Democratic messenger., 1881-10-15
ABOUT TERRAPIN.

>
the home of the terrapin-that was
thirty-four years ago, and still people
in those DAYS thought they were scarce,
| have heard an old inhabitant say
Me and my boy used to 60 out to
the salt marshes of mornings, before
the sun was we'll up, and catch one,
two, and three dozen at any time,
real diamond backs. Wkat | didn't
eat | used to send to Baltimore or Nor
folk, and if | got 20 cents apiece for
/ them | thought | was we'll paid" 1t
: happened once, in I84o, as long ago
as that, that | was first mate of sugar
ibrig, AMI we were bound for Baltimore
land got becalmed for a whole day in
Chesapeake Bay, some forty-six miles
, from Cape Charles. We had not a
rough but mighty slow voyage from
Cuba, and we nau cut so quick from
) Havana on account Of Yellow Jack,
just then a-breaking out there, that we
hadn't time to look much as to stores.
We weren't short, but what we had
was poor food and no change in it
Just where we hove 10, because there
was strong tide running, | saw par
Gel of darkies a-hshing, and | hailed
'em. We were not more than short
mile from shore. They were a Span
:sh mackerel fishing. They told me
they were fishing for their master, who
lived on plantation, whose house was
just on the shore. | wanted to stretch
my legs badly, as did the captain and,
as there would be no chance OF making
head against the tide before sundown,
we thought We would go ashore and
have chat and get a sight Of some
papers. So the captain and me and
one of the crew took boat, and the
darkies having pointed out 20 us their
masters house, we made for shore
Just in case of need, we had a basket
put on board with something in it. 1t
might have been hard tack, some lem.
ons, and bottle of Santa Cruz, which
latter thing we knowed would be as
good as letter of introduction. Now,
it happened that the third day out we
had come across an English ship short
of provisions, and we had sent them
some beef and bread which they paid
us for and quite politely their captain
had given 10 our old man couple of
bottles OF port and sherry, and one
bottle of that port had put in the
basket. We soon got ashore and had
no difficulty in finding the house. A
fine looking old gentleman dh ssed in
nankeens met us and received us in the
most polite way. Wouldn't we, stay
for dinner and make ourselves general
ly at home ?" he asked. We kind of
introduced ourselves as belonging
the vessel out in the bay, and soon
were quite sociable. 81 don't apollo.
gize." says he, for what am going
10 give you for dinner. 1t will be q
chicken or two, and there is green corn
and tomatoes and Spanish mackereI
and terrapin." "Terrapin ! " says
"Oh !" Maybe you amt fond of it p
says he. Amt ~" says l. "Oh -
, says he, "we kind of get sick of then
here. At about this time of tire year,
August, it's terrapin all the time The
sea meadow there just swarms will
them. The negroes get SO tired o
them that they won't touch them.-
{ Then again l make no excuse, gentle
men, but seasons have been bad-to
bocco is almost drug, and terrapiI
amt much without wine, and my stocl
g is used up. | don't say but what will
good wine on 'em they are more O
: less palatable." " And what's the win,
: you ought to use ?" asked. Z" Well,
{ said he. There's 80 been more dispu
ting about that question what kind o
wine you ought to use-than anything
/ else My father, who was great OIL
!, precedents, used to differ with m,
Il mother on that topic. 1t seems pretty
c certain that in General Washington
/ time, it used to be, on the Virgini
i side, port wine, and sherry, and m.
4 grand mother. who was Carter, use'
I to say port wine was right If ha,
any port wine l would have Melinda
I that my cook serve them for yol
that way"
cts quite possible" says |. Jim
says |, calling to our man, who wa
lounging around with the basket, let
see the contents of that ere," and
hauled out bottle of port, for so it wa
a labelled. That old Maryland planter
q eyes just cleaned. q Amt it pity,
!, said he, % to waste it on a terrapin ?
Z" No." says the captain, for there
: more of it aboard, and, Jim, you G
: and fetch that other bottle of port
It's in the mates locker, | suppose.
,e But the Maryland man would not thin
of it. Half the bottle will do" sal
he, eyeing it, "and there will b
enough left to wash down the terrapi
with" But Jim was off at word
the captain, and in about an hour
I came back with the other bottle. o.
;, captain was moderate man, though
: and not given 10 liquor.
"You wouldn't object" says /, ''l
i my going to the kitchen and SEER
Melinda and learning how to cook te
Q rapin's in good old Maryland style
{ For just as early as that | was of ;
inquiring mind.
- Mn bit of II :" saws he HAI