American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-22
CHARYBDIs's HUSBANDS,

CHARYBDIS'S HUSBANDS,
1t was during that exquisite half houl
which separates sunsetting and twilight
that the slowly moving Charleston train
intermitted its deliberate progress to sci
us down at the valley station. We were
the only passengers to alight, SO the
roomy wagon which stood waiting could
be for none other than us. And stow
ing ourselves and our baggage therein.
we started on the road to Box Hill
''road, !" SO called by courtesy, but diff
fering widely from the legalized institu-
ton known under that name at the
North. TWAS path, or rather track, OF
the toughest description through the
pine woods, laid out, IS it were, by some
wandering COW, winding and turning
as she turned here to crop a bush and
there to avoid fallen trunk, set thickly
with roots and stumps, and swept in
places with the lower branches of the
trees. Luckily, our vehicle had no top
to interfere with these, and there was
this consolation for our jolts and bumps,
that each obstruction dislodged by our
wheels improved the sroad' for the
next traveller.
High over our heads rose the forest
giants, their soft feathery boughs meet
ing to clasp in spaces of deep blue eky.
The dust below was brown with fallen
needles, which sent a fragrance up as
we passed We were conscious of a
sound in the air like waves beating on
a shore, far off at times, then drawing
nearer, and surging and roaring, till
we looked, half expecting to see the
tide pour in and wnelm the world in
sea- This strange sound was the tale
of the food. which the pines have muir
INJURED ever since the ark rested on
Mount Ararat, and the waters which
covered them were withdrawn. The
violets, trailing arbutus, and wind
flowers growing at their feet turned up
fresh fair faces, and seemed listening to
the sound, half fearful, half fascinated.
We listened too, till gradually the spirit
OF dreams took possession of us, and we
pursued our way in happy silence.
Two miles, three, four, and we came
upon house set close to the forest
edgo-a little brown house EMPOWERED
in vines trailing over wide verandas,
and standing in a yard which reminded
us of florists box, so full was it, to
the very edge, of roses, creamy, red,
yellow, white, and f1ame-colored. This
was Box Hill; for there at the gate ap-
peared dear Kate Carroll and her hus.
band, ready to give us welcome. Be-
hind them stood an old colored woman,
erect and dignifed, with a wonderful
poise to her turbaaed head, and an ex.
preston of sef-satisfied repose. In the
midst of our first kisses my eyes wan,
dered toward this apparition, WHEREOF
she gave singular jump and sidelone
frisk, smiling SO as to reveal two rows
Of cleaning teeth, and exclaimed:
Missy's the very picture of Mars
Benjamin what was here piece back
Howdy, missy?"
"Who is thata" Whispered as We
walked up to the house.
"That," answered Kate, sis Charyb
dis, Baby's old nurse, you know" Hel
eyes took on that luminous and far away
look which I have noticed in othel
mothers' eyes when they spoke of chill
dren that are dead; and for a momen
there was silence.
Such droll, pretty little house as i
was, draped outside with La Marqu,
roses, which topped the very chimneys
and beat on each window pane will
odd little pleading taps which sounded
like stake, take, take" or, as the NOR
romantic Of US thought, like Iteration
of the name of the roses fair mistress
"Kate, Kate, Kate" Take, take, W,
did, and that with unsparing hands
and all day long. There never seemed
fewer buds or blossoms on the vine fol
all our gathering. 1t is impossible t.
exhaust the riches of Carolina ros.
tree. Inside, the house was ceiled ano
walled with yellow pine, dark ant
glossy with age There were pictu1 es
flowers everywhere. In one corne
stood a tall Dutch clock, which chimet
each hour some queer tinkling tune
exchanged on Sundays for the 1O4tl
Psalm. The whole was Lit and mad
splendid by fire of light wood-sucI
afire as is the joy of the "piny region,
and impossible to Northern CRATES
charm they never so wisely with Cen
tennial tenders and brass adirons. Onll
in the South is light wood obtainable
and it is worth going thither to expert
ence its glorious resinous flame.
Day after day, week after week, drift
ed past us at Box Hill. We grew fonc
of the quiet, eventless life, of the unin
terupted scent of roses and rustic o.
pines, the peace and still freshness anC
repose. One of our chief amusement
was old Charybdis. She, on her part
pleased at our preference, never missed
a chance or excuse for a chat. Her ia
vorite theme was "little Missy" the
baby she had tended so faithfully anc
SO deeply mourned, and scarcely day
passed without some tale of the sweet
ness and intelligence of this lost darling
." am afraid you would have spoiled
her had she lived" said one day
Charybdis drew herselfup. "Missis
never spiles a child-neyer! give