Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-01-28
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LAUGHABLE EXPERIENCE.

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LAUGHABLE EXPERIENCE.
Among the many familiar chronicles of the war,
none exces in interest the diary Of q Southern
Refugee during the War" HALE & Son, New
York, 1857 II is understood to be from the pen
Of gifted lady Of Virginia, wife Of an Episcopal
clergyman, and member Of family connection
widely known and esteemed.
The humorous extract below strikes US as not
unworthy Of Dickens: -.
We left Winchester in the stage coach for Shas-
burg at 10 o'clock at night, on the l4th December,
1881. The weather was bitter cold and we con-
graduated ourselves that the coach was not crowd.
ed. Mr.. McG. and the girls were on the back
seat, Methodist clergyman, soldier and myself,
on the middle, and two soldiers and our maid Bet
sey on the front seat We went off by starlight;
with every prospect ofa pleasant drive Of eighteen
miles i- 'a ....,t.'..'i r.f4 if1
As we were leaving the suburbs Of the town, the
driver drew up before small house, from which
issued two women with baby, two baskets, sever
al bundles and 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 two women came to the
coach door and began to put in the bundles. Fhe
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 Stras-
burg 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
in-law; and so is baby, cause baby never did see
her relations in Strasburg in her life. So, Uncle
Ben I" she exclaimed to the driver, stake my bag,
basket and box by you, and me and Kitty and ba-
BY, and the bundles and the little basket will 60
inside" 60 .'....'.. '''-..''.'.
All this was said amidst violent protestations from
the men within: ''You can't get in; driver, 60
on" But, suiing the action to the word, she
opened the door, calling, "Come, Kitty" got On
the step and thrust her head in saying: '1fthese
gentlemen is gentlemen, and has got any polite
ness, they will get out and set with Uncle Ben, and
let ladies come inside" A pause ensued. At
last subdued tone from the soldier on the middle
seat was heard to say, MADAM, if you will get off
the step, I will get out. !" r
''Very well, sir; and why didn't you do that at
frst2 And now" said she, looking at man on
the front 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 subdued. "Now, Kitty, get in, and
Bring the little basket and them two bundles; they
won't poster the lady much" The door was
closed, and then, the scene being over, the pas
sengers shouted with laughter.
Our heroine remained perfectly passive until we
got to the picket post, mile from town. The
driver stopped; soldier came up for passports.
She was thunderstruck. Passes passes for
white folks I never heard ofsuch thing. aint
got no pass; nuther is Kitty Grim" Isuggested
to her to keep quiet, as the best policy. Just at
that time a Tennessee soldier had to confess that
he had forgotten to get passport. You can
20 on" said the official and the soldier got out
Presently the woman's turn came. Madam,
your passport, if you please. "
81 amt got none; nuther is Kitty Grim Chats
my sster-in-aw); we amt agwine to get out nuth.
er; cause we's gwine to Strasburg to spend
Christmas with my relations, and 1 amt been
there for ten years, and never heard Of white
folks having passes" '-s....-.
'sBut, madam, began the official
"You needn't but, madam me, cause amt
agwine to get out, and I'd like to see the man
what would put me out This is free country,
and Use agwine to Strasburg to night, 80 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; and you needn't think
cause the Tennessee man got out, that Use gwine
to get out-'cause amt Amt got three SONS
in the army, great sight larger than you is, and
they fit at Manassas, and they amt no towards,
nuther is their mother, and I amt agwine to get
out of this stage this night, but I'm gwine to
Strasburg, whar was born and raised.
The Door man looked non plussed, but yet an
other effort; he began, my dear madam" "
II amt none of your dear madam; Use just a
free white woman, and 80 is Kitty Grim, and we
amt no nggers to get passes, and Use gwne along
this pike to Strasburg. Now, Use done talking y
With this she settled herself on the seat and
leant back with most determined air, and the
discomftted man shut the door amid peals OF
laughter from within and without. In few mo-
ments we were quiet again. and all began to settle
themselves for sleep, when the silence was broken
by our heroine.
"Kitty, is you sick?'
"No" said Kitty.
"Well, it is wonder. Gentlemen, can't one
of you take Kitty seat, and give her yourn2 she
gets monstrous sick when she is riding with her
back to the horses.
There was death-ike silence, and my curiosity
was aroused to know how she would manage that
point After few moments she began again.
kitty, is you sick ?''
"No," says Kitty, mot yit.
"Wen, do wish one of you gentlemen would
give Kitty his seat" Still no reply. All was be,
coming quiet again, when she raised her voice:
kitty Grim, is you sick2"
EYES," said Kitty, ',just little
II knowed it; l knowed she was sick; and when
Kitty Grim gifts sick she most in general filings
up"
The effect was electric my dear madam, - ex,
claimed both gentlemen at once, stake my seat
by all means take my seat. "
The Methodist clergyman being nearest, gave up
his seat and took hers. The change was soon ef-
fected amidst the most uproarious laughter, al
feeling that they were fairly out-generalled the
third time.