St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-11-02
A Southern Rip Van Wrinkle,

] new OIk l ilDuut. uettInllueu u
make Il part of the journey on horse
back for the benefit of my health.
was unacquaimted with the country,
and so WAS the clergyman with whom
| spent Il night soon after | started
| However, he produced an ancient map
and by its aid chose the "BOttoms
road from Andalusia to Greenville,
Il distance of eighty-three miles, ac-
cOrding to the same well-meaning
| guide. ! had no idea that the bot
toms road was unused, until | had
ridden perhaps twenty miles and left
| the last cabin behind me. But the
weather was fine, and would not turn
back. When the first night came with
out the sight of II hahitatiOn, | tethered
my horse. and rolled myself in 4
blanket, and slept on the ground. All
the next day rode and saw not Il
house nor il human being. At .siN
o'clock, when had already made.ur
my mind to spend another night i'll
solitude. | came upon IL roadside camp
fire, beside which negro sat. OF all
colorcd men that have met, this one
was the fattest, grcasiest and happiest.
| He gave me bow as | stopped.
/ pObl tbtulu W Npu IlstNNl Il'
saluted. Good evening" | returned.
''Can you tell me how far | am from
the nearest house ?" "It's pow'ful
"And who lives there when you get
there ?" questioned, after vainly en-
deavoring to get the distance in miles,
or III least in length of time. sole
mars. he lib der - was the answer 4;
and further questioning elected the in
| formation that sole mars was an
other name for Mars George Wiltsie,
| that | was then on the border of his
plantation that his residence was sew
rral miles distant; that the negro was
| yclcpt ''Sam :" that he resided with
sole mars and that he "was down
dis way 'Splorin' to see if dar couldn't
| he timber cut in dis Seckun.' ! was
soon camping 10y his fire, with my
| horse feeding near by ON the grass.
In ten minutes made up my mind
| that "Sam" was the most ignorant OF
| Africans. Could he tell me how far |
| had travelled since the Yesterday morn
| inr? He had no idea. How far tn
! the next turn Didn't know; never
! heard of il next turn. How far to the
nearest neighbor? Didn't 'pect that
! there was any nearest neighbOr now.
! Mars Pelton used to be the nearest,
but his house was burned these dozen
years. After many other questions.
! the answer to each leaving me more
and more convinced of the creatures
| ignorance, he began to praise Mr.. Wilt
sic, concluding with "De hes mas'I
| i'm Alaham', Ncbbcr selled any of us
/ - III al .,n
tinue living with him the same as YOU
did before you were freed 2 "We
ain't freed ~ declared the paragon OF
| ignorance and now came to the con
| clusion that he was fool. Out of all
patience, | fixed my bunk for the night
and placed my pistol at my pillow.
! In the morning the negro was not to he
found, and | was more and more con-
vinced of his insanity, and had him III
mind as | rode onward.
My third days iourney-at least the
! forenoon's part of twas not unlike
the first and second days. At two
o'clock ! suddenly came upon field
of corn by the roadside. A little
| further on five or six negroes were
| standing. among them "Sam" of the
previouS night. "Dat's him." | heard
Sam" say as | approached, and like
! the COWS and mules scampered. went
on to the house. 1t was an old fash
! ioned typical southern house, and had
evidently seen better days. The main
/ door was of heavy carved oak, battered
and weather. beaten, and the knockel
that took up was much worn. 1t
was ten minutes or more before my
twice repeated knock had an answer
Then the door was opened slowly 10y
Il colured woman. a nod of the head
answered my question as to whether
the master was at home, and scarcely
invited went in. The woman vanish
ed, to appear again attera II minute with
Il scared face. ''Walk up, mas'r" she
said. leading the way mp the stairs and
/ through halls. | was ushcred into Il
large room fitted as a library. a
gentleman occupied IN armchair be-
side an Oriel window. His face was
yellow, his hair was long and white
and heavy grizzled beard hung oven
his breast. He was IL man of more than
seventy years, with remarkable blue
ewes that flashed III a defiant way as
| introduced myself. II cannot arise,
sir he said, in II lofty tone. ''Bc
seated. and tell me what you have
come here for" ''I would like to re-
main with yon all night" ''Ges, but
travellers never come through here
V.n ,rn tLe first troveler-tbe first
,,I,;... ,,.,.nm tL,t has h..u bere-tI,at
h,vi .enm in mnr. tbon tw.nt,
,.nrs Wby did Won come 90 | rav,
my reasons as we'll as | could. .Yor
n,nst have lost your way." the gentle
man said. 81 never nave visitors. Tn,
Hntto,n road is never used.r .The,