The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-02
For the +. & Nj. Household.
Grandma has been Travelling.

Yes, my dears, have been taking a
long journey and my old bones and my
wits have been wonderfully shaken up!
sit around and l will give you an account
of my travels.
You see this was how it came about
i had been nodding over my knitting
in the chimney corner. and got to think
ing and dreaming, and some how it came
to me that the world all seemed to be
going wrong politics and religion, and
cotton and tbunders torms and tobacco
were all mixed up, and it seemed as if
somebody ought to be setting things to
rights, so says | to Darb, Dear, | feel
called to 90 upon long Journey" and
he says. well, my dear, do as you like.
l have always believed it was your mis-
sion to reform the world, and the soon
er you get about it the better.'' So the
next day put my things in basket
and had the brown mare hitched up to
the spring wagon, and started to Hen
derson, taking promising young man
from the neighborhood as my escort
Well, we logged along pretty comforta-
bly,. the mud being not much over the
hubs of the wheels, and we got over the
twenty miles ust in time to take the
train for Raleigh, which took us along
in a most reckless and dissipated way,
though the folks on board did not seem
to mind it at ALL and we got to Raleigh
before | thought we had fairly started
from Henderson. Arriving there just
in time for the cyclone, but | was too
tired to enjoy that very much, SO l won t
talk about it now.
| sent my escort to the care of a
preacher, and put myself and my basket
up at the ''Branson House" quiet,
restful place, which for cleanliness, COST
ness and comfort, can well recommend
to al who appreciate these things.
The next day, l set about the matter
of getting things to rights, and first |
went to see the editor. who was very
sick, and / knew he was needing the
care ofhis grandma. found him some
what better than | expected, but look
inc lonesome and careworn. | prescribed
good wife and mustard plaster, both
of which he promised TO take. and left
him somewhat revived, but still pale and
lonesome.
The next place went to look after
was the Lunatlc Asylum. and | thought
everything would surely be wrong there.
But 10! and behold. instead of finding
things all wrong, my old heart swelled
with pride to see this noble State Chair
ty so ably managed-such perfect order
such close attention to comfort. clean
illness and ventilation. such kind care
and sympathy from the good Doctor to
each Of the afflicted inmates, and over
all, even among the worst cases. an ali
of kindness and courtesy seemed to pre-.
vail As | walked among them, pleas
ant speeches and polite salutations met
me on every side. and | thanked Goo
with whole heart, that here at least, the
most heart-rendTng of all earthly sor-
rows could find sympathy and kindness.
with faithful and tender care May
God ever bless that noble Institution.
and all connected or associated with it
Well. | went next to look after a
young pair of turtle doves, who had
been silly enough to marry for lore, and
nothing else. OF course | would find
them all in mess. and weary enough
of their foolishness. But on the
contrary, l found cosy nest with pair
of birdlings gayly chirping about, while
the parent birds were the most know.
iugly happy and comfortable of any two
that | have met with in many a day, and
not bit sorry for anything in the world
except that | could not stay longer tc
enjoy their perfect happiness.
Well, from there ! went to the home
! of a lovely Chris tan household. anC
/ here l rested bodily and mentally, fol
| there was nothing for me to set to rights
and my occupation was for the time lost.
1 But | could not remain idle, so must
cen extend my journey, as | was doubt.
/ less needed elsewhere. and so / entered
1 those reckless cars again. and Journey
ed on to Durham. Eighteen years ago
| passed through village of that name
and now. behold a young city! With al
a city's noise, rush, confusion and excite
ment. And oh! Those dreadful ami
mails that kept up such roaring anC
believing, that | thought all the wilC
bulls of Bashan broken loose! But here
again | WAS received and entertained
with such christian kindness and hospi
tality, that | made up my mind to le
the bulls 90 on with their roaring if i
amused them; and there was nothine