Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-31
A MISSISSIPPI ROMANCE.
How Captain Asbury was Recognized By
One Of Hts Bene aciaries.


the Minneapolis for a ride up the Mis-
sissippi. Four OF us girls, and unat
tended by gentleman. Afraid? MOI
much, for we had heard of the real good
natured Captain Asbury down below. ]
don't mean down below referred to in
the new version, but on the lower river.
This is his first season ON the upper
river, and to make long story short he
is just lovely; one OF the girls thinks
him really handsome. I, for my part,
liked his brown faced, robust look, in
dicating experience on the mighty river
whose waters lave the jetties and 80
far beyond the gulf. Well, Captain
Asbury has had experience ON the Mis-
sissippi - thirty years river mariner
just think of it-three decades-and
ia that time what wonders have taken
place; the civil war that shook and
shocked the world, but all is peace
again, and with it came the telephone,
electric light and thousand other in
ventions for mans comfort and happi-
ness. And during that thirty years
Captain Asbury has seen The Mississippi
change as he has q child from the
cradle up. He has seen islands grow
almost spontaneously out of the water,
and in season or two, as it were, Gov
cred with large trees; he his traversed
the channel on one side of the river
one year and compelled to seek safety
for his boat on the other side the next
year. Wonderful, isn't it | But it
plainly tells us that all things OF this
earth change and which sdmonishes us
to be good
Last evening the weather was de-
Iightfully cool, the stars shone brightly,
the north star Just ahead of US as the
proud steamer fioated along its serpen-
tine course, while the large black
bluffs loomed up like sentinels OF pro-
lection, and their peaks seemed to
crush the angry clouds from the west,
as If exertiDg themselves to head off an
impending rainstorm, and perhaps a
young cyclone. We girls were all
seated around the captain, as if craving
his protection, and we were delighted
with the yarns he was telling us about
this great river. Interested? I guess
We were. We didn't care a fig for the
gayety going on in the cabin, although
the inspiring music of the waltz occa.
sionally arrested our attention, and for
moment lose the thread of the cap
tain's story. Seated near us was lady
and her daughter, about nineteen years
old. She, too, was listening to Cap
tain Asbury's yarns. They were about
his adventures on the river, his trials
and tribulations, his joys and sorrows.
"About eighteen years ago." he said,
"when was running between ST. Louis
and Keokuk, there came on the boat at
Hannibal one of the most handsome
young women had seon in all my life.
She had little girl with her more
handsome than she was. The lady
came up to me, for she was lady, and
asked me to take her to Keokuk, as
she desired to go to Burlington TO her
friends, and that she had not cent in
the world with which to pay her fare.
Her pleading eyes were too much for
mine, and bade the clerk consign her
to ssateroom as il was in the night.
The boat--was delayed by heavy fog,
and we were compelled to Icy to at the
bank until long after daylight. The
lady approached, and thanked me ever
so much, and told me that she was the
wife Of Confederate captain who had
been shot and killed by party ofscouts
or guerillas, her home had been robbed
and burnt and she, with her child, sue
ceeded in fleeing from the scene of
carnage, and was the next day brought
to Hannibal by kind farmer, in whose
house she had sought protection.
Girls, that womsn's story and wrongs
and suffering made my heart softer. I
know it did, and 1 put my band into
my pocket and gave her a $40 green
back. for I thought she needed it,
Well. I haven't seen or heard OF her
since, but I hope she is happy, and that
little girl of hers handsome grown
up woman" The lady who was listen.
ing to the captains little story, arose
from her chair, and. taking the hand of
her daughter. approached the captain,
saying "Yes; we are both happy, and
I will have you judge about the good
looks Of the grown up daughter, for
here she is" Captain Asbury stood mp
as II struck as dumb as the fellow who
caused the maiden to hurl herself of
yonder rock, for we were near
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