Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-05-28
& MIsscElLAMEo US.
AN INTERESTING INoIDENT,
"oAsrING BREAD UPON TIE wArERso THAT
RETURNS AFTER MANY DAYS.

! X
p It was twenty-five years ago. A gentleman
this time, in fact, ga solitary horseman"-
was on his way back to old Virginia, to revisit
the home of his. childhood. His father had
moved to Kentucky from the "NI6ther of
States" and settled in Todd county few
years before. His eldest son, at the period
mentioned, had just attained his majority :;
and being presented with, perhaps, his first
horse, handsomely caparisoned, he set out
across the mountains of Eastern Kentucky,
on horseback, provided with the necessary ad.
| juucts of-that mode of travel, pair of sad
dle>bags and "leggings:" Il s,5
This was before the era of railroads in Ken
lucky, and hence the young gentleman did
not suffer the tedium one would experience
on such journey now-for going and com>
ing, not only horsemen but wagons, buegies
carriages, etc.,arelicved the monolony. and
furnished a number of those trifing incideuts
so gratifying TO SOLITARY horsemen" general.
| ly.r These were then the only modes of trav-
ell over that rou,e-aud long wagon trains of
families, and even of whole neighborhoods,
setting West, were met every day
| While crossing the mountains, one eve
ming, few miles beyond the Virginia bor>
| der, he came face to face with spectacle
which was in all. respects ptiable and dis
tressing. .1s Sitting on the roadside was man
with his wife and two or three children, whose
woe. .begone and squalid appearance indicated
not only poverty, but almost absolute starya-
tion.. 1t was poor family moving Vest
| Having become completely bankrupt in Vir-
ginia, by some sudden failure, they had gath
cred up what little household goods the sher
| if had .left them and started for Kentucky.
| The two skeleton frames of horses which were
used for drawing their little stores of plundor.
were energetically endeavoring to extract sus-
tenance ';by the skin of their teeth" from the
barren soil, as the young man rode up.
As he drew, the reihs for moments chat
with this "beggarly account he was saluted
by::the .shead" with that Masonic sign which,
being himself Mason, he at once recognized
and returned. The poor husband and father
thus meeting the first friend he bad seen since
leaving home, poured out his whole heart to.
the young stranger. His story begat lively
interest-revealiug,5 as it did, "a tale of mis-
fortune without crime. The young man was
soon impressed with the fact that, notw,h-
standing outside appearances were decidedly
against this 'sbrother," he was not only a re-
markably bright Mason, but gentleman of
excellent manners, good education and high
breeding. -, -
''When tell you that my poor wife and
children have scarcely eaten enough TO keep
them alive, for three days, you will excuse
these unmanly tears" said he, weeping freely
as he gazed at the little hungry .innoceuts
clinging around him. if.
The young traveller was himself moved to
tears, and could not doubt his own eyes,
though the picture was one he had expected
to meet and one which he had, perhaps, never
met before.
| He at once handed the unfortunate husband
and father $50, almost the last cent of money
he had-retaining only sufficient to take him
to the end of his journey by scant allowance
NOT caring to keep any to return on. The.
strangerinssted on receiving only S5, trust
ins to Providence for enough to complete his
journey to that part of Kentucky whittier he
was moving but the young mans heart was
too large not to have given five times that
amount if he had been able. Besides this,
Gas he himself relates it) his eyes filled with
tears, as did those of the father and mother.
as the hungry children literally devoured the
fragments of a lunch which the young Sa-
marian had brought with him from his last
breakfast.
Amid the tears and blessings of the little
circle, the kind. hearted stranger rode off.
thanking God that it had been in his power
TO oestow SO much happiness and so oppor-
tunely.
L eals passeu Dy ana the incident was about
forgotten, when the benevolent young gen
tleman received a letter, inclosins $50 bin.
gratefully recalling the circumstances above
related, announcing that the family bad
reached their destination in southwestern
Kentucky, and that the father was again a
merchant, making money and living hapniIv.
Almost another decade, including in its
whlrl and turmoil the bloody story of the
great civil war, had once more about shut ON.
all memory of the occurrence, when the hero
OF the story, now long since grown to mans
estate, and become distinguished in the DO
litical history of Kentucky, was elected to the
Lower House of the Legislature. His talents
and influence were such that, with but little
difficulty. he was elected Speaker of the
House. During the contest over the Speak
ership, he had noticed that stranger-and a
member of the opposition-was one of mis-
most active supporters. Meeting him few
days after the accomplished speaker remarked:
"Mr.-,I have been curious to know why
you were among my warmest friends, during
the election-doing allsyou could for me. /
never met eyou before5in my life-your very
name isnunknown to me-2e ara opposed in