Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-18
Supper at Live Oak.


An OF TRAVEL IN FLORIDA.
You viii get supper at Live Oak, SIR This
was said by the eentlemanly clerk of the Metro
Eoltan hotel at jacksonville, a. paid my oil.
The day was intensely hot. Twas to leave by the
=. m: train for Savannah, and having taken
put light dinner very naturally expressed some
interest in the matter of supper. The assurance
OF supper at Live Oak" was pleasant. My
good friend, DIR. Mitchell, drove me in his buggy
TO the station, and in wishing me a good journey
as we parted, said, ''You viii get supper at Live
oak" When took my ticket inquired for a
eepingcar, for il was to be an llnight journey
"SleepIng-car and supper at Live Oak, ;" was the
reply. We startedo off at a fair rate. the 'cOored'
car in front, with but a solitary passenger, while
the white car, about half filled, brought up
the rear bad selected a comfortable seat on
the shady side, and was busily engaged with my
newspaper, when the conductor touched my
shoulder and asked tor my ticket. "what time
do We arrive at Live Oak?" | inquired. Eight
forty five. Sleeping cars there?" ''No. The
sleeFlng-car went down last night; but you'll get
supper there. You will get a nice supper at Live
pax, SIR = he added, as If that would Offset the
Tors OF nights sleep. "All right. tS45, You
say, we shall get there ?'' " Yes, SIR" looked
at my watch. Four hours and a half vet seemed
long time to wait; but that "nice supper"
seasoned with good appetite. would be all the
more welcome after a wholesome fast. read
and doZed, reused myself to look out at the
sWamps and the pines, then dOzad again, an /,
from doing, slept and dreamed We were at
y" Live Oak A numbering gong sounded all
along the platform. colored waiter, with snow
white jacket and apron, entered the car. and in
Niltu ldultS anu SenieTnS' 10 supper. A
spacious saloon was just opposite the cars, across
the platform, and following crowd, entered. A
dozen cosy tables were nicely set, the cloths aud
the china were spotlessly white, cut-glass water
bottles and goblets glistened and sparkled in the
light of the chandeliers which hung overhead, a
score of tidy cOlOred girls, in bright giRghams
ana white aprons, were in attendance, and, "a
TOOK an offered chair. congratulated myself on
my light dinner, my long fast and nv keen appe-
tite. tor now l was to enjoy that long promised
luxury, supper at Live Oak. Coffee sir ?''
" Yes, please" What else, sir ~ 4" Anything
you please. You shall select my supper for m -
The Coffee sent its fragrance before it, and only
needed the tiny white pitcher of boiling hot milk
ana couple OF Jumps OF loaf sugar to make It
delicious. Nice and nicely-cooked ham and
eggs, broiled chicken, tenderloin steak, fried
potatoes, 80 In Saratoga" oysters fried. oysters
sPieed and picked, fresh garden radishes, hot
biscuits, corn cakes ami hard, golden butter
were spread before me, and to these ripe oran-
yes. bananas, grapes and melons were added.
Drawing my napkin from its silver ring, L
about TO begin my feast, when loud scream
from the engine whistle sounded and-I awoke!
The train stopped. "Live Oak! superb was
yelled by ragged darby, who rushed through
the car and vanished through the rear door. |
got up, rubbed my eyes, and event for it'' mot
the darky, but the supper.) looked over the
way for the saloon of my dreams, but it wasn't
there. Close beside the train though, and on
the platform, was a sort OF tent, formed by some
pieces of old canvas drawn over a rough frame
work of poles and boughs, and in which was a
rough board table and the supper at Live
VAN. III Tie Tusn lhdiidStu W scCuTc d Duk
for a seat, and "a plate at the board. One of a
half-dOzen ragged, dirty and dilapidated darkies
came to me and demanded fifty cents, which
1 promptly paid, and asked tor some tea.
SCOT none" "SOme coffee, then" The coffee
was brought. 1t was the genuine Turkish
tcle-ODe. half grounds and the other half dirty
water. "Now some milk" ''Got none" Some
sugar" sugar all done gone" "A glass of
water, them SCOT no water; all gone. Better
look sharp, sir, dis zere train be of in bout
minute" just then the whistle sounded, AMI
the conductor shouted "all aboard" / looked
around for something to .'grab." piece OF
boiled pork, mysterious plaster pie, and some
hot biscuits were the sum and substance OF the
"supper." l caught up three of the biscuits,
and jumped on the train just as it was moving
OFF. i took my seat, and at my leisure proceed
ed to investigate the biscuit. They were sour,
musty and heavy. 1 tried honestly and fairly To
do them justice, and only succeeded when
threw them out OF the window. Disappointed,
sad and hungry, folded myself up as best
could on a three-foot seat Il think ran my legs
out of the window and hung my head over the
arm rest) and sought refuge in sleep, while a
thousand mu-quitOes kindly and sOOthingly sung
in my ears of "supper at Live Oak!'