Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-03-03
IN QUEST OF A DRINK. "a

We had been riding for several hours
through the mountains skirting North
Carolina and, while neither one Of us was
really anxious for . stlmulaut, We had
been bantering each other upon the fact
that In region brlstling with stills We
were obliged to 90 thirsty. AT last we
struck bargain. Said Jack:
I'VE will ask every man We meet on
the road where we can get drink, until
someone tells Ne or someone shcots."
s'Done," said I.
30 we rode on, with tie mountain.
dressed In Ito russell wiatsr robs on the
one hand, aud the deep valley, full Of
chestnut and poplar trees, on the other.
We asked one rider after another; but
one refused to notice the question, another
taking us for revenue officers scowied
and recommended us to 60 TO Cincinnati,
and = third professed the most dense
ignorance.
At last 1t was II O'Clock and we were
but three miles from the house whore we
had decided TO hat for dinner, when We
met two very intelligent looking men
riding toward as. It was my turn to
talk, and az we came abreast l spoke:
| "Gentlenen," said !, 1--WE had little
talk this morning and decided that We
would ask every one We met on the road
to give us advice as to how to get drink
until we got Il. We are NOT revenue
agents. We do not care continental IL
you make all the corn Of the South into
whisky and d. no. pay cont OF tax on
II. We are simply civil engineers come
down here 70 give you line of railroad
to Charleston, but we are thirsty aud we
are bound to have drink If 1t takes us
until Christmas to get IT,"
l nv sr q \
IN effect. The two borsemen drew apart
and talked together In a low tone; then
one OF them rode up TO me and eaid
stranger. believe you. l kin tell BY
the way you tn k you are q Yankee an
reckon your powerful thirsty. You Just
ride on until you come to q big cotton
WOOL tree OH the yan side of hill Right
by that tree you'll see darby sittin' on
the fence. Give him q dollar and see
what he'll DO"
| We rode on. We found tho cotton.
wood tree and the T. III. c. sitting on the
feuce Igave him dollar. He winksd.
where's you all a-gwine to stop ior
dinnah2" he asked.
"At Mr.. Robinson's," said 7.
"Ail right, boss, I'll be dah," he eaid.
| With thai he went up into the brush,
united lean niue. mounted It and rode
OF up the mountain as fast AZ the animal
could 70.
We rode on to Mr.. Rorir sons, were
Hospitality received, diued, loitered a.
long us we could with any decency, aud
fually. la despair, saddled our hors IS,
mounted AID were just setting of ioi
camp when we heard shout. Looking
back We saw q pair OF ears belonging to 8
mule just "rising" hill, and soon tn,
mule was in full sight, bearing our mes
senRer upon its back. The latter WA
vebemently waving bis hat. We drew
near aud soon the painting animal and
eager rider were beside us. Said til,
latter;
"Boss, I reckon you thought I'D don,
gwan away wild dat dollah
"fhst's about what l thought"
said.
well, "sad he, "when got to de stil
dey didn't have no liquor, and Jest la
TO wait until 1t was run oil.
With that he un:lung q bag from bill
saddle bow. Iu one end Was jug, IL
the other stone. lie da all the riding
gave us yellow Jug and gallon OF til,
newest and mcst cxecrable whisky imagi
nable-sll for one dollar. Tne liquol
Was vers good for bathing purposes ant
was worth what it cost.