Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-01-14
FROM WINCHESTER TO sTRAS.
BURG.
A LaughabIe Experience.

the war none excels in interest the "Dia-
ny of a Southern Refugee during the war"
(Hale & Son, N. Y, 1863 1t is IN
derstood to be from the pen Of a gifted
lady of Virginia, wife of an Episcopal
clergyman, and member of family con-
nection widely known and esteemed.
The humorous extract below strikes us
as not unworthy of Dickens, and is COM
mended to the attention Of our readers. -
Eds. Lypschburg Ners.
"We left Winchester in the stage-cosch
for Strasburg at 10 o'clock at night, on
the oath December, 1861 The weather
was bitter cold, and we congratulated our
selves that the coach was not crowded.
Mr.. Meg. and the girls were on the back
seat, Methodist clergyman, soldier and
myself on the middle, and two soldiers and
our maid Betsy en- the front seat. We
went off by star light, with every pros
pect of pleasant drive Of eighteen miles.
AS we were leaving the suburbs of the
town, the driver drew up before small
house from which ISIS ued two baskets,
several bundles and a box. The
Passengers began to shout out, go on,
driver, what do you mean? there's no
room for another; 60 on" The driver
made no answer, but the women came to
the coach door and began to put in their
bundles. The gentlemen protested that
they could not get in-there was no room.
The woman with the baby said she would
get in; she was "agwine to Strasburg to
spend Christmas with her relations, whar
she was born and raised, and whar she
had not been for ten years, and nobody
had better right to the stage than she
had, and she was agwine, and Kitty Grim
was agwine too-she's my sister-law; and
so is baby, cause baby never did see her
relations in strasburg in her life. So Uncle
Ben !" she exclaimed to the driver, "take
my bag, basket and box by you, and me
and Kitty and baby, and the bundles and
the little basket will go inside" All this
was said amidst violent protestations from
the men within: 'You can't get in, dri-
yer, go on" But, suiting the action to
the word, she opened the door, calling,
"Come Kitty" got on the step and
thrust her head in, saying: eff these gen.
tlemen is gentlemen, and has got any po-
likeness, they will git out and set with
Uncle Ben, and let ladies come inside -
A pause ensued At last spbdued tone
from the soldier ON the middle seat was
heard to say Madam, if you will get of
the step, will get out" Very well, sir;
and why didn't you do that at first? And
now" said she, looking at man on the
seat, "there's another seat by Uncle Ben;
sposen you git out and let Kitty Grim
have your seat she's bound to CO." The
poor man quietly got out, without saying
word, but the very expression Of his
back, as he got out, Of the coach, was sub
dued. Now Kitty, get in, and bring the
little basket and them two bundles, they
went poster the lady much" The door
was closed, and then, the scene being
over, the passengers shouted with laugh
ter 7-
Our heroine remained perfectly passive
until we got. to picket-post, mile from
town The driver stopped; a soldier came
up for passports. She was thunder struck
'Passes passes for white folks never
heard of such thing. | amt got no pass;
nuther is Kitty Grim" | suggested to
her to keep quiet, as the best policy
Just at that time Tennessee soldier had
| to confess that he had forgotten to get a
passports s.You can't go on" said the
official; and the soldier got out. Pres
emily the woman's turn came. Madam,
your passport, if you please" Il ain't got
none; nuther, is Kitty Grim CHATS my
sister-inlaT) we amt agwine to git out
neither cause ives gwine to Strasburg to
spend Christmas with my relations hav'nt
been thar for ten year, and never heard
of white folks having passes" ''But,
madam" began the official. s'You needn't
but, madam, me, cause amt agwine to
git out, and I'd like to see the man what
would put me out. This is free country,
and Pse agwine to Strasburg this night,
so you might as well take your lantern
out of my face" But, madam, my orders"
began the picket. Don't tell me nothing
bout orders; don't care nothing bout
orders J; and you needn't think cause the
Tennessee man got out, that Pse agwine
to git out cause I amt Amt got
three sonsin the army great sight bigger
than you is aand they fit at Manassas. and
they amt no towards, nurther is their
mother; and amt agwine to git out of
this stage this night, but I'm gwine to
Strasburg, whar | was born aud raised.