon the haze that obscured the sun, which, however conducive to reverie, was also probably ominous of a rainy day. Their forebodings were soon verified by a quick coming shower, which brought Falstafl' to a halt so that he might pot Aunt Quimby under shelter. The gallant Julius gave her his seat in the ambulance, and prepared to brave the storm in the open buggy, but they had scarcely resumed the line of march, when the breakage of a wheel threw him out on the ground. It was soon ascertained that he was unhurt, but so barren had the trip been of romantic incidents that Jtiss Patty exclaim-

QU1W&TS MJfttins, why in the world did*nt you pretend yon were stun ned, so that Tola might have flown to your assistance, bathed y&Gr brow, fanned yon with her sighs, and so gotten up an ef fective tableau T" "I will remember your suggestions the next time such an accident happens to me, Miss Patty. I was only too glad this time to ftnd I had landed in a soft place, i. e. a dust bank," he said, brush ins: the. dust from his clothes and pretending not to see loia'a blushes. The rain had proved only a summer shower, bnt under the present, discouraging aspect of affairs the elders of the party advocated giving up the trip to Tocoa, and turning their faces homeward. This was promptly vetoed by the younger members; and af ter much consultation, it was decided that Falstaff should fasten his buggy to the back of the baggage-wagon, and BosciuK having volunteered to assist him, they should make their way to Clarksville, distant about ten miles, where they could have the damage repaired, and await their companions. Ling*'ring adieus were exchanged, for the party did not fancy losing any ot its members even for a few hours, especi ally such an important personage as Falstaff; but nothing bet tor could be done, and with many a lingering look in the direction in which Falstaff and Roscins were already disap pearing, the line of march was once more resumed. The road soou grew so bad that it became evident that the vehicles would have to be relieved of their loads, and the younger ladies of the party decided to accompany the gentlemen ou foot. Bashleigh Obaldistoiie and Capitola lead the way talking in their usual gay strain, seeing which, Die decid ed to remain in the ambulance with Aunt Quimby, who was taking care of Miss Patty, whose morning gayety was ending with a sick headache. Don Quixote's sympathy -with her sufferings made him drive so slowly over the rough road that tho walking party were soon out of sight, though the high hills over which they were traveling ln>rc back an occasional echo of their gay voices. An hour's brisk walking brought the pedestrians to a point where all semblance of a practicable road ended, and they sat down to await the arrival of the carriages, and arrange the flowers which they had gathered. "Oh, girls," exclaimed Cap, as soon as they were seated, "did you all see that cabin, we passed 1 Now don't you know that any woman must be brave, and love sure enough, to be willing to leave the world, i. e. society, and bring herself in these solitudes in a cabin scarcely large enough to turn round inf

ai
"Hairdo yon know tiaat ahe haa ever known any better!" asked the practical Mrs. Gmnandge.
"Why,didfet yon aee that beautiful rose which was trained op by the door; an evideneo of refinement and cultivation within itselff Bashleigh climbed the fence to get me a rose he peetended, but I aee he has given Meg the prettiest, and ahe ia ready to sigh
"Oh 1 for lodge in womo TMt wilderaesc, Borne boundhNM oontiguity of shade."
The inhabitants of that cabin certainly have the last in per fection, but ngh! the sighing of the wind in the pines would ennui me to death, even if I could stand the other discom forts*
"Miss Cap, when I bnild a three-story brick. I will ask yon to live in it," said the Historic a.
"Now yon are talking sense, for of course, the more a we mr*i marries, the more she has to love/- responded Cap. "But I have too vivid a remembrance of Mrs. J- a warning that we were to lay no traps for you on this trip, to trust to yoc*r promises. J, for one, do not lay toils for anothe. * &mg <tc~r>.:J
' I should think not when you wear such a DOT <>et as tliat, he retorted pointing to the sun-bo*1 let with which she wpn vigorously fanning herself. "Coining up tln-ougb the wooc**) just now I could have sworn we were following a North Caic lina wagon with a cover and when I am ne- -er it lequires telescope to find you in it. "W nat is yor fpncy for wearIng itr>
ivMy conduct, sir, as yon will yet find out, is always based on Round principles," she replied with pretended gravity. "My bonnet is cut on the principle of 'distance lending en chantment,' but if you do not like it, instead of gfr Ing me a three-story ertcfc, you may send me a wh; te velvet ckapcnn as a bridal present whenever I conclude to make Mr. Nameless the happiest of men. Is not that a fair compromise, Lord Cheateriied V9
"J think he would prefer one that bound you to let him fur nish your bonnets, and such like traps for the balance of your life, ho replied teasiugly.
Cap pretended not to notice the significance of his tone, as she darted oft to the ambulance which just then drove up to enquire after Miss Patty's health.
She was better, and as it was impossible to proceed any far ther with the vehicles, all made preparations to walk the half mile which still lay between them and Tocoa.
If the scenery surrounding TaHnlah prepares the mind by ita

83

AUNT QUIMB&8

desolate and gloomy features for the rude grandeur denoted by its Indian signification of Tfce ZferrOfe, that around Toooa harmonicea equally well with the idea of the JB*m*y*l*> well described by its meaning in the soft Cherokee tongue. The descent of a very steep hill brought the party to a valley *r basin about half a mile wide surrounded ou every aide by hills so lofty as to merit the name of mountains, and which left nothing in common with the outer wosid visible, save God's own heaven that seemed as near as blue, so lovingly did it bend over the amphitheatre of hills. This sequestered vale was overgrown by a vegetation so luxuriant as to indicate the presence of water even before you caught the murmur of the stream that ripplod past to the busy world through an open ing between the hills at the entrance of the valley. Silver leav ed birches, and sycamores, the giant live-oak, graceful willows, sturdy sweet gams, and other well known forest treea were knit together by liowcring vines and creepers forming a wall of living green, that, bat for its want of gorgeous coloring, might have passed for some jungle of the tropics, in whose depths larked the tawny lion and stealthy panther, ready to spring upon the an wary traveler. Through this sea of verdure, the narrow road wound like a ribbon, following the tortuous course of the stream which grew smaller as it approached the upper end of the valley, and the travelers suddenly paused in rapt admiration at the scene which met their view. Before them lay an open glade covered with short thick turf and dot ted here and there with large trees, which so arranged them selves as to form a natural vista, at the upper end of which suspended, as it seemed from the blue dome of heaven, hung a silvery vail delicate as air, and veined with gold and silver, emerald and ruby, pearl and purple; and every glittering splen dor as it hung, caught light from some radiance beneath, and flashed its sparkles upon the air till it seemed the jeweled curtain to some enchanted grotto, where the noiads and mer maids danced to the to rhythm of the flowing waters.
Not a word wan spoken by the foremost group till they stood upon a huge mass of stone whicn had fallen from the top of the cliff, aud lifted their bared heads to receive the baptism of the spray, then Our Artist drew a deep sigh of enjoyment, and said in a half whisper
"1 never realized the beauty of water before. It reminds me of a description* I read not long ago of the bottom of the sea I only remember a few lines. "When the shadows' of night spread in the deep waters, the exquisite garden which they cover is lighted up with new splendors. The medusas and the microscopic crnataciaus shine in the bottom like lairy stare j

as
the pennatuls floats in a phosporescent light: every corner of the sea-bottom sends out its ray of color; and to complete the marvels of this enchanted night scene, the large silver disk of the moon-fish moves safely through the whirling vortices of little stare..9
"That description is beautiful enough to make us all desire to become divers of the 'vasty deep'," said the Historian as her voice ceased. "I would like to see this scene by moon light, but, unfortunately, the new moon is yet too young foxits light to penetrate to this deep vale."
"You haa better say it is a, fortunate thing for us poor feminines," said Gap, for I am morally sure if any of you lords of creation were to propound a certain question to me on this rock, by moonlight, I should be obliged to say yes whether I wanted to or not. 80 I am glad I shall not be tempted to make any of you miserable for life."
"As usual, Cap has found the step from the sublime to the ridiculous and this time she has assistance down the declivi ty," said Aunt Qnimby, pointing to a group on the bank of the creek behind them, consisting of a man and two women, who seated with their backs to the cataract were composedly dipping snuff from the same black bottle, while near by a sin gle ox, attached to a white-topped wagon, grazed leisurely around.
"I do not believe fhey would consider the subject of love ridiculous^ for I think they must be on their bridal tour," said Meg Memlles. "I cannot imagine what else can have brought them so far from *the busy haunts of men, and they an, the ox included, have rather a sheepish look."
I begin to believe with Bryant that if one could
Take the wings Of the morning, and the Barcan desert pierce ; Or lojw Homcir in the continuous woods Where roll* the Oregon,"
he would still meet creatures of his kind," said Bashleigh Obaldstone. "Five minutes ago I did not believe there was a human being within a circuit of five miles of this place except ourselves, and now those people look as if they might have been here ever since the mountains were created. Miss Die, let's climb this mountain, and see if we cannot discover
WSohmeerefamiroyrtsahlsorneever trod before." "Some enchanted i*le
"Where not a poise should beat but YOVBS, And YOU ight lire, love, die alone,"
I suppose,9 quoted the irrepressible Cap, as the twain moved

8*

A UNT QUIMBY8

off Mm in arm. "Mr. Historian, let's you and I tefthe serpents to invade this
Paradise so par* and l<mly."
This was agreed to. and Aunt Qnimby and Iiord Chester field i>ersuaded to join them in attempting the, ascent of the mountain. wlnle the rest of the party prelerHaa returning by the way they had come.
Just at the fall, the mountain presented a perpendicular front of 180 feet, which defied all attempts t* scale it; but a few yards to the left the ascent was less precipitous, and they soon struck into a narrow path which wound up towards the top. Oapitola and the Historian, the madcaps 01 the party, soon distanced the other walkers, though- the steepness of the ascent after a time, caused even their fleet fdeteteps to flag, and they paused on a projecting point to draw breath, look and laugh at the laborious ascent of their companions. Die being "fair and fat," if not forty, weighed about a hundred and fifty pounds, and it required Rasbleigh's fall strength to' pull her up the mountain; while Annt Qnimby and Uord Chesterfield, neither of whom possessed much ponderosity; were con stantly being thrown out of the path by roots and stones, and several times came near toppling over the precipice.
"Mr. Historian has been congratulating himself that I was 'a spare made gal,' as our North Carolina friend used to say," said Cap, as the panting couple reached them. "Sir Bashleigh wishes that yon were one too, Die, I expect, though he may think with Asrin
"ThM stoepo, though dark aad dread. HeT6n' pathways if to thee they led."
"I think we have misnamed you," said Die, as soon as she could catoh her breath. "You ought to have been called a 'Walking Dictionary of Poetical Quotation*,' and I suspect you have been doing as Falstaff wished to do before starting ou tke trip, cramming for this and all other probable and im probable occasions. But your arrows, however double head ed, generally miss their mark.
"See that they do not yet find the joints in your harness," retorted Cap, provoked at the sarcastic tone which pointed her words, and taking the Historian's arm they resumed their upward way, and were soon at the top.
Meanwhile the sun had climbed to its meridian height, and the thin clouds that veiled its face only tempered bat did not extinguish the warmth of its rays, so that the pedestrians were glad to rest awhile on the top of the mountain, though there woiiittfe to repay them for toe fatigue of their walk.

