Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-26

: dressedin black and seems to be melan
choly. She is a woman you will not for
get having seen her once. Several year
have hurled their billions into eternlt.
since saw that face, and yet l recognise
the flashing black eye, the queenly form
the lovely woman, but she knows not tina
L notice her more than the othe
, flowers around her. Iregard her only a
the handiwork of Gods iinvention--i
charming woman, not as an acquallnnt
ance. ! have few acquaintances
know the names of many people and SEE
them frequently, yet we pass as stran
gers. gafti.a ~ .g- 80
IT'S now ten clock, and we are moi
off yet have made up my mind tc
stay here all day, and if we are not re
leved by another boat we won't get OIL al a
4 all. The spar is broken, and the captain
has sent ashore for.another, which can
not be brought on board before late this
evening. The big, fat captain don seem
to mind it much. He keeps cool and
4 don't " cuss% any. Hike his style. %
While the girls were promenading the
cabin. and the folds OF their dress touch
ing me lightly as they swept gracefully
by, ] thought was not impatient. But
alas they, are gone-out Of sight-and
see ahead of me long, gloomy, hot day,
with the turbid waters of the Mississippi
rolling beneath me, and on either side
wide waste Of sand, giimmering and
glowing beneath the hot rays of July
sun. On one side is the lonesome look
ing town of Friar's Point, nestled among
the trees, and on the other, dilapidated
plantation. The top of few negro cab
! ins are just visible above the tall, rank
weeds. Far away up the river can be
seen the frowning forts, erected by the
Yankees, and there they will remain for
ages-a monument to the memory of the
Yankee nation. But I can't write any
more .aboui Yankees. Its now five
o clock, I'M, and we amt off yet. lis
very warm and sultry
The good steamboat Commercial took
pity on us, and is doing all she can to
relieve US. She came alongside and took
off most Of our freight, and is now try
ing 10 pull us off with long string
shall feel thankful if we get of by dark.
I shall always like the Commercial, be-
cause she helps US cut Of trouble, Sew
eral boats passed us just as though we
we're not on bar. l believe I'm getting
impatient at the long delay so near
home. And then, my two girls are no.
where to be seen. The long cabin looks
gloomy and cherries without them But
here comes my woman in black" beau
tifal as poets dream" She travels
alone and seems perfectly satisfied with
the situation. tt.r.rnH eat
While the Commercial was lying by |
us went aboard Of her, with several
others, to see what we could see, and we |
found charming young lady with beau
tiful red hair playing the i" Arkansaw
Traveller on the piano. The ladies on
our boat wont play on Sunday. Ireckon
it's the style over in the wilds OF Arkanr
sas. We next saw an intelligent look
ing old gentleman, whose hair was thin
on the top, exhibiting two beautiful
fswns. We were then shown alarge
turtle, which, they told us, was good for
soup, and | suppose il is. Having seen
all weiconld below, we went up on top to
see the captain We found him setting
on the head Of whiskey barrel, patting
his foot thoughtfuliy, and whistling
f" Jordan. is a hard road TO travel,
We expressed to him our graft
tude for his great kindness in
assisting Us of the hateful bar, and then
came back too our own boat Tn now
waiting for supper--hope TIL get cool af-
ter shutdown, and would like to start
nome then, as ] haven't been there for
more than a year. pa. ..a-s4.f
Half past eight-0ur boat is off the |
bar, our freight reloaded, the good Com
mercial gone opoher way rejoicing and
we are gliding rapidly down the beauti-
full stream we IRE glad to part with the |
lonesome towp arnong1 The trees, the
plantation and the glaring
sand bar a Is IL
At seven o clock, m, ] stepped from |
the. deck Of the St Patrick on to the
shore at Australia Landing, Miss, a
place which was once a town or vii |
lage, but is now numbered "nong the |
things that we're" TIE Yankees, good,
pious people, burned i. to the ground,
and now the yonng cottouwoods are
growing above It's ashes the only signs
of CT vfization are few old chimneys,
standing like grim sentinels amid the
thick foliage At the landing, ! met a
man With red whiskers and big over
coat, whom recognized as an old friend;
heinviied me to.his house, and there /
left my heavy carpetbag and walked out
home, three or four miles, over q muddy
and untraveled road, and spoiled my
new yellow breaches too, by the tall
weeds which have grown up and tapped
over the CONGRATULATIONS only