The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-30

Fields was approaching. and an SUN
known quantity OF travel before me;
nor insist ON my patience and meekness
under the inflictions innumerable which
i endured. / had abundant opportunity
for their exercise, certainly, ana ior
manual exercise, too. 1t would nave
been entertaining to an uninterested
witness to see with what zeal and AMI
nation handled the mosquitoes.
At length, after various cheering calls
and exhortations TO have patience, the
men on the other side got their clumsy
craft into the river, and themselves into
IT.; and soon kind Of wide trough, or
box, was brought to the shore, and my
buggy, my horse and myself successive.
ly and successfully introduced. The
rough, hardy fellows who handled this
primitive water-craft, were not only
civil, but pleasant, kind and cheerful In
rendering the service. was soon on
the eastern bank, but not before my
friend Tom. Higgins had uttered yari-
Gus apologies for the delay. and censtires
against those who had sent me thither.
stAny man ought to be indicted that
would send traveller this way Tor
a ferry. hain't got no ferry at all, ana
don't live on any road, cause It's an
island, and the slough runs clear round
but l'll always help any poor fellow out
of scrape." He had already learned
that wished to 60 to DR.. Fields, and
the first instruction received was that
s'my nag must be fed, for it was arter-
noon." So was ushered into the house
with a welcome. "Polly you must git
this man some dinner, for it'll be night
afore he gifts to the DOCTORS, II he gifts
there at all tonight. And me and the
boys'll 90 TO the slough and git the boats
ready, and I'll be back agin he gifts his
dinner"
Dinner was prepared promptly and
cheerfully by. the young wife. thougnt
she might possibly be pretty, but could
not see distinctly on account OF some
sort of covering ON the face, wAether.
smoke or-what, l pretend not to say. 4
will not boast of the meal, though it was
abundant; but whether from my anxiety
or something else, l had not much appe-
tite. The host was not long absent. BY
the time had been at the table areason-
able time, he had returned and got my
horse ready; so we at once proceeded up
the river bank about a mile, higgins 60
ing before with strides that threatened
to leave me alone. When we arrived at
the slough, l found there were two ca
noes, one quite small and the other q
good deal smaller, in which my horse
and wagon, as well rs myself, were to be
ferried across the water. The question
rose naturally "How is this to be doneW
"Never you mind" said Tom, swell fix
it in no time" The horse was taken
from the buggy, the latter lifted down
.precipitous bank some feet, and laid on
vi fnr ttO
Meeting ties, and the wheels hanging In
the water like the paddles of steara-
boat. That safely landed, the canoes re-
turned, l was taken in one, ana my
morse not in but behind the other.
Here L resumed my inquiries as to the
road and distance, but nay friend Tom
was not done with me yet. 'IH go 'lOng,
up to Hindostan and show you, or else
you'll hardly lind it, cease there amt no
road at ALL"
Away we went, Tom before, clearing
away brush and logs for me for mile or
tw further, when we rose to the top of
the bluff-a heap OF sand, on which a
town had been "laid Off," and where
there was then an empty cabin. Strik-
ing out through an 'opening," not a
1clearing," but little nook of the
prairie, to a spot where it expanded to
and guide stopped. Pointing to a forest
over the prairie, he said:
"W ell, stranger, you see yander TIM
Der, don't your You must bear over to
that timber, but you must keep it on
your right, and so 60 on that way, up
along the timber, and when you get to
the head of IL, just keep round it, till
you come to a house. That's DR.. Fields;
the fllst you come to-"
"How far is it to the doctors2'
81 reckon it's about eight miles. l
reckon you can git there agin night; the
SUMS pretty smart up yet. No danger oi
tindin' it,"
"Well, my friend, how much am I in
your debt tor your troubleW
so, nothip at all, you're welcome"
"Well, but you've ierried me over and
given me my dinner, and fed my horse
in the bargain. / must pay my ferriage."
so, no. l don't charge nothin' for fer.
riage. don't keep no Terry, no how"
'sBut then you've been hard at work all
day for me, you and your hands. Surely
you can't afford to work for travellers
that way for nothing. had rather pay
You for your trouble"
IL don't want nothin," he insisted.
sBut if you're mind to give the sboys
somethin' to git tobacco with. you may,
l don't want a cent"
slow muchW
go, jist what you please"
"Will this be enough" showing dol
lar, with sort of feeling that my poYer-
ty was my only excuse for Offering SO
small a sum.
"No, mol amt gwine to take no sich
!. a thing. If you're mind to give 'em
two bits, you may, jist for the boys;
thatll be plenty"
So l made raise of two bits and de-
parted. Well, thought l, Judge Hall is
Justified in his story of somewhat SIM
liar event, and quite similar conduct Of
a Western frontier man. This man and
his two hired men have been at work for
my accommodation from the dawn of
day to the middle Of the afternoon, to
say nothing of the meal, aud refuse to
take more than a quarter of dollar for
it; and that, not Ior himself, but as a
gratuity to them. Here we have speci-
men of Western manners.
/ l nayigated the sandy prairie, as
trackless as the ocean (and almost as
billowy, in small way with gopher
hills in safety; ana it was not yet sun
set when came to the lonely habitation
of DIR. Field, and was entertained with
the elegant hospitality of high-bred
Virginia family.
The Screen Neckties."