The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-11-21
4 Gi9l)wap 20DelIture.
MY HOST.

MY HOST.
Ny business called me through the northern
part Of the State Of Illinois. crossed the
Illinois river at Ottawa. intending to strike
Rock river at Forests Mills. Forest was an
old friend, who had gone cut some years be-
fore. and erected mill upon one Of The trihu-
tarieS of the last mentioned river he having
bought whole township in that section. II
was some out Of my way, as my most direct
route was very near due west from Ottawa.
whereas this route took me over sixty miles
further North. However, | had learned that
there was quite good road to Rock river, and
| turned my horses head in that DIRECTION
l calculated my time, ani CONCLUDED that by
moderate travelling could ro0c!: the mill in
two days.
During the first day my road lay througia
country mostly cleared, and was well travel
Cd: but on the second day struck into a
wilder region and the way was hlie better
titan hmdle-Path through dense forest
passed several ccarngs, where small huts
were erected, and Il. one Of these latter
stopped and got some dinner | found a.
young man in charge of the premises, the
father having gone 10 the mills" | asked
what mills they meant, and lhe Old lady SAID
they were " Forests mills"
From these people learned that Forests
place was forty miles distant, and that The
only dwelling. after leaving two near by, be
tween here and there was Il sort Of stopping
place kept by man named Daniel Giuupe
They said he generally kept foodIo man and
beast, and also had good supply Of ipuor
principally WHISKY. His house was twelve
miles to the mills
This just suited me. I could reach
Groopcs by six clock, and there get Same
supper, and rest and bait my horse. Then
could easily reach Forest 5 by nine, as the
moon was well on the second quarter.
The good people refused to take anything
for my di"ncr, hul bestowed a ha,f IA dollar
upon a faxcn headed ulchn who was lvutting
around upon his bare feet and thea set for
ward again. There was another hut az the
distance Of half milc, and second about a
mile of. ! saw no more human inhabitants
until reached GrUoc's. | r,pud lhc tray,I-
jig full as good as lad expected, and arrived
at the forest inn al just hAli-paSt five.
This inn was sitrat,dup1n romantic $40
and TO lov,r Of isolated nature must have
bten charming retreat. The house was
built of logs the outside surface hcwn, and
Vie scans filled wllh cement iormcl Of SOM
sort Of fine tough moss and pitch. There.
were three separate buildings to TINS house,
the principal one being built with the gable
end TO the road, the Other two upon cthtr
side, running ont like two Us. Then there
was barn short distance oil, with a pig
gerry connected Take it altogether it wa,
quite place for such a locality. A small
stlcam ran close by, so that water was
plentiful.
As rode up to the door Mr. Groopc him
self came ont. lie was a tail, gNunt maa
with a fiery rcd head and face as coarse
as it was ugly. But was surprised when I
heard his voice. had expected tone like
the below Of "a Lull hut instead Of that hi
notes fell upon my car like tie speech Of
woman. lie smiled as he spoke, and |
thought to myself how lis appearance would
deceive any one for in conversation he seemed
q different rnan.
informed him that was on my way to
Forest 5 mill, aud could only stop long enough
TO rest my horse and get some supper. He
gaz,d into my face for some moments with
out speaking, and finally said:
h-ycs-humph."
Then he turned into the entry and called
Ike" Ike camc--a tall strapplng youth
Of one or two and-twcnty. with IL rcd head
and features chat could belong to No one but
q child Of my best. Ike " took my horse
and Mr.. Groopc led the way to tie . sitting
room " as he called it. 1t was rough hui
comfortable, and the furniture consisted Of
pine table, mahogany bureau, and four
long pine benches which were set against tho
walls. There were no chairs, these benches
being sufficient to accommodate quite an us
scmbla9e.
Groope ask cd me if would ike something
warm! supposed he meant whiskcy, and
told him nc. lie said had better take
little twould do me good. But | assured
him | U,ver used t--that felt better with
out it.
:" But do you mean that you never drink
whisky z" he added, with elevated eyebrows
''Nevcr,' told him.
Brandy. | s'pose; or mcbby ra!c old
GIN" pursued my host.
NO. " replied. - ! don't use any stimu
lating drinks at all. "
You dent - burst from his lips, while
he eyed me from head to feet Wal
stranger, ! d give sun thin for your picture
TO hang up in my house. Never drink. How
in marcy's sake dye live? How dye CON
triyc when yc cct wet and cold -
Why" said |, with smile, 81 get dry
again as soon as possible"
Dry my sake, shoHld think 'twould DC
an cycIlaslin dry! Never drink Wal
here ! We hrcd year in and year out, gon' ON to
fifteen year. ard you're the fust man ! ever
seed as wouldn't drink lit o whisky on
the top of a long journey. Fact stranger
lis by thunder
told him thought II very probable and
he then went cat, and head him leave The
house.
In half an hour my host came and informed
me that supper was ready. lie led me TO a
back room, whcrc table was set quite re-
specially, the dishes icing Of blue ware AMI
nearly new. leland Ike sat down with nc
and as | saw them attack the various articles
Of food, felt assured there could be no poison