The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-05-15
The Old Battle Flag of the goth Ala
banla Infantry, Army of North
ern Virginia.
The Monument to the Confederate
Dead The Sacrifice Of u Noble
Spirit in Behalf of COnsti-
tutiOnal Liberty.
The Masonic Temple.
SELMA. ALA. 1880,


Sweeping through the prairies 0
Central Alabama at early dawn, tn
traveller looks out upon a country a
: beautiful as ever fell upon the vision
of mortal man. Cultivated fields, lik,
a garden; the young and tender corn
and the thickly strewn cotton, not ye
chopped out, covers the soil-black al
the clows that wing past on theiI
errands of destruction.
A trip from Meridian to Selma is {
WEAKNESS to the flesh. The passenger
coach hitched on to twelve or fifteer
freight cars, goes humping and jolting
along, throwing you from one position
to another, and occasionally landing
you on the opposite seat with force
that reminds you that you are either
off the track or have bumped against
something that has certainly unsettled
your equilibrium.
1t was after one of these severe
bumpings that your correspondent sat
up, having vainly given over all pros
pect of nap. Did you ever look over
a passenger coach at early dawn ?
Opposite me, stretched full length,
with his satchel under his head, rest
lcssly slept a tired drummer. Only
the day before he had worked up
Meridian. After hard days solici-
tation, with very few orders, he had
taken the , o'clock freight and pas
senger train for Selma, distance about
1l5 miles, but which consumes nearly
nine hours time. And yet there are
folks that say railroads do not need
legislating on. These people do not
travel. But these reflections do not
disturb my tired drummer. He
dreams l see a cloud pass over his
face! A letter has been received by
his employer. Only a small order
for two or three sacks of coffee, bar
rel OF mOlasses or a hogshead of sugar
with postscript business is very
dull" Ha! he sees him dash it to the
poor shipping clerk, frowning and
to himself: "poor salesman!
if l were on the road l could sell
goods" and with a self-satisfied air he
lolls back into his easy cushioned
chair, and resumes his morning paper,
with his head wreathed amid the
smoke that gracefully curls from his
fragrant Havana. Again the face of
our travelling friend resumes its won't
ed composure, and gentle snort ad-
nonishes us that the troubles of life, |
with him, are stepped in oblivion.
Hark he dreams again. A smile
gently sweeps over his face-he nears
jhe confines of the distant city. The
rain halts, and with satchel in hand
le leaves the coach, and directs his
teps to vine-clad cottage, far off in
he suburbs of the noisy city. A little
,irl, with silken curls comes tripping
'ut to meet him, and the mother and
hid are soon encircled in the arms of
he loving father. Disturbed by the
ream, he rises up as the conductor
asses along, and anticipating re-
ital to this over sympathetic friend
f the drummer, of the beautiful
ision that has just passed before him,
strain listening ear, and hear in
ccents altogether unsympathetic:
Mr.. Conductor, where do we take
reakfast ?"
On a seat in front Of me sat an old
ian, seemingly weak and much over
1me by the nights travel. By his
de sat young girl, and her whole {
,ul seemed absorbed in her anxiety
+ her fathers comfort. AS looked
pom the devotion of that young girl,
was reminded of an incident read !
any years ago. | think it was Miss Z
-ulbach, the German authoress, who l
i've a beautiful description Of the self {
.crificing devotion of a young girl to @
r. aged father. \ vessel was cross 5
G the ocean, and among the pas 1
ngers was an old. man bent with age i
I'd infirmities. He was accompanied \
7 young and beautiful girl, his i
lighter. During the passage the L
Gather had been pleasant, and every h
orning the daughter, with her face a
-eathed in smiles, would lead the old o
an upon the deck, and seating him n
an easy chair, would devote the G.
'urs to his entertainment, either is
lding to him or pointing out some il
the wonders of the mighty deep e
at would occasionally unfold them L
ves to view. The passengers look 6
upon them with admiration, and al
me would try to withdraw her from W
T attentions to her father, in the p'
pc Of giving her some relief and re- m
sation. But their effoIts were un- sc
ailing. Her supreme delight SEEM fl
TO be in anticipating The wants of
T parent. M
)ne evening the sky began to be Al
arcast with clouds, lighted up oc- I'll
iionally by some broad belt of fire, III
then a deep muttering sound Of OF
tant thunder would wind itself on
lrer and nearer, growing louder Sc
| louder, until the very heavens tn
med to jar with the heavy rever- II