Of GXORQ1A. i which til now hsjd <cvefifetbraigh the! with ao little width or depth Jtt scarcely to merit the *tle-if estiol > had here, at the brow of the mountain, frillm smsisr breakers, and after chafing *ad fretting at them for a- in* yards, made its esctpe by leaping over the precipice into Hie valley beneath, wfch a velocity 00 great in proportion to Ha volume that before it reached the ground each drop Mpamtod brio minute particles, that hung suspended in the air Hke a woe vail with dongas richer far than any loom of TTi iissiils or Valenciennes ever produced. But from their present position at the top of the mountain, the beanties of the cataract were invisible, and looking down, the eye saw nothing but the top* of the trees below, vhich seemed to fill the valley to overflow, teg; while on the hills aroonmsKied ranks of these giants of the wood seamed keeping solemn guard over their brethren in t)MM?alley beneath. ^Ifo smooth rooks edging the stream were thickly inscribed n4CMhe initials of adventurous tourists, bat our travelers, reM*mbering the adag* in regard to fooPs names and faces, eon* portions of slate anl wood which they exchanged among themselves as mementoes of the trip; then, when the gentle man had with some difficulty formed a bridge of poles over the stream, they crossed and made all the haste they could to rejoin their companions on the other side of the valley. They reached the road over which they had come at a point above that at which they had left the carriages, and while wondering at the nom-appearancc of their companions, they were startled by a saoosssion of shrieks from the valley be neath. Wild stories of adventures with Indians and wild beasts, blanched the chocks of the ladies, while the Historian rushed down the hill with such haste that before reaching the bottom he fell and accomplished the balance of the distance by a series of somenets, which, at length landed him in the midst of a laughing group which enclosed Lady Montague, and the front wheels of the double buggy. This good lady, while attempting to drive herself and childnrn up the hill in this vehicle, suddenly found herself by the breakage of the coupling pin, dragged over the dash-board, an4 following the homeland front wheels up the hill, while the children, so unceremonimisly Icit behind with the body and hind wheels, uttered doleful screams. After a few seconds Lady Montague succeeded in 8topping the horse, and picking herself-up, found she *as uuhui t, and was ready to laugh with the rest as her awkvard ni^hap. The Historian's ready soon repaired tiie damage by whittling omt a woodsn

AWBT QCJMBYS soon stoved away in many promiaam of a week'saajourn anung these romantic scenes when they had more time, bade a liigering farewell to Toooa.
< iiii i mi it The trip back toOlarksville waa rather & silent one for severa! miles, each seeming to be occupied witt his own thoughts^ the silence only broken now and then by inquiries about the distance from both the gentlemen and ladies, all of whom be gan to have a realizing sense that the dinner hour was long since past, and no eatables were to be had any nearer than Clarksville, while the road seemed to lengthen interminably. * A penny for your thoughts, Don Quixote," at length ex claimed Cap, whose nimble tongue Jiad really been still for some minutes. " They are worth far more than m penny," he responded gallantly, " for I was thinking of you.* "Oh, what nice tilings yon do say,* she replied with A com ical nod of her head. " But do let us know your thoughts, for I know they must have been profound with so weighty a sub ject as myself.9 u I was only wondering what made yon so quiet, and was about to beg you to
My dark-eyed lore be gla* *'
interrupted the Historian in a pretended aside to Die, who nodded approvingly at this fighting the enemy with her own weapons.
Cap's only answer to this thrust was- a oantemptnous shrug of her shoulders, as she turned to LtonQntxote.
"I was quiet because, as an old friend af mine used to say. I feel to sympathize with the crow, who fead no grub to ate,* and without waiting for any response, ihe gave out the first two lines of " The Three Blacckk Crows,* and raised it to a ttrae whose ludicrous solemnity set them all to laughing, though they joined in tfce air; Miss Patty astfaefftiaa*f high triW manner irreaistiWy '

HJBMINT8C9JSCX8 Of GEORGIA. "Who shall say I am not a magician, When Ih*6 n ed for halfan hour in making three ofthe lords ofcieaiionfcget that they have had no dinner, and amusing them wlMB they were hungry f exclaimed Cap. as the spires of Gtefcsville came in view. " Gentlemen, I think I deserve a vote of thanks from yon alL" 44 We will pay yon in something more substantial when we reach the town," said the Historian, and, true to his promise, when they paused in the public square to ascertain the where abouts of Falstaff, he disappeared, but soon* returned laden with ginger-cakes baked in the shape of hearts,.which ne dis tributed among them. They were all too hungry to be fastid ious, and the merriment that these unique specimens of art gave rise to attracted the attention of a group of idle loungers on a corner, who stared so impudently, that the gentlemen wve the signal for the cortege to move on to the upper end of the village, where they had learned that Falstaff had ] rooms in the house of a lady who was in thehabit modating parties of tourists. Here the comfort and even elegance of their accommoda tions made the ladies ashamed of their rough and travel-stain ed appearance, and learning from Falstaff that they need give themselves no concern about supper, which he had engaged a cook to repare, they retired to their room to make their ap
more in accordance with their surroundThe curious chronicler might record some amusing scenes which took place before the single glass, which alternately refllected dark braids and sunny curls, bine eyes and black, as their different owners made the most of the few arts of the toilet which they had in their posssession; but we forbear to intrude upon them at these mysterious rites, further than to note that Mrs. Gummidge and the fairManolia were observed to take particular pains with their toilets, and, on being ques tioned, said that one of the gentlemen had promised to bring up two young Mends of his from the town to call upon them that evening, and they were afraid they would not be able to make a presentable appearance with the means at their com uiand. The rest being quite content with their prenent at tendants were satisfied to make the best of their limited wardrobes, without spending time in primping, and soon left them to partake of the bounteous supper FalstafFs care had provided; and when they all assembled in the handsomely lighted parlor, no handsomer group need have been wished, for the gentlemen, through respect to their fair companions, had done all they could to remove the traces of the clay's

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rough experience and compared favorably with the two beaux from the village who soon made their appearance, and after being presented to the company were turned over to the two ladies tor whom the call was designed, while the rest assembled around the handsome piano at the other end of the long parlor, from which Miss Patty Pace's skillfnl fingers were soon drawing sweet strains to which the rest kept time with their voices.
This had not progressed very loi|g when it was interrupted by the entrance of a party of young people from the town, ac quaintances of the lady of the house, who had come ostensibly to get up a dance, but really to inspect our tourists. Among them was several of the loungers whose bold glances had so annoyed the ladies in the evening, several of them so much under the influence of liquor that, if they had not been guests of their hostess, the gentlemen would have requested them to leave the house; and nothing but respect due the first callers, young lawyers of distinction and ability, as well as perfect gentlemen? prevented the ladies from leaving the parlor. Xbe quiet dignity of the party, however, soon convinced the intraders that they were in the wrong company, and afier sing ing " Jim, crack corn," and a few other hilsjrious songs, they took their departure, leaving anything but a favorable im pression of the beaux of Olarksville upon the minds of the tourists.
The dawn of another bright summer's morning found the party refreshed by a good night's rest, and eager to turn their faces homeward, though their spirits were saddened by the necessity of parting with a portion of their company whose homes lay in another direction. So close had been the com panionship cl the past week, that it was like the sundering ot family ties for them to separate, and the more tender-hearted of the ladies shed tears when the time for the farewell came, and the family carriage which had joined us near Gainsville disappeared in an opposite direction to the one they were to take; for, after much consultation, the gentlemen of the party had decided to avoid the circuitous route by which they had come, and return by the direct road from Olarksville to Athens.
When they MS* about to start, it was discovered that the single portion of the party having lost four of its members, the remainder could all ride in the ambulance. In it they were accordingly stowed away with the exception of Falstaff, who once mare led the van. The party were naturally too light hearted to remain long depressed, and ere many miles - ' -----1 the tide of banter and fon was again in fWU flow,

REMINI8VB2fCE8 Of QMQKGIA.

