Milford chronicle., 1885-07-31
THE MOUNTAIN HUT.
BY MRS. REBEcoA HARDING DAVIS

David. with his uncle and sister, had
ridden far into the Balsam mountains
Of North Carolina one day, leaving the
bridle-path behind them and pushing
their way through the undeFbrush OF
laurel and rowan, when storm over
took them
There should be a hut on the bank
of this stream" said her uncle, III my
memory does not fail me-"
81 see it." said David. "But it Is
more like a piggery than dwelling
for human beings, like most OF the
houses Of these mountaineers.
"These mountaineers are a kindly,
honest folk, whatever their houses
NAV be. and lam never afraid to claim
a welcome. which I cannot always say
Of those who live in the cities" his
uncle retorted.
The welcome in this case was given
cordially. The hut was built OF logs
between which were wide cracks; the
rain beat in and ran down the floor
"I like plenty Of air" said their
hostess, pillng up logs on the hearth
Her bed was mattrass Of husks-lt
filed one corner, a rough pine table
another; a heap of sacks full of roots
Law piled near the door. The cooking
utensils were a coffee-pot and two iror
frying-pans. The woman stirred som'
corn-meal with water, filed one OF thu
mans. put on the lid, and covered i
with hot ashes; the other held a siz
cling mass Of fat pork.
ayes, we're very comfortable" sh
said, proudly observing Polly's curiou
glance 'Got everything snug an'
genteel. I'd be powerful sorry to liv
iike some folks"
David followed his uncle out to tn
covered shed, where he sat looking q
the peltlng storm. al never suppose
any human being lived in such sol
tude," he exclaimed. "Why she ha
not left the mountain for twenty year;
she never has seen a town larger tina
the village of Waynesville-she di
not know there was any larger"
still it is impossible for any Twin
beings to shut themselves off froI
their kind. If you look little fartl
er, you will be surprised to find no
widely connected this poor lame crea
ure is with the rest Of the world.
"This coffee, which is making sue
a comfortable smell just now, came
her from the far-off Brazils; blacl
bearded mulattos picked it for her c
Che shores Of the Amazon; other slav
in the West Indies grew her the pc
per which she is sitting on the mea
English mill-hands in Manchest
yiove her Sunday calico gown; mil
eyed Chinaman gave her tea; ev'
this hen clucking at my feet can
rom eggs from Poland.
"There is Scarcely a State in the U
ion which has not its part in this POI
little hut. Here is an axe; PennsylV
MIA gave the iron, Connecticut &
handle. Here is sugar from Louisiar
rice from Georgia. shoes from Mass
chusetts."
"The world is very liberal TO the.
woman" said David laughing. rs
ought to give something in exchange
''Perhaps she does. We will 10
into that presently. I told you I'll
we were all closely bound togeth
In a well-furnished city house there
scarcely a country in the world viii
is not represented. if you choose
search It out. You ask what the
s woman sends back. Come, let us
her. What is in the bag, for example
"Ropts-Angelica." promptly
sponded their hostess. "Pays els
7 cents in the pound, delivered in
village yonder. The doctors use
le in the North to cure nervous peol
That next bag-But set up, set
dinners ready. Fall to, young fol
there's plenty of it. such as it is" h
IL pitably urging great chunks Of hot j
nycake on them and delicious yell
butter. David and Polly "fell
y with a good viii.
:, "The other bag, you were about
sayP' suggested their uncle.
!, "Oh yes; ginseng. 1 gather he
es of that ere. My son takes it to
store, and it isshipped to New X
andyfrom there to China. Them p
heather will. pay its weight in gold
somvF'nds OF ginseng. I don't kr
what shey.do. With / thouRh.v
aGsing to Chinag' vivid $
iO0ldne respectfully ~ sssck,