Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1869-01-15
From Winchester to strasburg.--A
Laughable Experience.

From Winchester to Strasburg.--A
Laughable Experience
Among the many familiar chronicles Of
the war none excels in interest the "Diary
of Southern Refugee during the War"
(Hale & Son, N. Y. 1863 i is un-
derstood to be from the pen of a gifted
lady Of Virginia, wife of an Episcopal
clergyman, and member of a family con-
ncction 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. Lynchbury Nevs.
We left Winchester in the stage coach
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.. McG.. and the girls were on the back
seat, Methodist clergyman. soldier
and myself on the middle, and two sold
|iers, and our maid Betsy on the front scat.
We went off by starlight, with every pros
|pect of a pleasant drive Of eighteen miles
As we were leaving the suburbs of the
town, the driver drew up before a small
house from which issued two women with
la baby, 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; go on" >
The driver made no answer, but the wo-
men 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
gwine to Strasburg to spend Christmas
with her relations. wbar 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 10 Stras-
burg in her life. So, Uncle Benz she
exclaimed to the driver, stake my bag,
basket and box BY you, and me and Kitty
tand baby fahd ihe sbuudles aad the little
basket will, 60 inside" All this was said
amidst violent protestations from the men
within You can't get in, driver, 60
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: If these gentlemen IS
gentlemen, and has got any politeness,
they will git out and set with Uncle Ben,
and let ladies come inside" A pause en-
sued At last subdued tone from the
soldier on the middle seat was beard to
say: Madam. if you will get off the step,
/ will get out" Very we'll, sir; and
why didn't you do that at first? 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 go"
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 bum
dies, they won't poster the lady much. p"
The door was closed. and, then, the scene
being over, the passengers shouted with
Laughter. - - ''''' - :. : :
Our heroine remained perfectly passive
until we got to the picket-post, a mile
from town. The driver stopped; a SOL
dier came up for passports: She was
thunder struck. a>''Passes! passes for
white folks! I never heard of such: .
thing. l 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 passport.
l''You can't 60 on" said the official !; and
the soldier got out. Presently the wo-
mans turn came. MADAM. your pass
port, if you please" Il amt got none
nuther is Kitty Grim CHATS my sisterin-
law; we amt agwine to git out neither,
cause we's gwine to Strasburg to spend
Christmas with my relations, and I amt
been thar for ten year, and never heard
of white folks having passes. But.
madam" began the official. ''You need
mt but, madam me. cause I amt a.
gwine to git out, and I'd like to see the
man what would put me out. This is a
free country, and Pse agwine to Strasburg
this night. so you might as we'll take your
lantern out of my face" But, madam.
my ORDERS" began the picket. ''Don't
tell me nothing bout orders: I don't care
nothing bout orders; and you needn't
think. cause the Tennessee man got out;
that Pse agwine to git out-'cause l amt.
Amt got three sons in the army, great
sight bigger than you is? and they fit at
Manassas, and they amt no towards,
nuther is their mother; and l amt agwine
to git out of this stage this night. but I'm
gwine to Strasburg. whar 1 was born and
raised.' ii z-.es..'-, -tz ,r..,' 4 "af1 -,
The poor man looked non -plussed, but
yet another effort; he began. "My dear
madam" Il amt none of your dear
madam; Use just free white woman.
and so is Kitty Grim, and We amt no