m

broktti now and then by interludes of serious t-"^ or mtoJMia of favorite melodies, all of which made the time 9y so rapidly that when a motion was made for dinner it was vetoed by the majority; most of whom, now that the niiiihimi nl itf i|ihlB<i<ia|r was over, were eager to reach home. The hones, however, began to show signs of weariness, and it was decided to atop to feed them at the first convenient place.
A well by the road side, situated in a grove shadows woed the travelers to rest, soon presenting Hsel the horses were unharnessed and bountifully supplied with nodi but an inspection of' the provision trunk brought to light the fact that the bipeds of the party were likely to go unnro* vided fox, as a small quantity of corn meal was the sole rem nant of the bountiful supplies with which they had started. Bather long faces greeted this aspect of affairs, especially among the gentlemen, and after a whispered consultation be tween Iiady Montague and Mrs. Guinmidge, they disappeared in the direction of a farm house near by, and, after a snort ab sence, returned with a tray, sifter and oven with which they set to work, affd with the assistance of the negro drivers soon made and baked some large pones of bread, which with a bucket of Aresh milk, and plenty of butter was pronounced by the gentlemen to be a repast fit for a king. The ladies also did ample justice to the meal with the exception of Oapitola who retained her seat in the ambulance, declaring she never in tended to scratch her throat by attempting to swallow corn bread, especially when baked in the form of " steel pone," and served on a work bench. Her quips and witticisms on their appearance as they surrounded the rustic table, was the sauce which seasoned the informal meal, and when it was over, and en avant was once more the cry, it was found that the Ilistorian was about to repay her for the loss of her dinner by a ride in Falstaft's buggy, the latter having good humoredly resign ed his place in it lor a seat in the ambulance. As he was a great favorite with all the young people, they made room lor him eagerly, but the afternoon proved so warm that even Jkls quaint jokes and jolly good humor failed to stir the party into much life, till the conversation accidentally turned upon the associations connected with names, when Miss Patty sudden ly roused up and electrified them all by propounding an en tirely new theory. She said that every name suggested to her some tangible object; some sounding like pieces of flannel, others like rocky roads, or rolls of dough, and soon ad libitum* Amid the bursts of laughter which this unique idea provoked, each enquired what his name sounded like, and, unabashed by the general ridicule, she with the utmost gravity, and without

ATTNT QUZMBY8 it hesitation mentioned different objects, moat of > no utterly remote from anything likely to be sug gested by her surroundings, that they all stared at herinvtter amawimftnt; and on her telling Roscras that his name sonmded tike a green glass bottle, Falataff took theprivilege of an old friend to beg her never to advance such ideas again, or penile would think her a monomaniac. But she only laughed and called upon Lady Montague to prove that she had often heard her nay such things before, and, therefore, they were not man ufactured for the occasion. That good lady not only confirm ed what Miss Patty had said, but confessed that she too must plead guilty to a similar hallucination, if such it might be termed, on(y names suggested color* instead of object* to her. The merriment which such a confession from one of the elders of the party provoked, lasted till near sunset, when they sud denly emerged from the woods in front of a farm honse whose surroundings bespoke u rough plentx that decided Falataff to make it a stopping place ior the night, if lodging could be procured. The house had. originally been a one story log building of two rooms, but had expanded to suit the wants of the growing family, till it reminded the observers of a warty Squash, so numerous and irregular were the exeresences that projected from every part of it; but, unsightly as these were in an ar chitectural point of view, they gave promise of roomy aocominodatioiis for our travelers; and an application to the owner of the honse, a pleasant-faced widow, resulted in their taking possession of three rooms, which however bare of adornment, were well supplied, with the most essential requirement to our weary travelers clean, neat looking beds. The party were so much fatigued that most of them went regularly to bed in ten minutes after getting into the house, but Aunt Qnimby, whose little frame possessed a wonderful degree of elasticity, and who, like Martha, was apt to be " troubled about many things," now felt such a realizing sense that outside* the house were seven hungry masculines whose supper would not pre pare itself, that she could not compose herself to sleep ; and after a short talk with Cap, who was as usual wide awake when all the rest were sleepy, the two stole on\ and finding that the lady of the honse possessed the luxury ' of a cooking stove, went to work and by dark had ready an appetizing meal of egg-bread, scrabbled eggs and hot eofltee, to wlrch even the sleepy ones did not refuse to do justice, and found themselves so much refreshed thereby that the most of them acceded to Falstafffe wish that they should ndjourn to the porch and have some music. Hie moonlight lay upon the

REMINI8OBNCE8 O* GSORQIA.

ft!

i like molton silver, giving its own charm to the rude mounding*, and inspirited by it influence they sang solos* glees and choruses that awoke strange echoes among the endieting woods, till the Qneeu of Night, rising high in her or bit, warned them of the necessity of retiring.
Adjoining the room which had been appointed to the ladies was a small room containing one bed, which had not been in cluded in the part allotted to the travelers, but, finding it *uoeoapied at bedtime, and the beds in their room be ing already filled to overflowing, Die and Meg determined to take posses sion of it, and have one uninterrupted night's rest. About midnight, Meg was waked by iinding Die's head on her pil low with her lips to her ear, begging her in a tremulous whis per to wake np and see who was in the room. Sure enough the outer door, communicating with the porch, stood wide open, and shoes which had a masculine creak, were pushing about the room. The girls held on to each other in breathless suspense, fearing they scarcely knew what, till they heard the footsteps ascending the staircase to the room above, aiul the fall of a heavy pair of boots told the intruder was preparing for bed. Then they drew a long breath of relief, reim-mbei ing that their hostess had warned them not to be alarmed it' they heard a noise in the house, as her sous and daughters were gone to a party from which they would not return till lute, and the young man had passed through the room without knowing it was occupied. The girls did not slumber very sopndly alter this, and rose with the sun to make preparations to follow Lady Montague, who had left with her children to take breakfast with a relative that lived in the neighborhood.
A cold breakfast was partaken of hurriedly, for a journey ot forty miles lay between them and the homes which they hoped to reach that night, and by seven o'clock they had overtaken Lady Montague who. had arrived safely at her destination. She had not, however, finished her breakfast, so that the par ty halted to wait for her, and at the same time partake of some
fine fruit.

CHAPTER XVI.

It
then

was after the day

eight oVloek promised to be

wheu. they were once en route. so warm, that Falstaft" enjoined

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a slow rase of travel a* the only means of making their henMS stand the journey which my hefove them. As the party were onee more on familiar giesmd, he resigned his baggy to the young people the party, and took his place in the ambnlaaee oo the plea that the party mo longer needed a pioneer, bat wore than one bettered it wan to be near Meg whose bright eyes had Switched him, and the sly joke* and glances which him solicitude for her comfort excited, kept them all amused for sometime.
As the day grew pat mm, however, conversation languished, and ail seemed inclined to meditation till a sodden torch of the ambfdance sent Aunt Qnimby's memorandum book from it* place in the top of the ambulance into the lap of the His torian.
" Why have we not thought of this before,'* he exclaimed, " This will be our last chance of a peep into the contents of this wonderful volume, so do Aunt Quimby enliven us this morning with another one of yonr stories."
Tliis was eagerly seconded by all the party, and after some demurring she opened the book, and after looking over its pages for some time said:
44 1 find I have exhausted the memoranda of my first visit to Georgia, bat I can read a story the material for which I collected during a second visit which I made here during the war and without farther preface she began
THB8OKGHUM BOILUfO.
Reader, did you ever attenda sorghum boiling? I am -afraid you are unacquainted with that pleasure especially if the lines have fallen unto yon in any other place than IMxie. Even General Sherman in the frequent trips he made through the late Confederacy did not become fully acquainted with the aaceharine fluid, for, after flooding half the cellars in Macon with it, he turned to a citizen who stood by gazing at the de struction acd pointing to the flowing syrup said: " You call that sor sor oryanai, do yon not T* u Yes," meekly reapomdedtheman. " Well, I wish yoa Seoesh to find some thing better to stock your cellars with before I come again, for that compound does not suit my palate. In spite of the disapproval of so famous a person I will venture to write a few words about Sorghum * plant which a kind Providence seemed to send especially to supply some of the necessities of the Southern people daring the sufferings of the late war. And for fearsome dainty beOe, who knows nothing of the war except that it furnishes material for the dilightful sensation tones which she devours so eagerly, may not know what I

KMMIN190WNCJI8 O9 OZORG1A. mm tatting abort, I will give you a brief d minify an of th* plant.
It is a species, of sugar-cane, net confined te> tropical lati but growing readily in any temperate ethaate iron* ten
to fifteen feet in height, and ripening in October. It xnrnn es pecially designed for man when in extremity, Jtor erery part of the plant is nsefhl. Not only in the juice, wbe* boiled, an excellent substitute for molasses, bnt the fodder is equal to that gathered from corn ; the seed, 'of which it yields about fifty bushels to an acre, when ground makes an eatable breach , and unrivalled chop for horses, while the stalks alter being crushed in the mill, form au excellent food for all animal* save those of a ruminating kind, which it is apt to kill by swelling in the upper stomach. Bo much for the nature and uses of sorghum, and for fear you are beginning to think this matter of fact article more suitable for a Patent Office Report, or book ot statistics, than the columns of a magazine, I will try to extract some romance even from this nnromautic subject, and to do, so I must tell yon of a Sorghum Boiling I attended down in Georgia.
It was a breezy October morning with just enough frost in the air to make it bracing and healthy. The distant forest, like a modest nymph, had retired behind a curtain of mist to don her autumnal robes of purple and gold, but the gorgeous col ors broke through the thin veil, now and then, betraying the beaiUjr behind. The river at the foot of the lawn sparkled and danced on its way through the fields just beginning to as sume the rtisaet hues of "the saddest season of the year," while from the village on the opposite bank the suuoke curled gracefully towards the deep blue sky, and the merry shouts of the children at play came pleasantly to the ear.
Breakfast was over at " Myrtle Hill," as the Hyliard plan tation was called, and a inerry party had gathered 6u the colonade to enjoy the fresh air tor awhile before disperaieg for the day's duties and employments. Archie Hllyard was sketching a ludicrous caricature on one of the pillars, and had called Lucy Douglas to look at it, a summons she had readily obeyed, glad of any excuse to be near the one to whom she had given the first pure love of her youthful heart. His sister Lizzie had gone without invitation, and stood peering over her brother's shoulder laughing merrily at the amateur performance.
Rosa Harris, conscious of looking her best in a white wrap per worn with special reference to Charley Hilyard's ttste, had accepted his invitation to see him feed his hounds, und now stood at the foot of the steps patting and fondling the

