The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-03-26
AN INCIDENT THE REBELLION.

IL one of my journeys through the
State OF Kentucky, | chanced one
evening to find myself at the State
line, aud near small farm house, be
tore whose open gates a couple OF
fox hounds were dismaiiy yelping.
Abouv half a mile III advarce of me,
the thin blue smoke was ..urling up
ward from the chimney OF yellow
house that stood on lsltle eleva.
ton.
The most trivial circumstances
frequently change our purpose. l
gathered .p the reins aud was about
10 touch my horse with the spur,
when voice close by my side sad !:
"You need go no farther, stranger,
unless you are unwilling to accept a
generous welcome, but not very
Fat larder."
| turned in my saddle, aud beheld
directly behind me a tall and well
proportioned man of about forty FIVE
years of age, who had come so noise
lessly in my rear, that l was not
aware of his presence urtil l heard
him speak.
"For one who has travelled half
over the world" l answered, sit mat
ters but little what est or what l
drink, so long as l have place to
stretch my limbs. pay more at
tention to the provender of my horse
than | do to my own appetite"
"Such being the case, follow me, !"
he SAID, leading the way up the lane
that led to his habitation. "I've
plenty of good corn, and your amin al
will find rack well stuffed with fod-
der. Here you, Jim," he shouted, as
| alighted at the door, "come, take
this horse, rub him down well, and
give him plenty OF corn"
AT the sound of his voice dwarf
like negro boy came out of the kitch-
en- and led my horse to the barn.
Selden Bates (for that was the
name by which my host introduced
himseli) remarked as he gazed aft r
the tagging steps of the boy, who
had stopped and was looking about
apparently at nothing, "Betore the
rebellion, owned that fellow, but
from the way he obeys me, | some
times think he owns me. There is a
sad change hereabou:s since the new
order of things came into vogue.
But come into the house. sir, and let
us see what can be d"ne towards
procuring yoa meal
| followed him int" a room, the
furniture of which was of the cheap
est and plainesL material. A stain
ed pine table stood in the middle OF
the floor, several wooden chairs were
ranged against the wall, and we'll
worn rag carpet was upon the floor.
And this was the best furnished room
IN the house.
In short time the wife OF Selden
Bates appeared, AID | was duly in
lroduced. She was a pale faced,
neck 10 bking woman, with never a
smile upon her countenance, and re
minded one that she was perpelually y
brooding over some domestic caiam
Ity. In answer To her husband she
repIi d that she would eudeavor to
get up meal, and forthwith she
started for the kitchen, and | never
saw her again until she came In with
some fried chicken, corn bread and
coffee, which to me seemed the best
dinner l had ever enjoyed, for was
terribly hungry.
While dinner had been preparing,
I had leisure to note a number OF
volumes that were hanging upon a
shelf in the corner. "Ah," thought,
"There is some taste about this place
after ALL" as | saw the works OF
Sterne, Smolle., Fielding, and well
worn copy of SHAKESPEARE, Junius'
Letters, Milton, Homer, and finally,
ION ! shade of murdered Hamilton,
the life of Aaron Burr.
When / had concluded my din
ner, Mr.. Bates asked me if smoked,
and upon my replying in the affirma,
tive, produced some corn-cob pipes
and tobacco, and we were both soon
enveloped in cloud of Kentucky
smoke.
always feel communicative under
the influence of the weed, and have
generally found it the case with pret.
ty much every one but Selden Bates.
pipe seemed to seal his lips. He
puffed vigorously, and replenished
his corn cob several times, only
deigning to reply to my remarks by
a simple "yes'' or "no," and / be-
gin to think after all, tho ugh he
might chance to be well read
person, there did not appear much
variety in his conversation.
have neglected to inform the
reader that l have an ugly scar run
ming from my left cheek bone down
to the corner of my mouth. 1t was
received when l was a boy, by my
falling from a barn lott upon q
scythe, which lay on the floor. The
wound healed, leaving a purple scar
upon my visage, and as l never had
any beauty to spare, this accident in
no wise improved my personal ap
pearance. AS evening drew on and
the lamps were lighted, l several
times detected Mr. Bales regarding
me with a peculiar stare There
was a look of pain aud unhappiness
in his countenance. that was at vari
ence with his previous rosy and un'
concerned dsneanor. After little
he moved his seat upon my right
side, and simultaneous with his act
unconsciously changed my attitude,
SO that | again turned my left cheek
to his view. Suddenly his counte
nance became very pale, and laying
his band upon my arm, he said:
pardon the request make, but !
will esteem it tavor if you sit with
your right side towards me-"
"Ah /! see | replied, "the lett
side OF my face Is lees repul-lve thsn
the right. Certainly" aud | turned
In my chair with a laugh
He seemed offended at my reply,
and while the blood mounted to biz
cheeks, he quickly corrected me.
81 sho Id be sorry to think thai
you could deem me capable of al
act of discourlesy. Believe me-
your tace has nothing in il that il
the leas' degree is repulsive to me
but that scar upon your cheek re
calls one of the most bitter epoch'
OF my life. So bitter, SO hopeless i.
the remorse, | feel, that weuld be
content when l some times lie dowr