The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-05-20
Counting Under Difficulties.

ular young men in Canton, Miss, and
was clerk in one of the largest stores
in town. His employers did fine busi-
ness, not only in Madison county, but
also in the counties of Scott and Keake,
lying east of Pearl river. Bob was fire.
quently sent out by his emplorers to visit
their customers, to get orders, to collect
bills and TO keep them posted in regard
to the condition of crops on which they
had made advances. One of the Gus.
toners was well.to do, thrifty farmer
and had unlimited credit with his mer-
chants. This farmer lived In Scott county
three miles from the river, on the main
road, and about fifteen miles from Canton.
He had a sweet, interesting daughter OF
some II summers, and whenever Bob
crossed the river on one of his business
trips he invariably made it convenient to
stop at Farmer Moore's house, where he
always met with hearty welcome, for be
was bright and intelligent, and kept we'll
posted with the current news of the day,
politics, etc., The old man enjoyed
Bob's company on this account especially
and then, Bob always carried with him
the latest newspapers and was sure to
leave them with his friend, Mr.. Moore.
Then he would not forget Mrs. Moore and
the daughter, for he always had some
interesting periodical that was sure to
please them. he was not long in gain
ing the good will of the entire family ;
but he longed for closer relationship,
and, finally, when be proposed to Miss
Sallie, she hung her dear little head,
twisted her pocket handkerchiefand said T:
"Ask pa"
Bob was rejoiced, and told her that he
wsald do it the next time he came, and
begged her. in the meantime to feel the
old folks on the subject and ascertain
their views. She agreed po~do so, and
when Bob took his departure it was>Sith
the understanding that he was to return to
the Moore homestead the following Sat-
urday night, one week, and spend the
Sabbath with them and attend church, as
big time was expected, it being GUAR
terly meeting"
The ten days intervening went on
sluggish wheels, and Notwithstanding
Bob worked hard in the store every day,
hoping that the time thus employed
would pass more quickly, be thought the
day of his departure for Scott county
would never arrive. The anxiously
looked for Saturday came however; but
it was an unusually busy one, and it was
quite late in the afternoon before Bob
could get off. While he was making his
toilet he dispatched the porter to the
livery stable for the best saddlehorse
there, and just as the lamps were being
lighted in the stores he mounted, and
went galloping out of town. He reached
the river, twelve miles distant, in about
two hours, and then he rode down the
bank to the ferry landing. To his great
disappointment, the ferry-a fatboat,
which was propelled by wire rope
stretched across the river-was not on
his side of the river. By straining his
eyes be could see, through the darkness,
that the boat was moored on the Scott
county side, some two hundred yards dis
tant. He knew that old "Ike," the negro
ferrymau, had cabin on that side about
quarter of mile distant, and that it
was frequently the custom of travellers to
halo to him to come down and put them
across. So Bob commenced calling:
"Uncle Ike! oh, Uncle Ike!" But he
got no answer, though he called time and
again, even until his voice was hoarse
and his throat sore.
What was he to do? He was bound to
see his sweetheart, and there was no use of
thinking about returning to Canton, and,
then, it was fully FIVE miles back, through
dismal swamp, to the first house, and it
was doubtful about his getting lodgings
there. To remain where he was until
morning was death almost from mosqui-
toes and sand flies, and those pests
had already commenced their attacks
upon him. Finally he thought if Lean
der could swim the Hellespont for his
lady love, why could not he swim Pearl
river for the girl he loved? He was not
long in putting the thought into practical
effects, and procuring stout cane, the
butt end of sn old fishing pole, he spliced
it from the saddle girth to the pommel Of
the saddle; then he stripped his clothes
and making them up securely into q
bundle, tied them to the top of the pole.
Everything being ready ne led Roam
down to the waters brink, and heading
him for the opposite shore struck him a
lick and ordered him to ego along" The
horse seemed to divine what was intend.
ed for him to do and was soon swimming
with Bob holding on to his tail. The
passage across the river was successfully
made, but the current being quite swift
the two voyagers were carried down below
the usual place of landing, some one
hundred yards or more, where the bank
was quite precipitous and covered with
reeds, brambles and briars.
Old Roam came up out of the water
snortiLg and blowing and mounted the
bank, Bob still holding on to his tail
The strain, however, was too much 70,
Bob, and then the briars aud brambles
had such fair play at his naked skin he
vas obliged to turn loose his hold and
scramble out the best way he could.
When at last safely on the top of the
bank he could see nothing of his horse
and clothes, yet he could hear the forme,
moving through the woods and COM
menced calling to him.