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huge cratoues, though I knew eaefc meooth gambol sent her heart into her month, for she was naturally timid.
I, plain Anaie Ix4gh, being uacegea^onionsly left out in the grouping, stood with my back to the rest of the party endeav oring to persuade myself that I was enjoying the thousand beauties of Held and forest outspread before me, but conscious of a great pain at my heart which I strove in vain to still.
I had known the Hiiyards from my earliest childhood; for many years our parents had lived on adjoining estates, and when five years before a malignant fever swept away my fa ther and mother in the short space of one week, their hospita ble doors were thrown open, and the poor orphan girl received as one of their own family. There 1 remained until the first shock of grief had passed, and 1 was able to look the future in the face. 1 was alone iu the world, except a few distant rela tions, who were unable or unwiliin to assist me, and who would have considered their wealth and pride contaminated by contact with my poverty, for my father's affairs were found to be involved, his creditors were repucious, an * when all was settled I was penniless and homeless; even the old homestead endeared by childish pleasures and raaturer joys, had passed away to strangers. The Hilyards urged iu$ to remain with them, but I had too much just pride to remain dependent on those upon whom 1 had no claim. There was then nothing left to. me but teaching, the one path which seems open to women reared as I had been ; and for this position 1 was well fit ted by the superior education it had been my father's pride to bestow on his only child, without the thought that it would one day be her only means of support.
Finding me firm iu my determination to support myself, Mr. Hilyard succeeded in procuring me a situation in a city seminary. With fear and trembling, for I was a sad coward about venturing on untried duties, I entered my new sphere. In it I had Iteen more successful than I had dared to hope, for 1 had retained the situation, and for ten months out of the twelve I trod daily the same t readmil! round, my weary feet, and fainting heart, upheld by a strong wi)l, and the knowl edge that my two month's respite would be S]ent with the Hilyards, who always claimed me as soon as school duties were over. How blessed seemed the quiet and repose of their country home to my tired frame, worn and weary of the din and bustle of iny city home. What stores of pleasant memo ries 1 gathered up to cheer me in my long exile from them, and how 1 looked and loured for this one oasis in my barren existence, none muy know, but those who have trod the i pati* tke cough causeway of a teacher's life.

Living thus for many days in constant intercourse with Charley Hilyard, the recipient of so many kind attentions^ and realizing: in Mm my ideal of inanly perfection, it is aot wonderfuUhat admiration, gratitude and esteem became merg ed into a^fcow enduring passion, but this I woold not ac knowledge even to my own heart, till Charley went to (3ahfornia tyro years before, from whence he had only retvrned at the beginning of the war. l>iu iug his absence we had orresponded, and, thongh his letters were only such as a brother might have written to a well beloved sister, I welcomed their arrival as the greatest events of my life, aitd almost uncon sciously to myself, they became the foundation of many a day dream and airy vision so fair and beautiful that they imparted some of their own bright hues to the dull ami unromairtic present.
On his return he had called to see me in my city home. We met in the common parlor of my boarding house, and **e presence of others, as well as the remembrance of the thou^:. Lti I had been indulging, embarrassed me, and rendered me un able to;respond in a cordial mariner to his frank exprr: ioas of pleasure at seeing me. He could only apare me a ft min utes, for he was hasteeniug home to see the clear o s from whom he had been so Toug separated, and they wer<. .pent in awkward attempts at conversation, for my constraint had soon communicated itself to him, aud it was with a feeling pi relief that 1 saw the interview terminate which 1 had anticipated so long, aud so joyously. It was many months ere I saw him again, for he soon after joined the army and was ordered to Virginia.
This summer, for the first time, I hesitated to go to the Hilyards. Wliile I was still debating the question, I receiv ed a letter from a maiden aunt of my lathe's, who, finding her health declining, suddenly remembered the niece whom she could now make useful, and wrote begging lue to come to her. For a few moments my heart rebelled against thus yielding to the demands, and giving up my holiday to one who had neg lected me in my lonely orphanage, but 1 said over to myself the precept taught me in niy early childhood by my mother, "Recompense not evil for evil, but do giod to those who dispitefhlry use yon," and I decided to go. Verhaps 1 was helped to this determination by the kuowh-d&e that Charley Bilyard was at home disabled by a severe v. ound in the hand, for the weakness of my heart taught me to avoid one whom I believ ed felt no warmer affection for me than friendship. I could not pray each day "not to be lead into temptation,7' and then wilfully place myselfwhere the peace for which I was striving

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would be endangered every hoar; so at the feat moment* so as to allow no time for remonstrances from her, I wrote to Ldzcie apprising her of my change of plan, and took the can for my aunt's residence in an adjoining State.
Ldwe'aaaswer was lull of reproaches, telling hoManch they were all disappointed, and declaring that Charley had done notion* but mope since the receipt of my letter. Her next
" tfee arrival of a cousin whom they had not seen for Bosa Harris, a Kentucky Belle; and her subse
quent letters were full of tfke amusements they were getting up for the entertainment of their guest, who would remain with them till the winter.
It was a trial to torn from these delightful picture* of conntzy life and pleasures to the darkness and stillness of the sick room, where pills and powders reigned supreme; but I remained firm at my post. About the time my vacation was over, my aunt died. I believe my presence was a great comfort to her in her last hours, and this helped me to bear the disappoint ment when, her will was read, leaving her property to a dis tant relative, who already had a superfluity. I hadnqt work ed for pay, and did not now repine, though, enfeebled as I was by nursing, I was in no fit condition to resume my school duties. However, "necessity knows no law," and a few days found me back in my old orbit pursuing the same dull routine. But worn out nature revenged herself, and ere many weeks I I was stricken down with a severe attack of fever.
At the first intelligence of my illness, Mrs. Ililyard and Liz zie had hastened to my bedside. They nursed mo with untir ing care, and as soon as I was declared convalescent, bore mo off, unheeding my remonstrances, to their home. Charley came for ns, and if I had never loved him before, I must have been won by the tender assiduity, and thoughtful care he man ifested for my comfort on the journey.
"At "Myrtle Hill I found Kosa Harris, and though no one could help rendering the meed of admiration to her beauty and grace, there seemed an instinctive repulsion between us at our first meeting, and farther acquaintance rather increas ed than diminished this feeling. I felt her to be a cold, heart less, world-wedded coquette; while she looked down from a height of immeasurable superiority upon the plain, insignifi cant teacher. Thus matters stood on the morning I have in troduced the family group to the reader.
Archie's picture progressed rapidly amidst the laughter of the girls, and Bosa and Charley still lingered at the foot of the steps apparently in a confidential tetc a-tete, when Tettia

REMINI8CBNGE9 Of O&ORQIA.

W

Hftyard danced out onthe cotonade with an open not* in tier hand exclaiming gaily:
"Oh! girls, here is a prospect for another frolic! Mrs. MHchel has written inviting us to her Sorghum Boiling."
"It will be rather a doubtful sort of ftin if we have the wotk to do/* said Lizzie, "unless you are fomlcr of being etaok np than I am."

"Oh! you don't understand! Listen to what she writes to Mamma,9' and she iea<l aloud from the note she held in her hand:

]>KAB MBS. HtLYARD:

Our Sorghum has turned out remarkably well we have barreled about five hundred gallons. Tins is the last day of the boiling, and the girls^ have determined to invite some young people, and end with a frolic. Your family must be sure to come this evening, and bring any guests they may have with them.

Yours,

M. MITCHEIX.

"Ah! it is a Masses lickin,' as they say out here" said Archie. "Miss Anna, were you ever at one V9
I shook my head and asked what a "lasses lie kin'" was. "Oh! we, Virginians, would call it a *candy-stew, or " taffypnlling," he replied laughing. "The Georgians have coined a new name, and call them "lasses likins" "We must be sure to go," said Lucy Donglass, "for I have a great curiosity to see how such things are conducted out here. A few days ago a young lady was describing to me the amusements in her neighborhood last winter, and she said they had a number of 'lasfees lickins' up in her 'beat' at which they had "lots of taffy and goobers" and "a powerful sight of fun." "What are you all discussing up there," called out Charley Hiryar4, as the laugh subsided. "Cousiu Rosa, shall we go *ip and see what's to pay f and he offered his arm to assist her up the steps. She accepted it, and sauntering carelessly up to the group, encircled me with her arm. I shuddered involuntarily at her touch, and it was only by an effort that I restrained the impulse to fi ee myself from the seemingly affectionate clasp, for 1 knew this novel display of af fection for one towards whom she had never shown ought but cool indifference, was to serve some purpose of her own; and C shrank from the comparison I felt Charley must be drawing as we atood thus together in front of hiui. Heaven knows I did not envy her beauty, though that was as brilliant as raven

AUNT
foee^ her tne possemion of Charley Bffljaidfeheart, which I bettered she had won from me* Theavbjeot voder discussion was explained and the mote read again. *We must all go," said Charley, ffor I want one more good frolic before I go back to camp it may he long tmtmarh before I have another. I wonder who will be there t Mr. Meredeth, of course, for one.9 Oh! yes, and Miss Anna must certainly go," amid Boaa, Hariis, turning to me. <*One more meeting will bring hum tothe proposal point, and end the matter favorably." "Is that a consnmation devoutly to be hoped for, Miss Annaf said Charley, with a quick glance at me. "Of course it is," she said quickly without giving me tine to answer. "Miss Anna is much too sensible a woman to allow such an eligible chance of a settlement in life escape her. I think it will suit admirably, for we all know Miss Anna's pvediliction for a country life, and Mr. Meredith was telling ns the other day how much he needed a house-keeper, and lament ing that his children were growing up with no better care than that of the servants. I feel sorry for him." "Ah! it is to be a marriage de convenence then on both side**? Miss Anna I had thought would never be influenced by such motives, but I am beginning to believe that what has been said of men is true of women "they all have their price." He spoke with some bitterness, and I opened my lips to de fend myself, but closed them again firmly, saying within my self; "If the words of an idle trifler like she can shake the opinion formed by years of intimate companionship, let it be so: but the pang at my heart gave a kneen satire to my tone as I turned to Rosa Harris, who was surveying me with a look of mocking derision: ' Miss Harris feels so much amiable sympathy for Mr. Mer edith that I think she had better try to ameliorate his forlorn condition by taking him herself. The motive* she ascribes to me would be much more consonant with her feeling than mine, and I am not yet so much reduced as to be obliged to hire my self out as house-keeper or nursery maid;" and with a mock ing bow I walked to the other end of the colonade. Charley followed me in a few minutes to ask at what time we should start on the daily ride which had been prescribed by the physician, and which he had been careful to give me every I declined taking it to-day, saying my health was now re stored, and I stood in no farther need of such prescription*.

