The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-03
[From the New York SUM-


Straw-riding is Jolly sport. Straw rides used
to be leading feature OF the Publications in
the pastoral regions that succeeded the gath.
ering of the golden harvests and the fall
threshiDg To this day OAR Jersey friends re-
tain the old-time custom, and With huge lum.
ber wagon, without seats, but with box well
filed with bright clean straw, and the lads and
asses tumbled in promlscuously together, the
more the merrier, behind feet horses, enjoy
nights frolic as only the innocent tolers of the
harvest field can enjoy little diversion OF that
sort
Straw rides form o feature of the later fail
sports at Long Branch, and are E ,atly enjoy.
ed by some even VINO are not ust 10 toil anu
labor. They had such an event couple ot
weeks ago. 1t was on the Monday evening
that preceded the departure OF the President
and his family on their Western pilgrimage
The party was very select one, made up OF
the beauX and bellies Of the West End eXclus-
lively. Miss Murphy, daughter Of the collector
OF this port, was one OF the ladies. Miss Brown.
a daughter of the proprietor OF Browns Park,
was another. 1t so happened that on The even
ing of this grand affair Miss Nellie Grant,
daughter of the President OF the United states.
and Miss Dent, her cousin, dlned at the resi-
dence of the Hon. Thomas Murphy, and were
still ENJOYING the collectors hospitality and the
agreeable companionship OF his family Wnen
the immense farmers wagon engaged LOT the
slraw-rding party called for Miss Murphy.
stOh, dear" sighed Miss Nellie Grant, II
wish could 60 too"
so do l." chimed in Miss Dent.
s:Well, then, come along" replied Miss Muir
ply. ,,,.,
Nellie Grant.
"Tnat will not make the slightest difference
In the world" returned Miss Murphy. "Tne
gentlemen will only be too happy to have you
along. And besides, the addition OF two to
the company will only fill the wagon more
closely aud make 1t all the more jolly.
II have good mind to CO." said Miss Mel
lie. half persuaded. "But what would papa
.sYou ought not to go without your fathers
permission" suggested the prudent wife oil the
"Oh, pshaw " said the Hon. Thomas Muir
ply, "If fNellie wants to go, let her go BY all
means; there's no harm In It,"
But papa might not like it." replied Miss
Nellie, still hestattDg.
score" responded the collector; Il Will see
your father and make it all right with him.
Go along and enjoy yourself"
And so Miss Nellie and her cousin Joined the
happy party, and were soon tucked away IN
the huge lumber wagon, halt buried In straw
and blankets, and packed as closely win tne
rest of the company as red herrines In box:
1t was q very jolly party, full OF music and
ane cdote; and az the great numbering wagon
rolled along up and down the avenue on the
bluff their merry voices started the fsh-hawks
on their lofty perches, and went rolling lar
out to sea. The party started out about :
o'clock. They had traversed the length OF
bluff road two or three times, and were re-
turning toward the West End about midnight,
when, directly In front of the Presidential
cottage, they were halted by an apparition
carrying lantern, and crying:
stop that wagon, you miserable yelpers y
1t was the voice of the President OF the
United States.
'sIs nv daughter In there N angrlly demand
ed the Aforesaid President, at the same time
approaching the wagon with his lantern.
"Yes, papa, am here" dully responded
Miss Nellie.
"Get out this minute End come into the
house, you huzzy," shouted the President, at
the same time grssping his daughter BY the
shoulder and dragging her out OF the wagon.
"Aint you ashamed OF YOURSELF cutting up 10
this manner and keeping one up here I'LL this
time of night waiting for you, when you know
have been kept up the past two nights and
have got to be up al daylight tomorrow morn
ing to 60 away"
And he gave his fair daughter rude push
toward the gate OF the Presidential enclosure,
crying. "Go into the house with you!"
Miss Nellie burst out crying, partly from the
pain inflicted by her fathers rough treatment,
and partly from modification. In the mean
time, Miss Dent was assisted from the wagon
by the gentlemen of the party, and approach.
Ing the President began expostulatius with
him.
"Mr. Grant, while I am your guest you
might at least treat me respectfully"
The rest of her words were lost as she moved
away toward the house with the President
and his daughter. But the party In the wagon
could distinctly hear their voices In angry al.
tercatiou all the way up the lawn and unit!
they had entered the cottage.