The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-02-09

ments, which, Maggie declared, were as |
good as new Hearing this, 1 did not |
doubt but should soon tiud a place where |
my services would be gratefully received. |
/ did not stop to think that these people
would be very likely to inquire from
whence l came and what recommendations
l had. But L was very ignorant Of tho
world tho reader must remember, having
never been outside tho gates Of Calcdon,
scarcely, nor into town or village Of any
sort, since was ten years old Think Of
this, you children, to whom IL journey Of
hundreds of miles is never thought Of eX~
ccpt as q tritting occurrence.
| had with mo u small sum Of money which
had saved by doing odd jobs for the scrv-
ants at Calcdon; yet the whole sum did not
| exceed two dollars. But l was free, l said,
! as walked on; better starvo in freedom
| than live in bondage.
had calculated that tho distance to tho
city could not be over five miles, but in my
| confusion must have taken a longer route,
for l walked briskly nearly the whole fore
| noon, and still l saw no Sign that was
| nearing it. Tho road, too, grew narrow,
and had an untravclcd look that alarmed
mo- | was faint and thirsty, too, from hav-
| ing travelled so far, but dislilkCd to stop at
any of the farm houses passed, for people,
| though knd-hcartcd i'll tho main, would be
apt to look with suspicion on n stranger
plOdding alono on the public highway.
But toward noon, unable to endure longer
tho panES of hunger and thirst, / stopped at
q small house on the edge Of Il field where u
woman was drawing water from IL WE'LL and
timdty asked for II drink, and to stop and
rest for Il little while. She sourly complied
with my request, ElanCng suSpiciously at
my bundle the while.
| entered tho house and sank down on tho
chair she pushed toward me, almost too tired
j to do mere than breathe. She was prCpar-
, ing dinner, and the smell OF the victuals
made me ravcnouS. | had not tasted food
, since dinner the previous day, and it was
y small wonder | was faint and hungry. |
could not starvc and | asked the woman for
BREAKFAST She had not spoken since had
, entered the house, evidently being in II fit
t of sullis about something. Sho spoke now,
, though, wondering ViciouSly what l was
r trampug about the country asking break
fast at this hour for. | did not answer her,
and she, seeing how pale and wan | looked,
perhaps rclcntCd, for she placed some vic
ualS and Il Gl.tSS Of milk on tho table, and
Dadr me sit up and cat did so, and hay
ing finished | offered tho woman II bit OF
silver i'll payment, half hoping she would not
take it; but iuthis was mistaken, her small
, gray eyes g.ittCrcd as she clut chCd it cagcr-
", and she asked, quickly:
+, "Yc'vG plenty Of this | suppose, girl"' at
the same time laying her large hand on my
| shoulder.
"Onlya very littlo,n answered steadily,
though my h"irt beat nearly to sufocation
so frightened was ], for | Judged from the
womau'.; looks she would not hesitate to do
me an injury. Bat at that instant Il horse
Inan pass 'I, seeing which | grasncd my
bundle and fed hastily down the road be
hind hm, only too glad To escape my vicious-
looking hostess, but greatly refreshed by
the nouri+hn"nt had taken
! [ hNl intended to have mado somc in
quiricS i'll regard 10 the r"al must take to
reach Baltimore; but IN my fright had fOr-
gotten it, So | wandered on, only p;,uSing