Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-09-27
,,p.TIME "REMINISCENCES.


InTIME "REMINISCENCES.
travelling In Virginia and Kentucky,
in Early T,nes.
BY W. W.
pe occasion it was my fortune to
horseback trip from Big Sandy
Kanawha valley, across the coun-
d, as my time was rather limited,
Onstrained to ride after dark in
bn at that time altogether un-
and wild; and, worst of all in
for a night ride, one quite un-
to me. On the night in ques-
had gone on several miles after
the last cabin seen in the after
nd as the thick darkness came
Ike pail, preventing me in the
brest from even seeing the ground
rder my horses feet, to my dis
and perhaps dismay, I began to
deep mktering of thunder re-
by the mountain ranges in the
snce /; while SO rocky and rough
winding pathway along which
lhorse was stumbling that there
uch thing as hurrying him in the
of finding some place of shelter
night, and from the coming
urse, l blamed myself for not
lat the last cabin I had passed,
d tempting untried and wild
sths at that time of night, but
not help the case, and I could
% the reins on the neck of my
eed, and leave him to find his
some clearing" if such was
each, in time enough to escape
|m.
creeping along in this manner,
my horse sometimes stumbling
og or fallen tree and coming to
Is, at other times sliding down
INK, when, in the far distance,
I'd something that sounded
ban the muttering thunder to
st pest of those wild mountain
at that period-the scream of a
It came occasionally in short,
b quavers, making my horse
and fairly tremble under me
after hearing it once or twice,
assured when it seemed to grow
as if dying away in the distance.
ending altogether. But it had
effect of hurrying me forward
ever risk of possibly breaking
k, until at length l was satisfied
bad gotten into the bridle-patl
Is | came to an open piece o,
lhe crossing of q creek, appar
The faint reflection of the sur
spite the deep darkness. making
|y perceptible.
EOsing, of course, that it must b,
a. or regular crossing-place,
Faight across, and found mysel
opposite side in a tbicket o
bushes-I could feel them-bu
be couldn't climb up the steel
Thoroughly perplexed, and get
ervous as the heavy thunder
PAS rapidly coming closer and
desire to be caught out there il
ek, or even on its banks, 1 go
horse and down into the water
bdertook carefully to feel 70
racks, to see, if possible, how
tering the creek, they turned o.
it. Unable to satisfy myself
tried. in the deep dark
b ride down the bed of tn
but fifty yards or SO of experi
s | floundered in and out of dee
nd over sunken logs, satisfied m
Wouldn't do; SO, returning TO tn
ce more, fortunately sharp fias
ming showed me horse track
sort of path leading down tn
the creek on the same side
Z Hoached it; and finally q shar
n twenty minutes, as the light
smore frequent, enabled me t
clearing and a cabin, and to &c
q 70 and myself under shelter jus
!, Orm came down with the utmot
v lking me thankful enough tha
Y not caught me out in the dar
N That jaunt was one OF man
: periences, where 1 had, in tn
4 rest.paths, to trust the instinct
y orse for holding the right d
10 places of shelter, although
pyed-he was not capable {
\ off after getting clear OF th
\ nd into the bed Of the creek.
dropped in upon o settle
bill Short, who, late as it wa
htend to let me go supperle'
With q house full of childre'
y the one room below and IL
|ve it to accommodate the who
Ae was about the jolliest chap
~. @untered for many q day. La
40 N some strips OF dried veniso
soon made a sort of savory Ste
nd this, fanked by corn-dodge
up in the same handy way, al
onoy-for he had found a be
du Nw days before-left me nothil
for, besides this, milk suppll
,ps % Of coffee, to me always a FIJI
eshtute or alternative.
nd odging was not 80 easily mi
least there was no chance
10 sgt on the floor, with my sad
n llow and my saddle-blanket !
but it has always been o p
me where and how the gt
slowed away eight childr