RJ6MIXI80RNC98 Or QSORGIA.

9

"Is restored health any reason why you should deny me a pleasure 1 he naked gently.
"No; bat a very goof reason why I should relieve you of a troublesome duty," I answered coldly.
"I thought you knew ere this, Anna, that nothing I can do for you is a trouble:" he said in a reproachful tone. "But I suppose you must have decided to change your escort, as I see Mr Meredith coming f Must I believe the report of your intention to marry him, Miss Anna V
"Believe whatever you choose,77 I said haughtily, indignant that he should thus continue to tease ine, and turning away I entered the house without giving him a chance to say more.
From the window of my room I saw Mr. Meredith's buggy drive up, and fearing he might ask for me, I snatched a bon net and ran down stairs.
As I passed through the hall, I heaiu Rosa Harris' splendid voice soaring and swelling in rich olumes of sound as she sang some difficult opera air, and through the half open door of the parlor, caught a glimpse of Charley bending over her in wrapt admiration and devotion. String almost to madness by the sight, I flew out of the house and across the lawn to the river bank: breathlessly I climl>ed the, cliffs, unheeding the bushes and briars that impeded my way, till I reached a high point untenanted save by a lew goats and their kids be longing to the factory village.
Once in my aerie and I was safe. Above me was the blue sky, beneath a roaring cataract, where the river, shut in by hanging cliffs, dashed precipitately over an immense ledge of rock with a roar that shook the rock upon which I stood. What should hinder me from casting myself down from that dizzy height into the dark and seething pool beneath the fall, and thus ending a life that was alike worthless to myself and others* Who was there in the wide world that my death would grieve f
For a moment I bent over the vortex as these frantic thoughts whirled through my mind, in another, for I was not yet quite crazy. I had] thrown myself on my hand and knees, and lifted my hands and eyes in mute supplication towards the Heaven, the laws of whose Righteous Judge I had been tempted to disobey.
After.a while the first passionate overflow of feeling subsi ded, and I nat down, and, pushing back the hair from my face, strove to think calmly. I felt how foolishly I wa acting in thus suffering myself to be tossed to and fro on the wild waves of passion, and that too, for one who only thought of me as a sister. Was it not something to have such a brother to trust

i>
and depend upon in any difficulty ? What was I, poor, home ly, obscure, and homeless, save for the shelter their kindness had given me, that I atftonld raise roy^yes to one so intmeas nrabte my superior, the heir of that broad domain, caressed and flattered alike by young and old. Our paths in life lay wide apart; his was a flower-strewn way bedecked with hon ors, mine stretched before me a straight and narrow path of trial, self-denial, and years of loneliness fall of the misery which those feel who have nothing for which to live, and only a bitter memory to feed their thoughts upon. And as its full desolation broke npon me, I stretched onfc my hands in a quick passionate cry for death. The solemn roar of the cataract, not unlike the ceasless murmur of my own undisciplined heart, was the only sound that answered me, but at that moment I saw on the face of the fall where the water did not quite cover the surface of the rock, a little bird. Undismayed by the boiling waters around it, and the tearful 'whirlpool beneath, it walked fearfully along, the slippery pathway, occasionally uttering a quick note, seemingly of thanksgiving for its preservation and the mercies of the way. I beheld myself rebuked by one of the least of God's creatures, and felt my own folly in crying out against my fate because the voyage promised to be stor my and boisterous. "I will learn a lesson of thee, little mari ner," I said humbly, "I will pursue meekly my way, thankful for any gleam of light that may irradiate its angry billows, securely trusting in the great Pilot who hath promised to bring us into uthe haven where we would be;" and as these thoughts arose in my mind, through the soft slumberous air seem to come the command, "Peace, be still," and there was at once a great calm.
Afraid to test my uew found composure by an immediate return to the house, I determined to avail myself of the beau tiful day to go once more to my old honie a visit which I had been planning secretly ever since learning that the family who had purchased it were away for the summer. It was a short walk of a mile, iind descending from my perch, I retraced my steps to the uegro cabins where I left a message informing Mrs. Hilyurd of my destiiiatiou, and calling Carlo, the house dog, to follow me, took the well known path over the hills. How often a merry, light-hearted child I had 'skipped over it* well beaten surface! Now, 1 trod it a woman, my soul heaving with fears and yearnings; but there was a charm still in its well remembered turns, and the familiar laud-scape, so peace ful atid calm in the rich light of the October snu, crept into my heart filling its desert places with soft comfertuig calm.

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101

I found but few changes in the old place. 'The large old trees that had won for it the name of "Wood-lawn17 still bowed in as lofty pride over my head as I walked np the avenue an orphan and a stranger, as when I rolled beneath their shadows in a stately carriage, the pet and idol of my parents, and the heiress of that proud estate; and through them the house with its snowy pillars looked out with the aspect of a familialfriend. It is strange how the heart clings to inanimate objects when deprived of other ties! All around me now belonged to another, and had passed away from me, I thought forever, but I felt an ownership of affection in every familiar object, and still mourned for my household gods.
On the colonade steps sat an old woman, who had once be longed to my father, and, being a trusty servant, was in the absence of the mistress, entrusted with the general supervis ion of the place. She was now busily engaged in kn tting, and watching the movements of a troop of youngsters who were sweeping the yard. At the sight of me she came forward to meet me, dropping a series of old-fashioned curtesies, which at another time and place, might have provoked my laughter. Inclining to enter the house in the absence of the owner, I did not refuse the comfortable chair and nice lunch of bread, fruit and milk which Aunt Daphne insisted upon setting out on the colonade for me; and this over I drew the old woman 6n to speak of the days of which my heart was so fulL To this she was no wise averse, for old negroes always feel great pride in relating the traditions of the family in whiclt they nave been raised, even though that glory may have departed; and the hours slipped rapidly by in listening to anecdotes of my childhood, intermingled with predictions that those days of confort and happiness would return and she should live to see me come again to my own; and at which I smiled half in bitterness, half in derision. The lengthening .shadows warned me at length, that the short Autumn day was drawing to a close, and it was time for me to retrace my stei>s towards Myr tle Hill.
"You will go to the grave yard, Mistta, fore you go." said the old woman, a 1 rose from luy .seat beside her. "You will aoe that mammy has not neglected it," she added, as I nodded ascent.
She accompanied me to the gate, then with the instinctive delicacy which makes that class of people understand, and sympathize with sorrows which we never coulide to them, she bade me an affectionate good-bye and left me.
All within the enclosure where my parent* slept .was in ex quisite order, showing none of those evidences of Deflect

AUTST QUIM3Y8

strike the heart so painfully in Southern

_

_ grass, undisngured by a single weed, was

green and soft as velvet, and the white tea-rose that stood

bythesftnirle shaft which marked the double graves was

heavy with buds which in a few days would be blossoms,

aomethincin the quiet aspect of the spot seen in the pale

lightsef evening,; touched my heart, and the varied emotions

that had beem struggling within me found vent in heavy tears

as I knelt by the lonely mounds marking the resting, place of

those guarniane ef iny youth, the memory of whose love, solic

itude and eare was the one bright spot in memory's waste.

Calmer, ifnet happier. I at length arose and retraced the path

I had trodden in the morning. The sun .was setting as I

reached the hffl over-looking the valley in which the Hilyard

home lay bosomed m hill and wood, and rising abruptly from

the over bank just above the fells whose murmur, softened by

the distance, combined pleasantly with the soughing of the

wind through the trees above me, the tinkling of distant bells

as the cows were bein# driven home tram pasture, and the

wild, melancholy cry o* the swine-herd which echoed from hill

tohuL The shades of twilight were already beginning to

gather in the valley, but the house, from its higher situation,

still reflected, the last rays of the sun, and with its many

gleaming windows seemed to have concentrated all the light

ef the land-scape to itself: A pleasant beacon it looked.

ending the traveler to rest, comfort and hospitality. Oh I

how I wfehett I had the right to claim there for all my future

life, a pemaaent abiding place a home magical word in

which I should never have right or part, and at the thought

the words of one wretched as I now was rushed to my heart

and lips

Mw^7* whT I* happiness so brief f Life's weeds so stoovg, its flowers so frail ?
Hew BMitable the world appears Where nothim* UsU but pain and tears !"

I lingered till the sun disappeared behind the hills, then ~ ~ ~ *. As I neared the gate I saw a group
on the oolonade, and among them recognised several gentle men and ladies front the neighborhood. Kot wishing to meet them just thent I turned into a winding path in the shrubbery leading to a side door, and through that made my escape to my room. Lizzie's foot w:w* soon heard upon the stairs, and she entered full of eludings for my long absence, but before I could answer her a bell fang sharply below.
" There is the tea-bell, and you are not near ready," she ex claimed, " Mamma insisted upon our taking supper before we

HSMINISOJSNCSS OF OXORQ1A.

