The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-05-13
COGRTlNG UNDER DIFFECEI
TIES.

COlRTANG UNDER DIFFICUI.
TIES.
Bob Wilkins was one Of the most pop-
ular young men in Canton, Miss. and
was a clerk in one of the largest stores in
town. His employers did fine business
not only in Madison county, but also in
the counties of Scott and Leake. living
east of Pearl river Bob was frequently
sent out by his employers to visit their
customers, to get orders, collect bills and
TO keep them posted in regard to the con
dltlon of crops on which they made ad
vances. One of the customers was we'll
to-do, thrifty farmer, and had unlimited
credit with his merchants. 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 in
terestlng daughter of some Il summers,
and whenever Bob crossed the river on
one of his business trips he invariably
made 1t convenient to stop at Farmer
Moore's" house, where he always met
with hearty welcome, for he was bright
and intelligent, and kept well posted with
the current news of the day, politics, &c.
The old man enjoyed Bob's company on
this account especially, and then, Bob al
ways carried with him the latest newspa-
pers and was sure to leave them with his
friend, Mr.. Moore. Then he would not
forget Mrs. Moore and the daughter, tor
ne always had some interesting periodical
that was sure to please them. He was
not long in gaining the good will of the
entire family; but he longed for closer
relationship, and, finally, when he pro-
posed to Miss Sallie, she hung her dear
little head, twisted her pocket handker-
chief and said "Ask pa
Bob was rejoiced, and told her that he
would do so 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 to do so, and
when Bob took his departure it was with
the understanding that he was to return
to the Moore homestead the following
Saturday night, one week. and spend the
sabbath with them and atterd church, as
big time was expected, it being "quar-
terly meeting"
The ten days intervening went by on
sluggish wheels, and notwithstanding
Bob worked hard in the store every day,
hoping that the time thus employed would
pass more quickly, he 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 qnite late
in the afternoon before Bob could get off
While he was making his toilet he dis
patched the porter to the livery stable
for the best saddle-horse there, and inst
as the lamps were 'eing 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 disappoint-
ment, the ferry-a flatboat which was
propelled by a wire rope stretched across
the riyer-was not on his side of the river
BY straining his eyes he could 8, q through
the darkness, that the boat Was moored
on the Scott county side, some two hun
dred yards distant He knew that old
Ike" the negro ferryman, had cabin
on that side about quarter of mile dis
tant, and that it was frequently the Gus
tom of travellers to hello to him to come
down and put them across So Bob
commenced calling:
Cncle 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 Can
ton, 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 mosquitoes and sand flies, and those
pests had already commenced their at
tacks upon him. Finally he thought if
Leander could swim the Hellspoint 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 effect, and procuring a stout
cane, the but end of an 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 bundle tied them to the top of the
pole. Everything being ready he led
old Roam down to the waters brink, and
heading him for the opposite shore struck
MIN lick ana OT0ereQ MIN TO go
along" The horse seemed to divine
what was intended 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
earned down below the usual place of
landing, some one hundred yards or
more. where the bank was quite precipi-
tous and covered with reeds, brambles
and briars.
Old Roam came up out of the water
snorting and blowing and mounted the
bank, Bob still holding on to his tail.
The strain, however, was too much for
Bob, and then the briars and brambles had
such fair play at his naked skin he was
BILE out the best way he could.
Whas, laoH fo1u ~ <hn Ton of <ka