The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-04
pump-handle, which did more work that
afternoon than in half dozen days

pump-handle, which did more work that
afternoon than in half dozen days
washing.
Creak-creak-creak But the tar
only became harder and harder, until I.
was encased in sheet-armor, like the fa-
nous Black knight. Presently, my;
cousin Jenny, an especial friend of mine,
hearing such continual pumping, and be-,
coming anxious for the family supply of
water, came out to see what was the mat
ter. Seeing small figure curled up un-
der the spout of the pump, drenched to
the skin and black as 0thello, she stopped
down to investigate the phenomenon.
Oh, what was my despair when she dis.
covered who it was, and in what plight !!
To say she laughed would be 10 give a
feeble idea of the peals of laughter that
succeeded each other as she+stood and
looked at me.
She would try to control her merriment
for moment, only to break forth afresh,
until she was obliged to sit down from
sheer exhaustion. Every time she glanc.
ed at my woe-begone countenance, and
drenched condition, she would 60 into
fresh commissions of fun. AT last she
recovered breath enough to inquire into
my case, and to assure me woulddo what
she could for me; but she sooE found, to
my despair, that what she could do was
not much to my relief. The clothes
could not be got off, and certainly they
could never be got clean. She did man
age, with strong pair Of shears, to cut
off the pockets in my breeches,and then,
fearing my mother would be alarmed,
she bade me go home, and she would
promise to secure me against a whip.
ping.
l fancy she thought this last promise
would be easily kept.
Somewhat comforted, l took up my
line of march toward the paternal
roof, but as went along, my heart be-
gan to sink again; visions of rod. with
which my not too sanity character had
made me somewhat familiar, looned up
before me but worse than all, the
thought of my brothers. ridicdle made
my sensitive spirit quail. thought l
would evade all for that night, however,
by going quietly up the back stairs,
going to bed, and playing sick" For
tune favored me. Preached the bedroom
without being seen ). and just, asI was,
with my hat on, for itaconld sonlYshaye
come OF wild. my scalp,E got into bed,
and covered myself entirely up with the
bed-clothes. It was now dusk, and |
felt for the moment quite safe. Present.
iy' my aunt came into the room to get
something for which, she was looking,
and could hear her give several inquir:
ing sniffs, and as she went out I heard
her say:'" az certainly. do smell tar;
where can it come from ?" An interval
of peace followed, and then in came my
mother. "Tar7 Smell tar? Of course
you do; it's strong enough in this room,
Bring light"
1t was the sound Of doornl
Ny mother soon came close up to the
bed, and held the light so that it fell fuH
upon me as she tried to turn down the
bed.clothiDg. Probably, if it.had not
been for several previous scrapes in
which I had been involved, she would
have been much frightened but as i
was, theeighk of hersyoppg blackamooF
bad much3 tEe saie5sfact upon her jag
upon my cousin. Her EXPLANATIONS and
shrieks, OF, laughter brought every member
| Of the iho9sehold successfully TO the
room, and as one after another camefn,
fresh. zest seemed to be given to the mer.
riment of which I was the unfortunate
victinf. 0ftI
But every renewal of the fun was an
added agony to me, for clearly foresaY
that it would be rehearsed by Jack and
Tom to all the boys in the peighborhood,
Besides this, was not in g condition tq
be hilarious. Plastered with tar from
head to foot; streaming with preparation
at every pore my clothes drenched
my hair matted together, and my straw
hat; soaked with water, fastened upon it,
and falling limp and wet about my eyes ;
I was not rendered more comfortable by
the fact that I could not move without
taking pillow and bed-clothes with. h.me,
es, n my desperate desire TO conceal
myself from view, / had becume enwrap-
ped in the. e.bed5clothing like q caterpillar
Sin its chysalis !; and z was conscious OF
q dim fear That if I Sat up, with. the
pillow stuck fast on the top of my hat,
the sight of me mig ght produce fatal re,
suits upon the already exhausted family.
at last the point was reached where ]
thought patiepce, ceased to be a virtue,
and I rebelled against being any ao1ger
made spectacle.
I declared if they would all 60 away
but mother, would tell her all about it.
The crowd retired, commissioned to send
up crock of butter, tub of hot water,
and-,a pairof shears: Maternal love- is
-strong, but.doubt if twas often put TO q
severer test of its long-suffering than was
that of my mother that night.
Suffice it to say that, after my clothes
had been cut to ribbons, the sheets torn
up, my head we'll nigh shaved, and my
whole person subjected first 10 an Afri-
can bath Of melted butter, and after
ward to one of hot soap-suds, I had had
my fill of bathing for one day, and was,
shortly before midnight, pronounced TO
be tolerably clean. :.
P. ST. never made any marbles of
coal-tar.-&. Nicholas for July.
The Wilderness Campaign.