The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-07-20

HUSBANDS.

~CHARYBDIS'S HUSBANDS.
1t was during that exquisite half hour
which separates sunsetting and twilight
that the slowly moving Charleston train
intermitted its deliberate progress to set
us down atthc valley station. We were
the only passengers to- alight, so the
roomy wagon which stood waiting could
be for zone other than us. And stow
ing ourselves and II 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 ut the
North. II wasa path, or rather track, of
the toughest descriptions through the
pine woods, laid out, as it were, by some
wandering COW, winding and turning
rs she turned here to crop Il bush and
there to avoid a fallen trunk, set thickly
with roots and stumps, anil swept in
places with the lower branches of the
trees. Luckily, our vehicle had no TOP
to interfere with these, and there wa,
this consolation for our jolts and bumps,
that each obstruction dislodgcd by oui
wheels improved the ''road" for tn,
next traveller.
High over our heads rose the forest
giants, their soft fcathery boughs meet,
ing to clasp in spaces of deep blue sky
The dust below was brown with fallel
needles, VIII ch sent II fragrance up u,
we passed. We were conscious of /,
sound in the air like waves beating on
Il shore, far off ut times, then drawing
nearer, and surging and roaring, til
we looked, half expecting to see the
tide pour in and wnelm the world il
sea. This strange sound was the tale
of the flood, which the pines have muir
INJURED ever since the ark rested OF
Mount Ararat, and the waters which
covered them were withdrawn. Tn,
v~iolcts, trailing arbutus, and wind
flowers growing at their feet turned VI
fresh fair faces, and seemed listening t,
the sound, half fearful, half fascinated
We listened too, till radually the spiri
Of dreams took possession of us, and W.
pursued our way in happy silence.
Two miles, three, four, and we cam
upon "a house set close to the forcs
edgG-a little brown house embowereC
in vines trailing over wide verandas
and standing in u yard which reminded
the very edge, of roses, creamy, red
yellow, white, and f~iame-colored. Thi
was Box Hill for there ut the gate mp
peared dear Kate Carroll and her hus
band, ready to give us welcome. BE
hind them stood an old colored woman
erect and dignilied, with a wonderful
poise to her turbaHcd head, and an eS
preston of self-satisiicd repose. In tn
midst of our first kisses my eyes wan
dered toward this apparition, wherco
she gave a singular jump and sidelon
frisk, smiling SO as to reveal two row
Of cleaning teeth, and exclaimed:
"Missy's the very picture of Mar
Benjamin what was here a piece bach
Howdy, missyP"
"Who is thatP" / whispered us W
walked up to the house.
"That," answered Kate, sis Charyl
dis, Baby's old nurse, you know" He
eyes took on that luminous and far ava
look which | have noticed in otht
mothers eyes when they spoke of chi
dren that are dead; and for a momel
there was silence.
Such a droll, pretty little house as
was, drapcd outside with La Marqr
roses, which topped the very chimney
and beat on each window pane wit
odd little pleading taps which soundc
like stake, take, take" or, as the mo
romantic of us thought, like ~iteratiC
of the name of the roses fair mistres
n skate, Kate, Kate" Take, take, v
did, and that with u~nsparing hand
and all day long. There never seem,
fewer buds or blossoms on the vine +
all our gathering. 1t is impossible
exhaust the riches Of n Carolina 70
tree. Inside, the house was ceiled a,
walled with yellow pine, dark al
glossy with age. There were pictur
Il bronzes, bits of old carved ~furnitul
flowers everywhere. In n corn
stood a tall Dutch clock, which chin
each hour some queer tinkling tur
exchanged on Sundays for the loi
II Psalm. The whole was lit and ma
splendid by a fire of light wood-su
afire as is the joy of the "piny region
and impossible to Northern graf
charm they so wisely with c.
tennial tenders and brass adirons. Or
in the South is light wood obtainab
and it is worth going thither to expe
ence its glorious resinous flame.
L Day after day, week after week, dri
ed past vi at Box Hill. We grew TO
of the quiet, eyentless life, of the un
t%errupted scent of roses and rustic
pines, the peace and still freshness a
repose. One of our chief amusemel
was old Charybdis. She, on her pa
pleased at our preference, never mis-.
q chance or excuse for a chat. Her
vorite theme was "little Missy"
| baby she had tenlel so faithfnlly n