The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-01-27

Coming first to a tottering old moss
covered barn, VIC rounded one Of its lean
In corners, and, in tho cow.yard beyond,
stood ragged little dried up man, of
perhaps fifty years of age, with his hands
in his pockets. looking on while couple
OF negroes counted out some potatoes
lie hardly gave us glance over his shoul-
der as he sluggisbly returned our sausa-
ton; but, on Mr.. AS. inquiring whether
Mrs. X. had any dried apples to spare
(Which my friend knew was her bank of
pin-money, aud which be had made our
ostensible errand, so as to get sight of
the interier), we we're briefly told that We
would 6ud her at the house; the slow eyes,
perfectly satisfied with this half look at
bis neighbor, returning then to the pota-
heap.
There bad once been a mansion on the
place, if understood rightly, butit had
long ago tumbled down and served for
bidding" There were no signs of it
rem ainiDg-or none, at any rate, that our
fight with large black dog. as We near
ed the smoking chimney allowed us time
to observe. The hut that we were now
approaching was one of three or four
standing together, and built of logs pla.-
tered in the creVices with mud. 1t was
originally, probably, one of slave-eabins
of the estate. The door was open, and /,
as it served also for the only window, the
picture was at first rather imperfect. |
could see. however, that q woman sat up
on her heels in the middle of the floor,
and, as my friend reached the threshold,
she said walk in'-not rising, however,
and going quietly on with her task Of
sorting heap of vegetables which lay
De fore her.
By the time had looked around for
seat (for, from the lowuess of the roof,
| could not stand uprigbt), the old mar
had followed US in; and, as lie stirred up
the smouldering logs, in fire place which
occupied one whole side of the hut, BE-
gan to see more clearly. An old fash
ioned brass mounted cabinet bureau, with
slopiDg top, too or three remainder of
chairs, and coffee mill nailed on to the
inside of the fireplace, were all the furni-
ture visible; the double bed in the corner
being only bundle of rags, and board
bench, near the door, holding most un-
clean variety of cooking utensils. Up a.
gainst the wall, near the bed, was pile
of cabbages, and there were two or three
separate heaps Of potatoes and turDips
lying around, from which it seemed to be
the old womsn's task of the afternoon to
make an assortment One lifted board
Of the floor showed hole, two or three
feet deep, and into this she emptied ber
basket, from time to time, with out rails
ing from her squatting posture. Hers
seemed to be all the energy of the estab-
lishment; for, as she repeated her com.
mands to the old man to 60 out and bring
in an armful of pine-tassels to overlay the
vegetables in the hole, bis remoDstrative
"look gear, child p (the word here, south
of certain latitude, being commonly
pronounced like gear, aud his lingering
unwilliogness to leave the fire, were very
expressive "You never was gear BEFORE"
he said to me, as he gave me a most un-
inquisitive look, in passing out upon his
errand.
With the opening of the subject of dried
apples Mrs. X. rose for the first time to
her feet, and | saw that she was quite
tall, straight woman, of perhaps forty
years of age. She walked to the bed and
pulled up the cogerid, drew out long
dirty meal-bag, united the mouth of it,
and producing handful of the commod-
ity, offered US a taste. Had the first ap-
pie been presented by so unclean hand,
our FIRST parent, | venture to say, would
never have fallen! Yet, as she held out
the dirty fingers to me, she stood facing
the door, where ! could see her very dis
tinctly, and was surprised to see how
fine were her features and how large end
really beautiful we're her eyes. The look
of "born lady" was unmistakable. But
the dirt on that well-moulded face was in
cracks and seams, and it was evident that
water was habtually stranger to it !
She had quilted hood of greasy looking
brown calico tied under her chin, and a
high neckcd dress made of a sort OF tow
cloth, which looked as if it might have
been for years the cold-victual bag OF a
beggar. And with all this dlshgurlng
drapery and dirt could not be impress
ed With the entire absence of plebeianism
/ in her air. Taken and n-Herculaneum-
ed from her dirt, put through Turkish
sbampooning or two, dressed like duch-
ess, and standing just as she stood when
she handed me those dried apples, she
would have looked the title I The with
cred face of the dry little old man, also
| showed features that had oDcc been regu-
lar and delicate, though they were ludi-
crously carieatured BY the narrow-rIm-
| med hat which he worc-a dress beaver
which had heen gradually raced till 1t
was about the depth Of soup plate, while
the top, sewed in with coarse thread, let
his hair through at the cracks. His 9TH
er clothes seemed to have been condemn
ed to be worn till they should rot of,and
were very near the end OF their purgstory.
We left the hovel at the close Of bar
ca;n hetween nv friend and the old wo-