MB

wort to the party, and there te * house fell of oompaay.fceve, M> I must run down. Make hajte aad come down, te H to mearly time for us to start."
In spite of her injunction, I lingered over my toilet heard the murmur of voices returning from, Hie nnjijiar I watched at the head of the stairs, till they were safe parlor, then slipped down hoping to find no one in the t room butMrs, Hilyard: bat when 1 entered the room Ok was still standing by the fire.
"How do yon do, runaway!" he said comiag forward to meet me with extended hand.
I gave him only the tips of my fingers, for I felt they were icy cold, bnt he persisted in drawing my whole hand into his warm clasp, and led me up to his mother who still sat. at the head of the table.
" Mamma, here is the culprit. I hope yon will make her folly aware of the enormity of her conduct in thru* leaving your house for a whole day without asking your permission. As counsel for the prosecution I would suggest a'straight jack et, and solitary confinement for a week ou bread and water."
His mother smiled, and passing her arm around me gave me a kind, motherly kiss, which, in my present state of feel ing, brought tears to uiy eyes. Charley seemed to detect my emotion, for he immediately Heated meat the table, declaring L must be half starved, and must eat such a supper as Ned Brace did on his trip to Savannah; di&patched half a dozen servants for as many different things Imilt a fortiacatio* of dishes around my plate, and kept the room in such an uproar by his jokes and contradictory orders that it was impossible not to be amused, and I soon found myself laughing merrily, while the knot in my thought rapidly melted away.
" Bravo! I could not have done better myself," said Charley, as I arose from the table. u I am sure after that supper you will be able to go with"
The sentence, whatever its import, ^as interrupted by fiosa Harris, who entered the room and wit-hunt noticing me ran up to Charley exclaiming: " Cousin Charley, it always makes me dreadfully sick to ride in a close carriage. Will you take me over in your open buggy to Mrs. TV1 itch ell's T"
A shadow crossed his face, but IK? answered ia the affirma tive. " Oh! that is a dear, good cousin," she exclaimed lay ing her hand upon his arm, and raising her beautiful eyes sparkling with pleasure to his.
I did not wonder that his face softened, and flushed with admiration as he gazed at her. She was the very style of woman that effects men like draughts of old wine, pvodaotog

104 temporary airiness and delirium; and, like that, leaving nothingba* evil effects behind.
Had Rosa Harris been a true, earnest, good woman, one calculate* to lead her husband into paths of righteousness and peaoB by the gentle iuflnenc of her pure life, I think I could have borno, however bitter the trial, to see her win Charley Hflyard; but, knowing, as I did, that her grace, beauty and splendid accomplishments, were but the outside polish the veneering that covered a poor mind, and coarse nature, jeal ously, cruel as the grave, gnawed at my heart. Perhaps, somethin g of this feeling was expressed in my features, for after a few moments she turned to me with a triumphant light gleamiug in her yes.
" I hope I am not interrupting any previous arrangement," she said. " Miss Anna has been so romantic and sentimental to-day, prefering u the boundless contiguity of shade" to civil ized society, that I am ignorant of her arrangements about going to the party V
" I have made none that will in the slightest degree interfere with any of yours," I said haughtily.
" I shall return for Miss Anua, if she will permit me," said Charley.
" Do not trouble yourself to do so," I answered coldly, for with Rosa Harris9 presence the cloud had returned. " I shall go in the carriage with your mother, if she will allow me t" I added turning to her.
" Certainly, my dear," she said kindly. It will be best for you not to expose yourself to the night air. So yeu all hurry along and send the carriage back for us."
They obeyed her; and, though the distance was short, it was nearly dark before we started.
" l>id you know, my dear, that Charley had an idea of buy ing Woaolawn. f" asked Mrs. Hilyard when we were at last on the road."
" I was thankful for the darkness which concealed my start of surprise.
" Mr. Hanley talks of selling," continued the good lady, un heeding my silence, " and it would suit him very well, for there is DO finer estate in the country. We are, of course, anxious for him to settle near us when he marries, which will probably be before long, and this place will suit us all around; for Ar chie will have the Brent place, Lizzie the Upland Track at her marriage, and Mr. Hilyard is anxious to buy a place for Char ley, so that at our deaths we can leave the home place to An nie; and if he can buy Woodlawn they will all ba settled near together."

REMINISOMNCE8 Of GEORGIA.

195

So Bosa Harris would be mistress of tbe place each foot of which was hallowed to me by preciouB memories. Truly the waters of a foil cup \r*e being wrung out to roe, and if the draught had needed bitterness before, it now overflowed, I could not trnat my voiea to utter a single word, and Mrs. Hilyard, having apparently exhausted all she had to say, leaned back in silence, which was not broken till we reached our des tination.
Lights were glancing from window to window, and the mer ry hum of voices from parlor and coloiiade, told that the compa ny were already assembled. We were met at the door by one of the young ladies of the house and shown into a back chamber to lay aside our wrappings. The pallid face and gleaming eyes which the mirror revealed to me, seemed ill fitting to a festal gathering; and, for the first time in my life. I sought aid of the adventitious arts of the toilet, biit tbe powder boxes and rouge bottles, relies of better times, which were on the toilet were alike empty, and composing my fea tures as well as I could, I descended, hoping my appearance might be attributed to my recent illness.
In the parlor we found a mingling of young and old, grave and gay. Madame DeStael has said that men only resemble each other when sophiscated by sordid or fashionable life, and that it is .only in a state of nature they differ; and the war seem ed to prove the truth of these remarks, especially in the Con federacy. Long established customs were overthrown, the be hests of Dame Fashion set aside or reduced to the simplest principles, and had some devotee of fashion, fresh from the gaieties of the Shoddy circles of the North been suddenly transported to a " Confederate" party, he would have thought himself in a foreign land, HO unique and various would have beek the costumes around him; and if, as some supjiose, diveif4tv of dress promises equally novel ways of feeling and ofjudgment, the company that filled Mrs. Mitehell's parlor offorccl a rich field to the curious inquirer into manners and characteristics.
Her* a gay belle flourished in a dress which had once been han Isome both in style and fabric, but was now disfigured by flounces of another color put on to lengthen it; there a piece of brocade, which had, perhaps, done execution on the ]>erm>ii of some fair dame in the days of hair-powder and high heeled shoes, had been resurrected by one of her descendants and fashioned into a Garabaldi to do duty with a skirt of another color; on one side, a calico dress, which won hi have been neat, was spoiled by its attempt at ornament in the shape of floun ce* and ruffles; on the other, the eyes were attracted by a blu*

106

AUNT

dress, yellow belt and pink ribbons on ta* peraaa of a dashing widow, who had found mourning very unhealthy now that there were so many soldiers Hbout, and had dressed herself out in the odds and eikU found in tfce states* adding the fin ishing touch to her costume % a pair af immensr cnfls of bleached homespun, cut in point* and laeed with crimson cord* and tassels; and by her aide n* daMghtfnl contrast, a young girl, who eschewing coarse finery appeared in a home spun of a plain gray color, neatly jnade, feat entirely without ornament, save a bow of bright haed ribbon fastening the simple collar from which the ft-fiah, young face arose, only sweeter and brighter from its plain surrounding*, as the pur est gem shines brightest from the plainest setting
Amidst these HsarrerM* ot costume Bosa Harris in her flee cy muslin, cherry noons and brilliant roses in her hair and bo som, reigned a queen, attracting much attention from the uniforms, a score of whom brightened the room, having been collected from a regiment camped in the neighborhood. ForeinoHt in her train was Charley, and to none did the beauty more graciously incline, deferring to his opinion on every sub ject in a manner that must have been very flattering to his vanity; and front my obscure corner I watched his face, every change of which I knew well, marvelling that it continued so calm and unmoved. Soon Ool. , who had known Miss Harris in Kentucky, approached and with a deferential bow Charley surrendered his place by the side of the beauty, un heeding the soft glance that sought to detain him, and wan dered idly through the room, exchanging gay greetings -with divers merry belles with whom lie was a favorite, but attaching himself to none, and seemingly searching for some one. Pres ently his mother entered, and he went up and asked same question which she seemed to answer in the affirmative, nodding over in the direction of my corner. At that moment supper was announced, and the rising of the company hid their forma.
Feeling disinclined to eat again, 1 slipped out of a door near me, and, being familiar with the premises from former visits, threw a shawl over my head and ran out to see the Sorghum, lioiliug.
The work was carried on in a pine grove just back ot the or chard in a little miniature dell through which a small stream wound its way to the river. It was a soft, mild night, so calm and still that, as I paused at the stile which separated the grove from the orchard, I heard the factory bell in the vil lage whose circle of lights I could distinguish on a hill about a mile off strike ten, and caught the faint murmur of the falls though they were still more remote. I waited till the echoes

REMINISCENCES OF GEORGIA.

107

of the bell died away, then mounted the stile and a scene of picturesque beauty lay before me.
The moon just rising in the east, threw long lines of quiver ing light over the open landscape, bnt could not penetrate the denae shadows of the grove npon the Iwrdera of whi^h shelter had been erected by driving four .stakes in the ground And covering the top with plank. At one end was a rough stone chimney, and under it were lour large boilers, the largest capable of holding a hundred gallons, filled with the cane in various stages of preparation.
The glare of the fires thrown into brilliant relief l>\ the dark shadows beyond; the mill with its heavy iron rollers ami long beam; the long piles of crushed cane, all gave a novel air to the scene, which was heightened by the red glare of the torch es borne by the boilers, who with their black and strongly marked features, tnrbaned heads, and white cotton dresses, stirring the immense cauldrons, brought Macbeth's witches forcibly to mind, and you almost expected to hear them take up the refrain
" When shall we three meet again ? In thunder, lightning and in rain, When the hurly burly's done When the battle's lost and won."
Struck by the artistic Mendings of the lights and shadows in the picture before me, I approached nearer and seated myself at the foot of a tree to enjoy it at leisure, Hut the silence was soon broken by the murmur of voices in the direction of the house, and the whole company poured out in couples from the dining room to see if the candy was done. I kept my seat, trusting to the obscurity and the dark hues of my dress to conceal me from observation. They formed in a group around the kiln, filling the lately quiet scene with gay laughter and merry jests, and many exclamations of " How romantic! How picturesque! How sweet V pet expletives which sentimental young ladies bestow alike 011 a purling stream, and the Falls of Niagara a well kept flower garden, and the majestic wonders of the mountains.
Lost of all came Rosa Harris leaning on Col. arm, and in rather an ill humor, as I conjectured from the. ]etulaiit tones of her voice. This was probably caused by the absence of Charley Hilyard, who was not of the party. He came after some time, and as he passed my hiding place, 1 heard him ask of his sister, who stood near: < Lizzie, have yon Acen31iss Anna lately f She was not in the snpjer room."
u Xo, I have not," she answered, ' but I expect she is at the house with Mamma."

