Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-01-26
INDIANA LETTER.
OwENsvILLE, INDIANA,
Jan. 17.1S7l.

~ JAN fs1Oll L.
Messrs. Editors: 1 believe it is Gus
tomary whena person cnaigrutes, for Them
to write back" to let all inquiring friends
know that they are well" etc. Now you
know that L am naturally very bashful and
retiring, but / will overcome my scruples
to see myself sin print" and write you
a few lines.
/ was much surprised that so few If my
friends were at the depot when | left
There was only one young gentleman who
| felt in the least like weeping, and he did
not-ask him why. Some way l can't re.
member whether l shed any tears or not.
There is a kind of mist surrounding that
parting in my memory. But. indeed
was sad at leaving a town where l had 50
many dear friends, and whose people had
been so kind to me.
Had a very pleasant run down to Knox
vile, where l remained over one day
Knoxville is, l think, rather more lively
than its sister city, Jonesborough. But !
may be mistaken. l did not give way to
my feelings at leaving home and friends
though, until 1 reached Cleveland. As !
looked out of the car window there, to-
ward the green hill where rested one who
was dearer than life itself. to me, l could
not refrain from weeping. But even in
the midst of my grief came the blessed
thought, that no matter what happens now
no matter if storms do sweep over the
land bowling the heads of all, he was at
rest-forevermore at rest.
| was silent though, for the rest of the
trip to Nashville, and if my companion
had not had the patience of his renowned
ancestor, he must have given up his at
tempts to rouse me from my ~taciturnity.
1 was agreeably surprised at not being de-
layed in Nashville, but left it rejoicing,
at about five o'clock Saturday morning.
Arrived in Louisville, at just dinner time.
Here l met with something new ''under
the sum- at least to mo. We had to cross
the city and river to New Albany, by the
car, and were taken into one called a "din-
ing car" and partook of an excellent din
ner while the car was moving. Will ever
Tennessee rail roads have such a c%ontriv-
ance as that to save temper and time?
On the road from Louisville to Indian
apolis, | met with a splendid specimen of
Kentucky chivalry in the shape of a con-
ductor. whom | wish to introduce to you.
A. NJ. Whedon, at your service. A rath-
er handsome youth who evidently consid.
cred himself an Adonis, with a perfectly
..hfHing'' moustache, and hair parted in the
middle with scrupulous exactness. Not
knowing where Princeton was, | returned
to ask this immaculate parsonage if he
''knew where Princeton was located."-
Drawing himself up in all the dignity of
his six feet of manhood, he looked down
on ''poor little me-" with an air that should
have at once convinced me of my insight
~ficance, he answered, "How-should-I-
know Crushed as | was. l looked up
and asked mildly, IF you don't who does.
seeing that it is on your roads," He look
ed at me again with a plying smile and
vent his way. l suppose the young man
had spent so much time curling his NOUS
tache, and parting his hair that he had
none left for studying the geography of his
country or the code of politeness.
Much to my disgust, when | reached a
little town called Seymour. Saturday even
ing, / was informed that 1 must stay there
u1Ill eight % clOCh CuHudJ eNcLlhS. DIS III
trains run West of there on Sunday. [
made the best of matters though, and
found the landlord of the hotel very kind
and courteous, so much so, that when |
left the place he would not charge me a
cent, saying that ''the daughter of a man
who remained true to the Union, in the
South, through the war, was welcome to
anything he could do for her." All honor
to him, and | wish, for the good of the
country, there were more like him. His
name was j. <. Faulconer.
Well, l know you are getting tired and
L am almost through. / arrived at Prince
ton, at half-past two o'clock, Monday
morning, and found my brother-in-law
awaiting me. 1t is "a ten mile ride from
there to Owensyille, which is a small town,
of about seven hundred inhabitants. [
have not seen much of the country yet,
but will give you my impressions as they
develope. Now, | will tire you no longer,
only to give my kind regards to all who
are my friends, in the dear old town.
MAY her shadow never grow less" as they
say in the East. Goodbye, for this time.
ALPHA.