The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-09
CHARYBDIS'S HUSBANDS.


none other than us. And slowing our
selves and our baggage therein, we started
on the road to Box Hill" road. SO called
by courtesy, but differing widely from the
legalized Institution known under that
name mt the North. 1t was n path, or
rather track. of the toughest description
through the pine woods, laid out, rs IL
were, by some wandering COW, winding
and turning rs she turned here to crop u
bush and there to avoid u fallen trunk, set
thickly with roots and stumps, aud swept
in places with the lower branches of the
trees. Luckily our vehicle had no top to
interfere with these, aud there was this
consolation for our jolts and bumps. that
each obstruction dislodged by our wheels
improved the road" for the next travel
Ter.
High over our heads rose the forest
giants. their soft feathery boughs meeting
TO clasp in spaces Of deep blue sky. The
dust below was brown with fallen needles,
which sent n fragrance up as we passed.
We were conscious OF a sound In the air
ike waves beating on shore, far of at
times, then drawing nearer. and surging
and roaring. till we looked, half expecting
to see the tide pour in and whelm the
world in sea. THIS strange sound was the
tale of the flood, which the pines have
murmured ever since the ark rested on
Mount Ararat, and the waters which COW
cred them were withdrawn. The violets.
trailing arbutus, aud wind-iowers grow
ing at their feet turned up fresh fair faces.
and seemed listening TO the sound, half
fearful, half fascinated. We listened too,
TIL gradually the spirit Of dreams took
poss ession of us, and we pursued our way
In happy silence.
Two miles, three, four, and we came
upon house set close to the forest edge
little brown house embowerod in vines
trailing over wide verandas, and standing
In yard which reminded us of IA florists
box. so full was IL, to the very edge, of
roses, creamy, red, yellow, white, and
hame-colored. This was Box Hill: for
there at the gate appeared dear Kate Car
roll and her husband, ready to give us
welcome. Behind them stood an old col
bred woman, erect anu dign.ited, with u
wonderful pose TO her turbaned head, aud
Rn expression of seli-satishrd repOse. In
the midst of our first kisses my eyes wan
dered toward This Hpparliion. whereon she
gave singular jump aud sldelong frisk,
smiling so rs TO reveal two rows OF gleam-
ing tee h, and exclaimed
Mlssy's the very picture OF Mars Ben
1amin what was here piece back. uowdy,
iulssyl"
WHO is thaty" l whispered, us we
walked up to the house.
That" answered Kate, "is Charybdis,
Baby's old nurse, GU know" Her eyes
took on that luminous and tar away look
winch i have noticed III other mothers'
eyes when they spoke of children that are
dead and for moment there was silence.
such droil, pretty httle house as It was,
draped outside with La Marque roses,
which topped the very cnlmneys, aud beat
On "ach window pane with ODD nttle plead
Ing taps which sounded like " take, take,
take or. AS the more romantic of us
Thought. like iteration Of the name of the
roses' fair mistress, Kate, Kate, Kate"
Take, take, We did. and that with uu par
lug hands, ANA ali day long. There never
seemed fewer buds or blossoms ON the vine
for all our guthel ing. 1t l. impossible 10
exhaust the riches " Il Carolina rose tree.
inside the house was ceiied and walled
with yellow pine, dark and glossy with
age. There were pictures, bronzes bits OF
old carved furniture, flowers every where.
In one corner Stood "A tall Dutch clock,
which chImcd each hour soue queer unk-
ing tune, exchanged on sundays Tor the
lOith Psaim. Inc whole was nt aud made
splendid 10y a fire OF u-ht wood-such
tire n Is the joy of the "piuy REGION" ANA
impossible to Northern CRATES, cnarm they
never 80 wisely with Gem nnlal lenders
aud brass andIions Only IN the South Is
light wood oDtaluable, ana II IS worth
gong thther 10 experience ITS glorious
s.nous ftIme.
Day after day. week after week, drifted
past Us at Box lllll. We grew iOnd OF the
quiet, eyenticss lie. OF the uninterrupted
scent OF roses hud rustic OF pines, the
peace and still Il eshners and rcposc Odr
81 cur cher alnustulcnls was old tharyb-
dis. She. Oh her part, pleased al our pref
erenCe, never missed a chance or excuse
tor u chat. Her favoIlte theme was Little
missy, the baby she mad tended so ialtn-
A.
a gay passed without some tale OF the
sweetness and Intelligence Of this lost dar-
huE.
II am afraid you would have spoiled
her mad she lNed," H saId one day.
thaiybdls drew herself up. Missis, |
never sphes Il child-never! / gives them
nj tney wants aud ali tn, II hearts desire.
never crosses them and spiles their DIS
positlOn-."
Her standard was perfection, and, like
most OF us, she kept II 10 measure Others
by. THIS principle applied conveniently
10 her dealings with ner own race. Sne
would rarely pay coloTed person Tor
dies, making or other work.
No, | don't pay Tor such no-account
sewing as that, | overheard her saying
one day. " Besides, you KEEP that drt 50
three weeks, and RECKON you've wore II
the worth OI the making; and now you're
so snucy about IT, III never pay you no.
how
one OF her most delightful traits was her
Use Ui language. she awaited herself OF
the most uithcult words with a Joyous
abandon, nothing lrrltated her 50 much rs
not Ocing able To comprehend what was
sali. The gOYeIlCas, u German, was much
out of her iuvOr On that account.
Them TOW Inns and InLInsils needn't talk
TO me. / don't like broken lauguages,
snc Ouid observe wInlutullY Al tongues
save English came under tllls cumprcncn-
slYe and CuHtt nptuous phrase, broken
languages English never presented the
SnSntest difficulty To her. recO.lect her
announcing tne census laktr as " The sensl-
tive mau, and ON another occasion say
ing OF couple OF gentlemen visitors,
"Inere they goes, walking Is II they
owned the WOrl! They walks ike gen
.rial,; ana IL they was generals, luey
Wuu4nu't be common generals; they Il be
Dil.-crtN -geuerIls!'
/ am sorry 10 add 10 this that our be-
loved LA y Ddl, nAd allings-anOns them
H,h,hc-iS, SO common tdult with black
sclN.n,s thai IL Is taken almost ~ "A matter
"a COURSE. OharN bids stole udruItly, ana
WIS seldom caught IA the act. When she
VA, nor explanations were Always read y,
ltudsh not AWAY probable.
" WAS u-taKlnE X INTO town to get ii
done up night clean, lOu know YOU L.
lnlguD par,lNeer to have Things cieau,"
enc said, one day, when detected win TIE
blacA!ug brush n her pocket. kltes sys-
TEN ON these OCCASIONS Was WAYS Inc