Middletown transcript., 1877-09-22
-. 80. nla. 81 : 80 ooneh.

8 RA@rY ~ 4tYeH NV = = 8
the War; Hale & Son, New York,
1872 Its understood to be from the
pen Of a gifted lady Of Virginia, wife
kofaa Episcopal clergyman and mem
ber Of a family connection widely
known and esteemed. H8A8
i The humorous extract below strikes
us not as unworthy of Dickens:
1--WE left Winchester in the stage
coach for Strasburg, at 10 o'clock at
night, IN tie 18th u Decehbsf, 1861.
The weather was bitter cold, and
we congratulated ourselves that the
coach was not crowded. Mr.. MeC.
and the girls we're on the back seat, q
letho cleF nan, soldier and
myself, on the middle, and two soldiers
and our main Betsy on the front seat.
We went off by starlight, with every
prospect bf d pleasant drive Of eight
Reen miles.
AS we were leaving the suburbs Of
the town, the driver drew up before a
small house, from Nhieb Issued two
women with a baby, two baskets, sew
erai bundles and a box The passen-
gers began to shout out, go on, dri-
Yer !. what do you mean There's no
room for another; go on" The driver
madame answer, -but-the Women
came to the coach door and began to
put in their bundles. The gentlemen
protested tAatlthey could not get in-
there was no room. The woman with
the baby said she would get in; she
was eagwine to Strasburg to spend
Christmas with her relations, whar she
was born apd raised, and whar she had
not been for ten years, and nobody had
d better right to the stage than she had
and she was agwine, and Kitty Grim
was agwine too-she's my sister-in-law
and 50 IS baby, cause baby never did
see her relations in Strasburg in her
ife.5 $50, Uncle Ben p she exclaimed
to the driver, ''take my basket and
box with yoay and me and Kitty and
BABY and Tie BanHla and ne elittle
viii 81 inside
All this was said amidst violent pro
from the men within: "You
can't get in; driver, go on" But, suit
ag the actionito the word. she opened
he door calling, aCome, Kitty" got
u the step and thrust her head in,
iIyinga iTfthess gentlemen is gen
lemens ana mas gYb an PYiItssz1l5's
hey Win get out and set with Uhcle
Ben apdslet lsdies come inside. m A
,ause ensued. At last a subdued tone
rotd thg soldier Oh the middle seat was
card to say, MADAM, if you FiIl get
f the step, I win get Out."
lstVery we'll sir; and why din't you
az that at first HndRow, said she,
boxing at man on the front seat,
thars Z Another seat BY UneIe Ben
posen you get out and let Kitty Grim
ave your seat; she's bound to 60"
NE poor man quietly got put, without
aging word, but the very expression
+ his bicIg ASIA edt)ouF Sf the coach,
ras subduedi NOV Kitty get in,
nd bring the little basket and them
Fo bundles they won't poster the
ldy much" The dconWas closed, and
leh, he scene being over, the passen-
ers shouted with laughter.
0uf heroine remained perfectly pas !
ye.nRtil We get tO THE picket post, q !
Ii1e from town. The driver i've Il stopped,
soldier came up for passports. She !
as thahd derstfhck . I gPasasI paEses I
r white folksl ! never heard Of such
thing. 8 4 ain't got 20 pass nuthsf
Kitty Grim" ] suggested to her to L
aeP qqiet as the .beshpolicYa Just at F
~ time Tennessee soldier had to p
,nfess that he had forgotten to get f
lssport on cant 60 on, Oh said the !,
6eiaI, and the soldier got out. e
Presently the woman's turn came Il
Madam, your passport, if you -blease.S g
"T amt got none nuther is Kitty b
rim Chats my sister-in-law, and We p
MT agwine to get out nuther, cause P
e's going to Strasburg 10 spend Christ E
as with my relations, and ! ain t been s
ere for ten years, and / never heard b
white folks having passesH le
"But, madam began the official Il
You needn't but madam me, cause C,
amt agwine to get out and I'd Ike G.
isee the man who would put me out, ii
ais is a free country, and Use agwine h
strasburg tonight, 30 you might, IS ia
IL take your lantern out Of my face II
"But madam, my orders" began the dl
cket. a
aDon't tellme nothing bout ordsrs
don't care nothing bout orders and q
u needn't think, cause The Tennes lie
} man got out that f'se glwsiiine to get th
-'causeI amt. Ain't I got three hi
rs in the army, Q great sight larger Of
an you is, and they ct at Manassas, hs
d they amt no towards, nuther d hi
III mother, and I amt agwine to gef wi
Of this stage this night, but I'm th