Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-12-14
MisGellanenMs.
Written for the SENTINEL.
HENRY HUDSONs GHOST.

| left my home on bright and genial
morning in the month of September for
a long-promised trip to visit the home
of some cherished friends of my early
boyhood, and as | stepped upon the train
with my heart filled with pleasant emo
tions ! little thought | should meet
with events stranger than any thing
had ever before experienced. The meet
ing between my friends and myself was
signalized by a mutual exhibition of
warm pleasure, and every thing seemed
suspicious for u season of unqualified on :
joymcnt, but alas, how little We know
what u few short hours may develop
After enjoying the society Of my friends
at the domestic Preside for few hours
| felt the humor come over me to walk
around quietly outside and renew nv
former familiarity with the dear old
shade trees and other objects of my boy
hoods fancy. The scene was truly
grateful to my feelings and | indugod
in all the sentiment that floods the heart
upon revisiting n cherished spot after
an absence of twenty-five years. There
seemed little change, and the only OBJ
ject that did not form Part of the pic
ture cherished in my memory was n
man rubbing the horns Of beautiful
Jersey COW near the barn. The person
was not an object Of any particular IN
terest to me, but my attention was as
rested by the earnest manner in which
he was performing what appeared TO inc
to be an unnecessary labor, so that
was induced to approach him for tho
purpose of observing the novel opera
ton and gain some information relative
to his purpose, for may add that he
had been thus engaged for period long
enough, | considered. to have wearied q
person of more than ordinary patience.
When | came up and spoke to him he
returned my greeting politely, and |
noticed that he was q colored man, al
most white, with quite pleasant and
earnest manner and expression. He
was below the medium statue, and OBJ
served that he was afflicted in such
manner that he could not rise to an
erect position, but in all his movements
continued bent over in what I should
think was very uncomfortable and
even painful manner I learned that
he was in the service of my friends and
that be was polishing the cows horns and
giving her good deal Of extra atten-
ton 10 enable her to make more credit
able appearance at the Agricultural Fair
then in progress very near US and at
which she was to be exhibited that day
| expressed my appreciation Of his zeal
and complimented him on the attractive
condition Of the COW, at which he seemed
pleased | then left him and sauntered
around thinking of many different things,
and among them thought what sad
burden that honest man must carry,
perhaps, through long life with his
back bent in that painful manner. The
Fair being then in progress. as before
remarked, and my relative and friend,
the Major, being engaged on tho ground
as Secretary Of the Society, | continued
my ramble in that direction for the pur-
pose Of seeking such association with
him as any intcrmission from his duties
might permit. After spending a pleas
ant day on the Fair Ground and wit
Messing the splendid exhibition of riding
by the young cavaliers of Virginia in
the tournament aud enjoying the many
other sources Of interest contributing 10
the entertainment Of. the guests Of the
Society | returned and met the family
assembled at the evening meal.
The supper table presented glowing
tribute to tho accomplished housekcep-
ing Of the hostess, the coffee, cream,
fried chicken, broiled ham, wafflcs and
butter having derived their perfection
from contact with her own hand and
taste, to which the browning elogium
was added by splendid jelly cake.
But the principal charm Of the evening
was the society and conversation Of the
polished hostess and her mother and
sister. At the conclusion of supper we
all drew our chairs around the open
wood fire and continued our CONVERSE
ton under its genial inspiration. During
the evening the incident Of the rubbing
Of the cows horns recurred to my mind
and | narrated the circumstances for the
entertainment of the company. My
cousin took up the thread of my re-
marks and said the mans name was
Henry Hudson and that he was the
husband Of her cook, aud that the at
tention | bad noticed his bcstowing up
on her COW was Characteristic Of the
manner in which he performed all Of
bis duties. She said further that these