The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-04
OIL VINO. S

families secretly sympathzcd with the
South, the large city OF Wilmington, and
the other railroad towns, had imported
| enough Northern workmen 10 turn the clec-
| rlons SO, while the Bayards locally pro-
n)unced 'By-ards) } decidedly opposed cocr-
cion, they also opposed secession. -
On the next morning | babe aGieu 10 the
G-s, and n, my last acquaintance, and
set out tramping down the Delaware in the
vague hope OF finding, at some of the small
ports, Southward-t hound vessel, whcreon |
could secure passage IN exchange for per
sonal service Not until after the war did |
learn that my Wilmington friends followed
me for several miles Il make sure Of my
getting safely out OF town, as my appearance,
they considered 'suspiciously Southern
and the land was filled with spies
The early morning was delightful The
road ran along the beach of the broad river
with scores of white sailed vessels plough;ng
along under a fresh breeze within stones
throw of me, as | walked while on the
other side of the highway were a succession
OF immense peach orchards loaded with de
llcious fruit, which has given this whole re-
gion the title Of The Great American
Peachery'
But the sun grew oppressive ere New
Castle was reached, ard the sandy little
town seemed SO uninyiting that | did not
dare to stop lest a gruff rebuff should bring
discouragement ere the long and perilous
journey were scarce begun.
Nine miles farther down the river was the
little village Of Delaware City, directly op-
poslte to that mass Of granite on an island in
mld-stream, which was soon to become ever
infamous as Fort Delaware" Little did
dream that within only about three years
hence | should be cooped with 1900 9TH
er suffering Southcrners on the sIimey
Pea Patch,'' longing for even a glimpse of
the green fields of Delaware City!
LUCKY MIsHAP.
AS nothing could be done on the Delaware,
[ decided to strike across the State, (this
sounds large, but the State is sma) to the
head of the Chesapeake Bay By this time
l had learned my unfltneSs for the vocation
Of tramp. Although an hungercd, | dare
not ask for food was thirsty. but dreaded
the big dog at the well: and was wearied al
most TO exhaustion by the eighteen miles of
udging IN deep sand under midsummer
sun, yet could not stop. Ny satche Oct no
man call it ''carpet-bag - had grown
heavy as lead, aud pair OF tight-ittin
thln-sOlej hgh-hceIed boots proved first
class Purgatorial contryaDce in such a cOun-
agreed 20 allow me to ride few miles for a
consideration. disbursed another quarter
and fell into deep scep upon his grain sacks.
Inereupon the Rascal, seeing that | was un-
used to such travel, took the idea that | also
was rogue. flying from justice. lie
therefore turned his team and had carried
me SIX miles toward town when | awoke,
and CHANGED to recognise a peculiar barn
near crossroads | had passed earlier IN the
day. After some remonstrance, L seized my
satchei. and stout stick. and sprang over the
rear board of the wagon He was not IS
courageous as he was rascally and did not at
tempt to stop me. 1t was only by the rarest
accident that | recognized the ground, for
ordinarily walked along looking neither 10
right or left, and might have been carried
directly into the camp Of the enemy without
it.
A GOOD SAMARITAN.
Fearful of pursuit, | took the first turn
off to the left, and hobbled for several miles
as rapidly as possible, considering the condi
ton of my feet which were swollen until
each step was a battery Of needle-thrusts.
This torture became unbearable. The boots
were cut in pieces to get them off: t. put
them on again would have required a COM
pressing machine. The only resource was
to spend two or three hours bathing the in
famed members In rlvulet
While thus engaged, l was startled by
yruff voice saying-''Who are you?' 4
big man with big club had emerged from
he bushes Immediately behind me.
'Oh, am all right said !, with des-
oerate attempt to look as dangerous as he.
Well, said the Good Samaritan, for
such he proved to bel kinder thought
rou mought be in trouble, you've been sit