The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-01-25

:; "There's barn at the end of the hut
for the 'oss," said he, jerking his head
in the direction. "You had better go
and put him up, stranger, and then
come here"
AS 1 saw there was no help for it, !
led my horse to the barn, made him as
comfortable as could, and then taking
my saddle bags over my arm, entered
|. the hut.
It was a wretched hove!, composed
of rough-hewn logs, rudely put togeth
er, and plastered mud, great masses Of
| which had fallen away, leaving the logs
exposed to view, and the sharp wind
whistled through the chinks in mis-
erable manner. The hearth was COM
posed of stones beaten into the earth,
and upon this blazed large fire, which,
although it filled the room with smoke,
was, 10 my condition, most acceptable.
My newly made acquaintance ap-
peared to have fallen fast asleep before
the FIRE, 50 giving one look to his disa-
greeable countenance, I took of my
coat and wajstcoat, laid them out to dry,
and placing the saddle.bags for pillow,
prepared to go to sleep.
oval, stranger" said my host, start
ing up with snarl, 81 du think you
might be more perlite, and just hand
over the news. I guess it isn't often
we get any down in these parts, and
therefore we don't lose chance of ris-
ing any when We can"
II must beg your pardon y Ireplied;
II thought you were asleep, and there
fore was quiet in case I might disturb
you"
"Air you hungry?" he demanded.
GAS hunter" was my emphatic re-
II guess you won't object to this bit
of corned beef then" said he, pushing
some coars bread and salt meat toward
me.
"ou the contrary" I replied, "noth-
ing could bo more acceptable"
81 guess you're thursty," he said, af-
ter watching me devour the meat.
"Sahara is nothing to me-" I avowed.
81 don't know anything about your
Sarah" he replied, "but du know a
girl named Polly, who does drink she
du; patent double pressure engine is
nothing to her, that it amt; she takes
ip more liquid than Mississippi steam-
boat, and when she's at high pressure
I guess she's as dangerous"
expressed my sorrow at Miss Polly's
failing, and asked him if he had any
thing to drink.
wal, yes here's some Burbcn whls
ky; put Yourself outside that, aud you
won't feel your soaking"
needed no second invitation for, in
spite of the huge fire, I was shlvering
with cold and as l had most important
business to execute, was most anxious
at aoy risks to keep up my strength, SO
as to accomplish my journey.
AS drank the whiskey my compan
ion lasped into silence, aud began to
ponder upon the weakness Of human
Judgment, and the uniairness of what
people call impression" in particular.
"Here is a man." thought /, that
everybody would proclaim a scoundrel
from lis diabolical coun enance ; juds-
ing from that, you would say that he was
mean, cruel and unprincipled; yet, al
though have not seen him before, he
not only gives NE the shelter of his root,
but also shares his supper aud whlskey
with me. will never trust to appear
anccs again"
Whilst I had d'been making these re-
aections, again prepared for sleep; but
my doing so evidently displeased my
companion, for stretching ou. his long
legs to their full length-ev,dently to
kick mine-he gave terrible yawn.
"Darned if you amt the slowest cuss
I've met on this side of creation" he
grouled. "Ain't you got no news?"
Half angry and half amused at his
strange manner, replied:
"l am extremely sorry that I have
no news to give you, and unfortunately
1 have not :he imagination of some of
our New York papers, or would invent
some for your amusement"
"Now, look here, stranger, none of
your impertinance. I guess you are
Bostoner. which accounts for your in-
ferual slowuess. What's the good Of
paper, if there i.n't something new in
it ? S'pose there's murder or a rob.
berry, and it's real one, wal, you read
IT and enjoy it. But s'pose it's false
one, bout people you know nothing
about, wal, you euj.ys it, and there isn't
half the darned sight injury done. You
la!f or cry as much over one as the 9TH
er, aud you don't know the people
what can it matter to you
whether it is true or false it does just
the same"
Not feeling inclined to argue with
nv friend over the matter, especially
as could see that be was man who
would not take contradiction quietly,
readily owned that I was wrong and ne
was right.
,"S'pose you don't want to sleep di.
rectly, strangerp 80 ,,,I
"indecd 1 do, for am very tired"
"I guess. it's not safe to sleep in these
parts, unless you can manage to keep
que eye open.
Why? Surely We are safe heres" /
II IL. Lna.u-that I caln, Late pnn