108

AUNT QUIMBYB

" No, she is not, for I have just come from there. I an afraid she is sick I noticed how pale she looked when afee en tered tlie parlor.'*
"Oh, do not disturb yourself about her, Consul Charley,* raid Rosa Harris in her most sarcastic tones, " I have no doubt she and Mr. Meredith are off somewhere taking a moonlight serenade. That is always the war with these models of pro priety."
Just then the candy was pronounced done, and, being pour ed into dishes and pans, the gentlemen were called upon to assist the servants in carrying it to the house, the girls follow ed them with the exception of Rosa Harris.
" Shall we go in. Cousin Rosa," said Charley Hilyard ap proaching her as she stood leaning against a tree.
44 No: 1 have been bored into a headache alreadyf* she an swered poutiugly, a and will stay out here awhile if you will stay with met"
" Certainly; but are you not afraid of taking cold t" " Oh! no; I am accustosied to the night air.9 " At least, let me get you a shawl," he said gravely. " Very well; I will ^ait here till you come back." He wentr and *he seated herself at the root of a tree, and leaning baek gazed at the moon now riding clear and high in the bine expanse ~*ix>ve her. Much as I disliked her. I could but acknowledge the beauty of the lace thus revealed in the moonlight. The broad low brow from which the rich brown hair fell in masses of glossy curls, the dazzling brown eyes and full red lips, were all of the fairest order of beauty, and my heart gave a shuddering sigh as I thought whose eyes would soon rejoice in gazing Upon the fair picture which she made as she sat there in the moonlight. I arose to steal away, for I had no desire to be a witness of the tete a tett, for which she bad evidently managed, but a cracking stick betrayed me, and turning her head she saw who it was. She sprung to her feet with a muttered exclamation which soundad like "eaves dropper," gave Be one glance of scorn, and walked off towards the house. As she emerged into the full monlight, I saw that her dress was 011 fire; the flame having crept through the leaves to the place where she had been sitting. The first impulse of my sore and bitter heart was to say u let her burn." Why should I save one who constantly treats me with scorn ami contempt ! She must perish ere she can reach other help, and who will know that you saw itf In that in stant I think I realized how; murderess feels. Another and I sprung after her calling her to stop. She glaiced back, saw her danger, and wild with fright darted on. Her rapid mo-

OF GEORGIA.

100

tkm increased the flame which rose rapidly, towards her head. Swiftly as I ran the distance between vs seemed to lengthen. At length I overtook her, threw her in spite of her frantic straggles, upon the damp grass, tore off the heavy shawl from my shoulders, enveloped her in it, and had just succeeded in extinguishing the flames when the company, attracted by her screams reached the spot.
I saw Charley Hilynrd spring forward and rai.se her from the ground, and hold her tenderly in his arms while he strove by gentle words to soothe her agitation, which threatened hys terics. On examination her injuries were found to be very slight. Her dress was reduced to cinders, but she was unhurt except a few slight burns on her neck and arms. But the dreadful fate she had just escaped seemed to have made little impression 011 her, for as soon as the first shock was over she began to mourn over her hair, which was very much scorched and burnt.
"Better thank God that you have been saved from a violent death." said Charley Hilyanl in a grave voice, releasing her from his arms.
" I think we are forgetting that there may be another sul ferer," said a voice which I recognized as Mr. Meredith's.
Charley came to my side instantly *' Are yon hurt Anna P he asked in a voice which made my heart throb ? But 1 had just seen what I thought his tenderness for Rosa Harris, and answered coldly.
" I believe my hands are a little blistered. I will go to the house and get Mrs. Mitchel to bind them up for me," and I turned away unheeding the compliments of the crowd on my presence of mind; but the movement made me sensible of a violent pain in my ankle, which increased so rapidly that when I reached the stile I was compelled to sit down on the step. The rest of the company had passed on unconscious of my situation for I had made light of iny suffering, and rejected their assistance, and as I sat striving to overcome the taintness which oppressed me, a keen sense of neglect and lonliness pierced me and I cried aloud, " Who in all the world thinks of met Why can I not die T>
" I care for you, Anna, more than words can tell," said a deep voice by my side. " Why do you treat me thus J Why not suffer me to help yon V
The blood, which had forsaken check and lips, came back with a rush, but I was too much agitated to speak. He stooped and took my hand, perhaps something in my face, clearly revealed in the moonlight, emboldened him, for in a moment I felt myself raised and held in a clasp that was at

110

AUNT QUIMBYS

once sooting and strengthening; and, finding I was nimble to walk, lie took me up like a child in bis strong arms and bete e to the home, never pausing till he had placed me in his mother's care.
The journey home that night is a dream, lor worn oat with the excitement I had undergone, and the pain I was suffering from my ancle, which was badly sprained, I was bat dimly consciousc of what passed around me.
The next day was spent on a couch by the fire in Lizzie's room in a feverish stupor, half waking, half sleeping, in which my mind, as inert aa iny body, framed but few thoughts, and was barely conscious of surrounding objects, and the kind of fice* which Mrs. Hilyard and Lizzie were assiduous in bestow ing. Once during the day Rosa Harris came in and stood be side me. I felt her presence by the thrill of repulsion which ran over me, though I did not open my eyes.
" 1K> you think she will diet" she asked as she looked down at me.
" Oh! no;" said Lizzie who sat by, " it is only the effect of over exertion; she will be better to-morrow."
u I hope so;" she said carelessly, adding a moment after in a tone of chilling condescension " She seems to be an amia ble person, and I am really greatly obliged to her for her ef fort* in my behalf yesterday.9
" You ought to be deeply grateful to her, for she saved you from a horrible death," Lizzie answered with some warmth. " and I am sure if you knew her as well as we do, you would love her for her superior qualities of mind and heart."
" Oh! I never had any fancy for superior women, probably because I am such a.sinner myself," she answered, and with a toss of her head sailed away.
Lizzie bent over me a moment when she was gone, to ascer tain if I mas asleep, and my regular breathing deceiving her, she folded my shawl more closely over me, kissed my cheek softly and stole away; and with a gush of thankfulness in my heart for the love she expressed, I fell into a deep sleep which lasted several hours.
The setting sun was gilding the wall when I awoke to find Mrs. Hilyard sitting beside me "Yon have had a nice nap, and I am sure you are better," she said as I opened my eyes. "You can eat something now?"
I did feel greatly refreshed, and ate with appetite the food she brought me, the first that had passed my lips that day.
"You are looking so revived by your tea," she said when I finished, "that I think you can receive a visitor. Charley has

XEMINI8CEXCE8 Of OJ5OKO1A.

Ill

been worrying about you all day may be come and ait w}th yom awhile T>
I nodded assent with a flashed cheek, and she went below. In a tew minute* I heard his step on the stairs, each foot-fall sending the blood in swift currents to my heart. He came directly to my side, tend taking my bandaged hands in his, pressed them to his lips, and there was no need of words in that moment when heart spoke to heart.
"Mamma said I might sit with yon till supper if I would not agitate yon in any way;" he said after a moment, "and I must not forget my promise. By the by, I have something in my pocket for yon," and drawing up an ottoman he sat down, and unrolling a package, showed me a long stick of "taffy" curi ously wovf 11. "Mrs. Mitchell sent over this morning to en quire after the heroine of last night, and, as you missed the best part of the frolic, she sent yon this. It liked to have proven a dear 'Sorghum Boiling7 both to you and Cousin liosa."
I smiled, thinking it had indeed proved a dear one to me in one sense of the word. Perhaps he read my thoughts, for he gave me a glance tbat made me blush, but he forbore to in crease my confusion by words, and turned the conversation to something else.
The next hour flew by on rapid wings; for while not uttering one word that could agitate or disturb me, be charmed away pain and weariness by his powers of pleasing and the tender interest which spoke in every tone and glance. When the supper bell summoned him below, he arose and bending clown to bid me good night whispered softly "Sleep sweetly, little one, remembering that there is one who would sacrifice any thing to save you a moment's pain." A tender kiss fell on my forehead, he was gone and 1 closed my eyes to dream visions of future happiness while I raised my heart in earnest thanks giving to the Giver of all good who had thus brought me light out of darkness.
When I was able to go down stairs, which was not till the eve of Charley's departure for the army, there was a full ex planation between us, and I learned how long anil truly I had been loved, though my coldness had left little room for hope that his affection was returned, and had often checked the words which trembled on bis lips.
Rosa Harris iuten-npted this interview. I think she must have guessed how matters stood between us from our happy countenances, tor I saw a s|asm of pain flit over her face as she pressed her luiml to her heart, but the pang, whatever its nature, was soon conquered, or concealed beneath an appear ance of gayety which did not fail her during the evening.

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The next morning there was a sad parting which each strove to cheer with hopeful anticipations of reunion, and for many days the house seemed very lonely and dull to more than one of us, for Lucy Ikmglass had taken advantage of Charley's escort to return to her home and Archie who was kept at home by his father's ill health was very desolate; and though Rosa's step was as haughty, and her voice as gay as ever her heavy eyes and pale cheeks spoke of restless nights.
I felt no thrill of triumph in witnessing these signs of dis tress but from the abundance of my own happiness could aftord to pity the pangs which I had once felt myself, and would fain have been friends with her, but the malignant gleam which shot from her brilliant'eyes when they rested upon me, told that vindictive feelings rankled beneath which no effort of mine could overcome.
It had been Charley's wish that I should remain at Myrtle Hill, till he was free to claim me; and this invitation his fami ly warmly seconded, but I would not agree to it for I felt that constant occupation would best enable me to bear the great anxiety I must feel for him exposed to all the danger and hard ships of a soldier's life; so when my health was fully restored I went back to my city home whose narrow round of duties did not seem irksome uow that I had a sweet hope of better days to come, to relieve their tedium.
The days slipped by as time will pass whether we be grave or gay, joyous or miserable, and the period came when "war was no more heard in the land ;* the armies were disbanded, and among those whom a kind Providence allowed to return uninjured to their homes was < ?harley ; and one day not long afterward there vas a quiet wedding in a city church, and now I am no longer friendless Anna Leigh, but Anna Hilyard rich in the possession of loving hearts ami a happy fireside, sit writing at the window of Woodlawn, which is now the home of Charley Hilyard and his happy wife.
Rosa Harris has long since returned to her home in Ken* tucky she is still sing)e though rumor .says she is soon to marry an old man who has nothing to recommend him but his great wealth. I must ever pity her, believing that she loved uiy husband as well as she could love any thing but herself.

