Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20
lEEE TRAMP CAPITALIST.
Adventures Oh Captain Gill.
AN IDYL or THE DISMAL SWAMP REGION


On the outskirts of the great Dismal Swamp
n Virginia there dWelt an old Virginia planter.
the possessOr OF many broad acres. chiefly of
pi2ey woods. uBiRha6ited. save that here and
there was negro's hut around which was q small
open Clearing. The planters h0use was
perched GA the top OF gentle hill, and was a
low-roOfed. wide-passagcd affair that the Viz
g1nians OF tits section are partial TO. 1t had
been rOomy mansion in the ''aate-baiIum"
days, when the plantation worked two hundred
slaves; but now oue-haIf OF the ancient Building
mad fallen down and the other half was propped
up.
THE PLANTER AND HIS FAMILY.
The planter, whom I shall call Col. Blank. had
been gallant soldier on the confederate side
during the evil war. and had led his troopers in
many wild foray aud dashing charge and
after the failure Of the Cause he loved SO well.
he retired to his old ancestral home disap-
pointed broken-spirited man who took 20 fur
ther interest in the world. and whose only en-
JOyment was found in the bosom OF his family
Ills wife had died years ago. but had left her
Image impressed ON two staiWaTt sous and two
daughters. The boys were famous the whole
country round; the music OF Their hounds as
they followed the fox through the woodlands
and cauebrakeS of the '.OId Dismal was heard
every good hunting morning and no court
house frOiic or country gathering was complete
without them They hunted. planted ard gath
cred their crops, kept open house and enjoyed
existence with keen Zest. that only perfect
health and a mind free from ali care can give.
The coloners two daughters were his pride
and JOY. and their sovereignty for beauty and
accomplishments there was no one TO dsnUte in
ali the Dismal swamp region. The eldest was
brunette, Of medium height and as straight as
an arrow, with eyes that cleaned like stars
II a Nav MOI iuCr
Win the purity OF lily ana the warmth and
color OF rose. Both from childhood had led
an outdoor life and their every movement was
1un OF unstuded grace. They showed their
gentle blood In their small hands and feet. in
the regal poise of their heads in the glance of
the eye and the tones OF the v0ce. 1t seemed
the irony of fate that these two maidens so
fitted by lineage and Charms to grace the high
est circles. should bloom all unnOtieed, like
Wild flowers, on the borders of the great swaIEp.
One balmy evening in the early spring the
whole family We're gathered on the porch. The
Eun was dipping behind the fringe OF woods.
and the scent OF the do4wOod aud wild jassa-
mine buds from the ''D!snal' liied the air
ENTER. CAPTAIN GILL.
The sudden baying of the dogs broke the
dreamful silence and they all turned towards
the gate and there entered i1ure, md such
a h@ure those living in these secluded back
woods had never seen before The colonel
for they showed a disposition TO eat the
stranger alive. beckoned the wavfarer to ap-
proaeh and me Einped painfully Up to the steps,
and there stood, the center upon which all ewes
were nXeG- lie was nan ofabout twenty
or thirty years. with around .ace and maTI tIOuSy
twinkiIng blue eyes. The old battered hat COW
erng his head had originally been a beaver
stoyePipe. but had been RACED until the top was
only couple Oi inches high and the stiff brim
was all crushed and cured up Ike he had
in t.,r. B.,S.I.
Wore an OvercUat that n ght once have been IA
Newmarket. but looked now as Il it had been
hShed out OF an ash heap ! big slit in the back
showed that he had no coat or wai-tcOat on or
shrt either for that matter. unless tattered
red under-garnent could be called nv that
name. His breerhes seemed "a if ne had ex-
Changed his own with the nearest scarecrow
An ancient boot covered one foot the uiiper
leather and sole of which had parted SHOW ing
the grimy toes between On the ether foot was
the nall OF shoe cut like a slipper with piece
OF string through the heel that passed around
the ankle and was tied fast so as to prevent this
patent sandal from dropping Oh. 4 big stick in
his hand, which 1t probably used more for the
purpose OF beating Oft attacking dogs than as a
means of assistance. completed his outfit
aking OF his battered tile with both hands
and displaying mass CT tangled reddish lar.
ne made sweeping bow. and in a voice slightly
tinged with the brogue he said:
Good evening to ye, ladies' and gentlemen
z
here, who hasn't had a mouthful to eat for the
past three days.
"1es. answered the colonel. ''you can get
all You can eat and drink. the cook Will give
you supper soon' bat how did you find your
way down here:"
Il just took the road and Travelled along I'm
max NJ my way up north, where live MAYBE
you think I'm tramp
The colonel in answer. smiled as he knocked
the ashes out of his pipe and handed if to his
rfST nnt I-arr IN rafI 4.-h
We'll, | amt tramp. In unfortunate.
that's ALL"
Are YOU willing to work?' Intercepted the
colonel.
What kind of work." was the quick reply.
Getting ready for and planting cotton and
ground peas"
The man did not answer at once then he
ora"led out. well. | guess So" and asked
Nv III have 10 wUrruk with the nceroes:"
No. You can work along with my bows. and
VIII pay you what you are worth and find Won"
Guess III try il for month"; said thu tramp,
thou amt used TO hard work, and ] amt
what SepH''
Then said the colonel rising. III set YOU to
work Tomorrow: but what Is yU1r uaIne:'
My name IS Gill. sir Captain Gil. ST."
All right. captain, follow that servant to the
Kitchen and get your supper" and the tattered
tramp making his departing bOw liinped after
the gr Timing darkey-
As soon a. tie vas gone the reDressed rnarri
ment broke out:
We'll" said the colonel that is the fist
tramp ever saw here. and hope il will be the
last = Wv
He looks like one OF the soldiers that FALL
stan enlist and refused to march through
Coventry with" responded Grand the eldest
boy
tie seems TO NE ncore Ike the wild man of
the Dismal Swamp that my nurse used to scare
me with. said Lettie tie fair
And yet that man does look as If he had seen
better days. responded LucFetia or Miss
luse,' as she was called
Al this roar Of u2hter came from the bows
1-use. here's Your rince come at last" and
Jack, the youngest, rolled over the grass in his
mirrh. " as
lie reminds me OF some poor old con-
leOefate soldier gong home after tine war" said
tue colonel. and on that account We must take
care 90 Him- And so LQSe look among the boys'
wardrobe and let him be- clad decentlv II is a
Shame 10 see any white man in such a eondi-
ton"
AN AccoxpAsHED yAGRAxr.
Two months passed away. and the tramp had
steadily and surely risen from his abiect state.
From throwing out dark hints he impressed the
boys and the cOlene at length that he was not
what he seemed; and then his accomplishments
were no myth. He could read and write. and
could speak indidrrentIy well but understand
thoroughly. both Spanish and French when
spoken. He could play the fiddle as Orpheus
played ms Tyre, and wiied many summer after
noon away and charmed the family especially
Hiss Luse. VINO @as fond of music Then ht,
mad good baritone voice and could sing all