Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-04

Jones, old fellow! can't yon send me an oyster
scolop2" "IIallo landlord; Smith! | say
we're starving on this side of the table,a you'll
be prosecuted for murder if you don't bring ii
some fried chickens" Iook here, Mr.. John.
son; Go you call this steak? 1t looks Internally
like piece of that old COW the cars killed yes
terday." Confused, bewildered and stunned
the poor fellow ran up and down between the
tables with dish of biscuit in his hands, which
the instant it came within reach of the hun
Cry mob was enptec at 4 single grab. High
above all other sounds an nnearthly yell breaks
upon the ear. 1t is the voice of one of the min
strels, who sits shivering near the door, that
has been left atar, and through which the cold
blast drives great clouds of snow. In tones
such as Commodore Trunion used to order his
sailors aloit TO reef topsail in an East Indian
tornado, our minstrel roars "Shut tbs door! -
Peals of laughter greet his shout The contagion
spreads-good humor takes possession of all,
and the meal is ended as merrily as lift had been
banquet at the great St. Nicholas. We have
an invalid in No 25-a little chicken broth
would be relished by him. One of our party
goes to the ''head- waiter" to order. He replies
chicken soup! Lord bless you mastah dars
no chckln to be had-dar's none bout here
l kin git you n old heaA (hare) from one of de
cullud folks, if dat'll do" The old hare is got
sure enough and the soup made.
Supper over we went to work to save our
selves from freezing-No. % sent out a party of
six to the wood pile again-and two to Smith
for bottle of whiskey and pitcher of hot
punch--all returned safely and well laden. A
rousing fire was built, but the snow drift rear
the window still increased. With all our efforts
70
even the edges Of this drift. 1t was then very
nationally concluded that our only hope of safe
ty lay in Smiths kettle or it's vicinity. About
midnight the writer paid Smith visit, in be-
half Of his suffering companions and returned
redolent with the sweet odors of Smiths kettle
The storm was then at its grand climacteric.-
The temperature must have been far below zero
the wind howed around the house, shaking
it to its very foundations and filling Us with APP
prehensons that it would be tumbled over with
us in it. Far away across the fields could be
heard the deep mourning of the old pine forest
rs if the very trees were animate and conscious
of the merciless touch of the storm god whose
wrath they deprecated in pteous tones of sup
plication. The great winding sheet of snow that
covered the dead earth was rolled up like
scroll by the flrious blast And many of us
wondered WHY SO clever q man, aud admitted
good geograper us DR.. Kane should have gone
away up to the North Pole to 'cool himself off"
when Louisa Court House was so much nearer
home, and convenient of access.
BY three o'clock in the morning our wood was
out again, and so was the punch. Invent down
to the wood pile and 10 it was not. went to
the bar-room and found Smith out of his den,ex-
hausted by the unusual labors of the preceding
day, and asleep on three of the split bottoms ON
one side of the template stone, and big negro
on the other touched Smith very gently lest
| should rouse him too suddenly and in an i'll
humor Smith granted, but did not move-I
shook Smith and he moved. then called Smith
by his name, which remembered from the for
tunate coincidence in tho sound of his name to
that of one of the companions of my early boy
hood, and Smith sat up. told Smith that we
were out of wood &c. in No. 25, aud suffering,
and apoogised for disturbing him at that ate,or
rather early hour. Smith said he would furnish
me with the SIC" as ne had a kettle of hot water
on the stove, but as for wood lie didn't know
where in the d. it was to come from. Said
il needed no apology for waking him up-that
he knew what is was to he storm bound, as he
was passenger two years ago on the train that
was showed up for three days, fifty miles west of
Chicago, when they burnt all the cars but one
for fuel, and had no food all that time but few
cans of oysters that the Express was carrying to
some town ahead. Smith is fine fellow.
like-we all liked-him-he has soul about
him and enjoys a joke. hope to meet him a.
gain in this vale of tears. If | should not and
lie ever sees "these few lines" let him DO assur-
ed they were written in the kindliest spirit. and
with pleasant reoollections Of that cold o'clock
in the morning, when he got up in good humor
and made hot punch for No. 25but could furnish
no wood. The darkey on the other side of the
stove suggestvely remarked "de woods out, and
we can't git none less we steals it," "Neccs-
sity" like many a member of my own Profession
''knows no law" so took the hint and offered
Sambo dollar for as much wood as would last
US till breakfast. Twasn't long till we had o
supply in No. 25. Sambo promised to return as
much, ut convenient season, to some gentle
man in the village from whom he borrowed ours
Daylight came at last and with it cessation
of the storm, The scene around was cheerlesss
and dishearteniDg, but we were in for it, and
determined to keep orr spirits up-our host
backed up by the passengers got wood from the
depot, as much as we wanted. Our table i'm
proved The landlord did his best for us and
we were satisfied. The crowd began to mix and
get acquainted. Various little games were in.
troduced to while away the tedious hours Our
friend Smith was indefatiga6le in his deport-
ment. Capt. Gooch hope was happy; at least
he did not, so far as my observation extended,
trouble or distress himself much about our stu
alton. Tuesday came and passed pretty much
as Monday had, except that heard that day
that tac0 year-old, was killed for beef--not,
however in the manner described by you,
MessrS. Editors in your last 1t is true believe
that one Of the passengers from Greenbrier, had
agreed to shoot the little fellow but not being
in place when the fatal hour arrived, one of the
natives undertook it with a shot gun. 1t was
reported that lie shot seven times, and the poor
creature had to be knocked in the head with a
grabbing hoe. Why he did not succumb to the
shot gun don't know, unless it scattered and he
was 50 slender that the shot missed him. Not
being witness to this transaction, do not
vouch for it, but only "tell it rs twas told TO
me.
Monday and Tuesday nights Christys min
strelS gave concerts, much to our qualification.
Wednesday Capt. Gooch made his appearance
in the afternoon and reported the road open to
Gordonsyille. "Ho! for Gordonsville, was now
the cry on every hand But alas, the Captain
told us it was no use to go {; that the proprietor
of the hotel there had sent word he was full and
could not accommodate US. This was q damp
er, but most of the passengers determined to 90
at all hazards and if on trial we could not get
in, to return. So away we went, bidding adieu
to Louisa Court House, and all its pleasant as
sociations
On our arrival at Gordonsville we found plen-
ty of room and excellent quarters How Capt
Gooch got his information, that we could not
be entertained there, have not heard. A few
of the passengers remained at the G. House, but
the great bulk came on. and We were delighted
with the change. No doubt orr host at the G.
II. did all in his power to make lis comfortable
and for his efforts we are very grateful, but his
means Of accommodation We're inadequate, and
other cititZens of the place seemed to be entire
ly unconscious Of ourpresence, and rendered him
no assistance. As we left, one of the Minstrels