The Shasta courier., 1869-05-01
SHASTA COURIER.
From winchester to strasburg.
A LAUGHABLE EXPERIENCE.

of Southern Refugee during the War;"
(HaIe & Sop, New York, 1861 1t is
understood to be from the pen Of 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:
"We left Winchester in the stage coach
for Strasburg at ten o'clock at night, on
the oath of December, 1861. The weather
! was bitter cold, and we congratulated our
selves that the coach was not crowded. MIR.
MEG. and the girls were on the back seat,
a Methodist clergyman, soldier and my
self on the middle, and two soldiers and
our maid Betsy on the front seat We
went off by starlight, with every prospect
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
baby, two baskets, several bundles and a
box. The passengers began to shout out,
$50 on driver; what do you mean; there's
no more room for another; go on The
driver made no answer, but the two 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 .Stras-
burg tospend Christmas with her relations,
whar she was born and raised, and whar
she had not been for zen years, and nobody
had better right to the stage than she
had, and she was agwine, and Kitty Grim
she was agwiue too-she's my law;
and SO is baby, cause baby never did sec
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 90 inside"
All this was said amidst violent protesta
tions from the men within. Z" You can't
get in; driver, 90 on But, suiting the
action to the word, she opened the door,
calling: "Come, Kitty got on the step,
thrust her head in, saying If these gen.
tlemen is gentlemen, and has got any
politeness, they will get out and sit with
Uucle Ben, and let ladies come inside. =
A pause ensued. At last subdued tone
from the soldier on the middle seat was
heard to say q Madam, if you will get off
the step, will get out
every well, sir; and why didn't you
do that at first ? And now" said she, look
ing at man on the front seat, I" there's
another seat by Uncle Ben; sposen you
git out and let Kitty Grim have your seat;
she's bound to 60" The poor man quietly
got out without saying a word, out 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
wee bundles; they won't poster the lady
much" The door was closed, and then
the scene being over, the passengers shout
ed with laughter.
Our heroine remained perfectly passive
until we got to the picket post, a mile from
town The driver stopped; soldier came
up for passports. She was thunderstruck
Passes passes for white folks ! | never
heard of such thing. Iain't got no pass !;
nuther has 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 pass
port. " You can't go on" said the official,
and the soldier got out
Presently the woman's turn came
Madam, your passport, if you please"
al amt got none nuther is Kitty Grim,
CHATS my sister-in-law,) we amt agwine
to get out nuther, cause we's gwine to
Strasburg to spend Christmas with my re-
lations, and l ain t been there for ten years,
and I never heard of white folks having
passes"
/" But, 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 a free country, aud Use agwine to Stras-
burg this night, so you might as we'll take
your lantern out of my face"
t" But, madam, my orders" began the
picket.
"Dou't tell me nothing bout orders; L
don't care nothing bout orders and you
needn't think, cause the Tennessee man
got out, that Use agwine to git out-'cause
amt. Aiu'tI got three sons in the army,
army, great sight larger than is !? and they
6t at Manassas, and they amt no towards,
nuther is their mother: and l amt agwine
to git put out Of this stage this night, but
I'm gwine to Strasburg, whar was born
and raised"
The poor man looked non plussed, but
yet another effort he began, My dear
madam"
amt none of your dear madam Use
just free white woman, and so is Kitty
Grim; and we amt no niggers to get
passes, and Pse gwine long this pike to
Strasburg. Now Fse doEe talking"
With this she settled herself on the seat
and leaned back with determined air,
and the discounted man shut the door
amid peals of laughter from within and
from without In few moments we were
quiet again, and all began to settle them
selves for sleep, when the silence was
broken by our heroine"
kitty. is you sick 7"
"No," said Kitty.
4Well, it is wonder. Gentlemen,
can't one Of you take Kitty's seat, and give
her yourn She gifts monstrous sick
when she is riding with her back to the
horses"
There was deathlike silence, aud my
curiosity was aroused to know how she