Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-09-01

David, with his uncle and sister,
had ridden far into the Balsam noun
tains of North Carolina one day, leav-
ing the bridle-path behind them and
pushing their way through the UNDER
brush of laurel and rowan, when a
storm overlook them.
There should be a hut on the
bank of this stream," said her uncle,
Z" if my memory does not fail me.''
I see it." said David. g But it
is more like a piggery than q dwell
ing for human beings, like most of
the houses of these mountaineers." /"
s''Thesc mountaineers are kindly
honest folk, whatever their houses
may be, and I am, never afraid to
claim welcome, which 1 cannot al
ways say of those who live in the
Cities" his uncle retorted.
The welcome in this case was given
cordially. The hutwas built of logs,
between which were wide cracks; the
rain beat in and ran down the floor.
+" like plenty of air." said their
hostess, piling up logs on the hearth.
Her bed was mattress of husks-
it filled one corner, a rough pine tn
BILE another; heap of sacks full of
roots lay piled near the door. The
cooking utensils were coffee pot
and two iron frying-pans. The wo-
man stirred some corn-meal with wa
ter, filled one of the pans, put on the
lid, and covered it with hot ashes;
the other held q sizzling mass of fat
pork.
Yes, we're very comfortable, +"
she said, proudly, observing Polly's
curious glance. Got everything
snug and genteel. I'd be powerful
sorry to live like some folks"
David followed his uncle out to tile
covered shed, where he sat looking ot
the pelting storm. "I never sup
posed any human being lived in such
solitude, "'he exclaimed. {" Why she
has not left the mountain for twenty
years; she never has seen a town
larger than the village of Wayncsvillc
she did not know there was any
larger
Still it is impossible for any liv-
ing beings to shut themselves off
from their kind. If you look little
farther, you will be surprised to find
how widely connected this poor lame
creature is with the rest of the world.
"This coffee, which is making such
comfortable smell just now, came
to herfrom the far-off Brazils; black
bearded mulattos picked it for her
IN film cl,oroO of ]l,o A,,O,,o,,. q. AGl,o.
slaves in the West Indies grew her
the pepper which she is sitting on the
meat; English mill hands in Man
chester wove her Sunday calico
gown; mild-eyed Chinaman gave her
tea; even this hen clucking at my
feet came from eggs from Poland.
' There is scarcely a State in the
Union which has not its part in this
poor little hut. Here is an axe;
Pennsylvania gave the iron, Connec-
ticut the handle. Here is.sugar from
Louisiana, rice from Georgia, shoes
fvom Massachusetts.
Is The world is very liberal to the
old woman,'' said David laughing.
'' She ought to give something in ex-
change"
{. Perhaps she does. We will
look into that presently. I told you
that we were all closely bound to-
gethcr. In a wclI-furnished CITY
house there is scarcely country in
the world which is not represented,
if you choose to search it out. You
ask what the old woman sends back.
Come, let us ask her. What is in
the bag, for exampIe?'
Roots-AngeIica," promptly re-
sponded their hostess. ss Paws eight
cents in the pound, delivered in the
village yonder. The doctors use it
in the North to cure nervous people.
The next bag-But set up, set up ;
dinners ready. Fallto, young folks !:
there's plenty of it, such as it is"
Hospitality urging great chunks of hot
jonnycake on them and delicious
yellow butter. David aud Polly
81 fell to- with a good will.
=" The other bsg, you were about to
say2" suggested their uncle.
"Oh yes; ginseng. gather
heaps of that ere. n son takes it
70 tle store, and 1t IS shipped to New
York, and from there to China
Them poor heathen will pay its
weight in gold for same kinds of gin
seng. don't know what they do
with it though
F" Going to China?'' David said
looking respectfully at the sack.
st The Chinese believe that it gives
fresh life to mind and body; cures
all kinds of disease. They mix it
with dried caterpillers to give it to
the insane people, and with pow