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CHAPTER XVII. "So endeth the second scries of Aunt Quiinby's Tales," she said lightly as she closed the. book. You see J have given you as the French wonhl say, la bonne ttouc/ie for tbe last, so as to leave a i>leasant taste in the month; ami 1 hope our journey may end as -well as "The Sorghum J Soiling, "which you can see is not an autobiography as 1 am still enjoying single blessed ness." "There is little hope of its having such a romantic termina tion," said Falstaff with a sigh that J >on Quixote declared shook the ambulance, while the sentimental expression he tried to put oil was in such ludicrous contrast to his jolly face and form that every body was amused. "Jt wr sad to think that this night will write Finis U|>on our pleasant trip," said the Historian v hen the laugh had sutmided. "/, for one, shall deeply regret that its pleasures are over." "\Ve will have to console ourselves with the thought that, like most things of the past, it will be mote pleasant in the re trospect than in the reality," said Mrs. t*mimiidge rather dis contentedly. "I do not see how the memory of the past ten days can IHJ any more pleasant than their retilizHticn lias bceu.n said Meg cheerily. / thought all of us had enjoyed them thoroughly. There was a chorus of assents on all miles dm ing which Mr*. Gummidge was heard to murmur something a 1 tout "bad chil dren," which fortunately escaped the ears of the mothers. You must excuse Mrs. itiiiiiinidge's gloomy face and my black dress;'' said Cap, she and I are both in mourning for the dear* we didn't catch on this hunt. JJut as it N drawing to :t ulose, and the The Mutual Admiration Society is aloiit to di-

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solve partnership, I, as the treasurer, have been taking an ac count of stock and making off a balance sheet. I want you all to see if the items of Profit and Loss are correct;" and open ing a sheet of paper she began to read with great gravity :
"An exhibit of the affairs of The Mutual Admiration Society as taken from their books August 26th, 1868:
LOSSES ON TRIP.
2 Feminine hearts lost, mislaid or stolen. 1 Vail with an old maid's name on it, which would be gladly exchanged for somebody else's cognomen. 1 Looking glass broken by the combined looks of the party.

An aching void in the Treasury filled at starting with $6O. 14 Sun burnt faces and hands.
14 Blistered noses. 7 Tattered dresses and battered sun-boimets. 1 Iloyal Buck shot by Meg so large she don't know what
to do with it. 1 Little dear captured by Manolia, and led captive at will. "Such being the condition of the iinacial department, I would
l>e glad for some one to suggest 011 which side the balance niiist be struck, added the accountant."
"If you will add the five other masculine hearts, which you ladies have won, on the side of the Cfainx, I think the balance will fall ou that side," said L>ou Quixote.
"J think our title to the last items so doubtful that they had 1>etter be placed under the head of /x>e*y" said Aunt Qnimby; but the store of pleasant memories we have gathered, is right fully ours, and 1 think will counterbalance a few lost hearts; especially as I expect the losers have received others in re turn."
"Those lost were probably only duplicates, or counterfeits," said the Historian, "for ladies now rarely possess the genuine article."
"Xo reflection on feminine wares, if you please,* said Our Artist, and this was the signal for a wordy war between her and the Historian which lasted till the call was given to stop for dinner, and which ended, as did most of their mimic frays in au unconditional surrender on the part of the Historian, who declared no defeat could make him any more a slave to her, chaiins than he already was. A curl of the lip was all the notice she t *ok of his speech, and, declaring she was half dead with fatigue, she sprang out of the ambulance and fol-

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towed the elders into the large old-fashioned farm house be fore which they had stopped.
Its inmates, three old maids, were relatives of Lady Monta gue, and they made the whole party so heartily welcome that the rest in the neat rooms and cool shady yard was duly ap preciated by both man and beast.
It was three o'clock in the evening before they again resum ed their journey; then by some chance, all the young ladies were scattered in the different vehicles, while the old bachel ors of the party, and all the children were settled in the am bulance. This condition of affairs was anything but pleasing to the former, ifone mightjudge from the rueful faces with which they watched these midgets of humanity frisk around them, but no change could be effected before they reached Athens, still about fifteen miles distant, except at the risk of offending the mothers, HO nothing was to be done but keep a discreet silence, and try to appear interested in the little folks, who, delighted at their near approach to home, were as full of play as young kittens. Bo wore away the afternoon hours, and all were delighted when they beheld the sunset rays reflected from the tall spires of Athens.
On the out-skirts of the town, a halt was made to discuss the question whether to spend the night in Athens, or endea vor to reach W , still seven miles distant. There was a unanimous vote in favor of proceeding, as it promised to be a cloudless night; and it was finally decided to Halt the vehicles where they were, feed and rest the tired horses for an hour or two, and finish the remainder of the journey by moon-light.
Under vail of the friendly twilight, which would hide their travel-stained garb, the young people determined to walk down in town; but, oil reaching Broad street, nothing would satisfy the gentlemen but that the entire party must adjourn to Fli&ch's for ice cream.
The temptation to partake of this luxury of civilized life was too great to be resisted even at the risk of meeting some styl ish acquaintance, and they were soon seated in the well-light ed saloon, and congratulating themselves that they were the only occupants.
To their palates, so long nnregaled by dainties, the ice oream seemed the most delicious ever manufactured, and they lingered over it so long that nine o'clock had struck be fore they were once more ready to start; then it was Fallstaft's wish that all the young people should collect in the ambulance, so that they might greet their friends at home with music. There was some demurring on the part of the elder*, M'ho thought the sleepy children entitled to tho bust place, but it

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was overruled, aud all proceeded to carry out his wishes wttfc the exception of Cap, who preferred a moonlight ride wftn Ko&ciiis in Falstaflfs buggy, which once more led the van.
For several miles after leaving Athens a considerable de gree of gloom seemed to hang over the party in the ambulance. Miss Patty and Meg were in the dumps at not being able to continue their ride with the Historian in the double buggy, which they had found so pleasant during tlie evening. . M*M Quimby was occupied by thoughts of her distant home, evoked' by the remembrance tliat of all the party she was the only one who would have 110 loved ones to welcome her retain. l>ie and Our Artist with their heads close together were .ex changing some delightful bits of feminine gossip. Mrs. Gummidge bad fallen into another of her low spells, and with her head in Miss Quiuiby'* lap was pretending to sleep at the im minent risk of being precipitated every few minutes on the floor of the vehicle; while the gentlemen were silent, missing Cap's nimble tongue aud gleeful laugb; aud with all, the thought of the breaking up of the pleasant party added deeper gloom to their musiiigs.
After a time, however, the exceeding beauty and quiet of the night Avherc
"Pale stars, bright moon, swift cloud made hearen so vast
Thai earth, left silent by the wind of night, Seems shrunken 'neath the gray unmeasured height,"
stole into the depths of their hearts, rounding each jarring note into calm, and they talked in low gentle tones, as of some dear dead thing, of the pleasure of the trip, drew a gentle vail over its discomforts, and planned another for the next sum mer, till the drivers announced that they were nearly at home. Then all the other vehicles fell back and arranged themselves behind the ambulance, andiu this order approached,, as quiet ly as possible, the village, where not a single light was to be seen, as it was near twelve o'clock Reaching the head of the principal street,' the choir began the chorus of "Happy Greeting;" and as the procession moved slowly down the street, the horses feet keeping time to the music, the rais ing of windows, and flickering of lights, told that the village was astir, and here and there from the different homes eager feet ran out to welcome the travelers, while joyful greetings, hurried enquiries, and all the hubbub of arrival resounded on every side. Bat the merriment was soon hushed by the news that during their absence death had been at work even in that scant population, and at one of the principal boom of the village even now the corpse of one who had been tfce .ride

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and hope of tile heseboM Ift?%0trfftKa burial. Thcgrim Mo&ster never stems so Un i into nwwWu his ghaotly pfieic< breaks npon seme time of csnulsMi mirth, and perfe:in* nothing could have so thoroughly sobered and brought down tw \ of Umrttfts to the realit** of life as the funeral service* < they all attended the next day.
few days after there was a general breaking1 np * i>N? Hurrry band, most ot* whom bad only collected in W Hat a snliilirar holiday, of w*ich the trip to the mountain* wtytttfttty 01te of its many amvustments; and now that two ^ear%;4i9%e passed, the circle is *> videly severed that then- .s HO \$$* of pv5t- rettaitiug its brok^i links. Some have couo'uilea 1 t inue fellow travelrs jmmgh life. Of those uun-n tl ~ * uitd lola i>rnupe think that they have realized tleir r
iia in the choice o% companion, while Mi>. <!u<n IVLV that aba * has at \?^gth *i>und a tuitMul P*. and tlue troubles of "the lone lorn creetni are i-ndod i?v U.tven ot* matrimony. Several, among theii the KiHtnriittt xu aj>, are still monuments of sin gle blesse^ues^ nm; fikt^>-1 ivuijiiii so. Two ai-e Jai away i\n a distau State, triv:itj.- t iii..k- themselves a home among- stranger, yet tili <>'* >i^l ,'-L; tbi the music of familiar voict^7 and
uAlna that thus deav .Should clain from love* r*r*
f?,- bmlie* of FaUstali and Miss Page, the dearest aud I i th.i^ pleasant company, sleep their hint Ion;, pleep * . jJI-tgo t hureh-yartl, anl we hope their spirits a-e ui. t/^yiitg ipon the Deie-i'table Monntuints or reposing auto* rif -h ileids and fli>wiug tonutaias of .a'6 lanit ui lieulaUj \ .v,> Iboii late fellow travelerH, yet liagw* iu the \ alley ot t unti:irioii, \vaiting the innynnd tr enler Utv Knc-iMbuted Lit ^nd rent from the toils of tie way.