The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-03

Jim, and with each one he INDUCED in some
conversation regarding neighborhOOd affairs
The country through which we passed was
very wild, and the scenery in many places was
beautiful Jim developed great loqnaclty aud
inquisitiycness At one time he said TO me;
Mister, who is the boss big fellow In WASH
ington2"
j said, "well, suppose the President is"
"The President2"
Yes" said i.
"What about Zeb Yance2 Amt he sock
dolagerY"
Without knowing exactly what was meant
by a sockdolager, but supposing IL was compli-
mentsry to Gov. Vance, responded in the
affirmative.
Everybody here bets mighty high on Zeb"
continued Jim. He's agoing 10 get rid OF this
shooting Of people and breaking them up be-
cause they make whisky. Don't you think he
can do it?"
told him that Gov Vance was man Of great
ability and enc standing, but he was only one
man in Congress. and unless aided by ma
iority of both Houses OF Congress would be
powerless. This seemed quite revelation 10
Jim, and il had the effect 10 increase his in
qusitiveness and compelled me TO undertake
to explain 30 him the functions OF Congress
and Of the Executive.
While / endeayored to suit my language TO
his comprehension, / have serious doubts
whether Jim was much enlightened. lie
seemed quite dRzed that Zeb Vance could not
have any law passed which he willed, and in
timated that this was the opinion OF the people
In the neighborhood.
had further evidence OF Gov. Nance's great
popularity and the confidence reposed in him,
from several other sources during my visit
The last 10 miles Of the ride was very tire
some j had not been accustomed for some
time past TO horseback riding, and although i
never rode a horse Of easier gait or better
traveller, had become sore aud tired. was
very glad when Jim said 20 me that we would
soon be at a fine spring, just one mile from Mr.
Easbys home. 1t proved 10 be one OF the finest
springs ever saw. 1T falls from bluf some
20 feet in a broad stream and furnished cool,
clear, and delicious water.
Long after sunset we arrived at Mr.. Easily s.
We drew up in front Of the door, and Jim gave
the usual hallOa, when there appeared at the
door, holding a candle man over SIX feet IN
hight aud very thin, who recognizing jim, in-
Viled us TO light" ] was shown into a largo
room with a glowing wood FIRE, and was soon
quite comfortable, barring the fatigue OF my
trip.
Mr. Easily rendered the courtesy Of his side
board, and remarked that in his opinion, /
would not find no better whisky in North Caro-
lima" / told him " that while had no reason
to doubt his assertion. that after drinking some
OF Mr.. Braden's whisky his would undergo a
severe test"
"Ahl" he said, chats the same whisky.
Braden and me bought out the stock Of poor
fellow few weeks before he was brutally
murdered by the revenue officers. We divided
il. 1t is now six years old.
Although i had a most tempting supper SET
for me, j was too much woaried from my long
ride 10 enjoy IT, aud soon went 20 the room
assigned me, aud slept without intcrmission
until ! was awakened by knock on my docs
from Mr.. Easily, notifying me that breakfast
would be ready IN a short time. j arose and
dressed myself hastily, feeling greatly re-
! freshed and having a sharp appetite, thOugs
still suffering from soreness OF my nethel
/ limbs
The breakfast was all that an epicurc could
desire, and in some respects was quite q sur
prise 10 me. IL consisted Of broiled chicken
4 broiied ham and fried ham, broled rabbit. lc!
/ hominy, fried potatoes, fried apples, light bea
/ biscuits, corn bread, waiIles, delicious fresi
! butter, sweet aud buttermilk, eggs, honey and
very fne coffee. During the breakfast Mr.
/ Easily said:
I'VE country folks are mostly fond Of hav.
ing our meats and fowls fried, and broiliug i
not practced by them. Ny friend, Col. john.
SON. who sent you here came 20 see inc sOmt
years ago and told me that broiling was tn
best way TO cook meat aud he brought brOilc
! with him. lie went into the kitchen aut
showed Hannah, oar cook, how TO broil, 50 tha
whenever yOn city folks come 10 see Us, we Civ
you broiled meat" I told him that his break
fast could not be improved on. bst ] am suyi
the amount ate was sufficient evidence Of this
/ without this assertion.
Mr.. Easby's family consisted Of himself. hi
wife, aud ono daughtes, the latter nearly a
tall as the father aud quite like him, and
woman Of perhaps 80 years. His wife is ex
actly his opposite physically. She is unde
medium hight aud weighs over 200 pounds
She has dark brown hair aud eyes, aud he
face beams with beneV0ence aud good humo
The daughter attends TO the dining ROOM waii
on tie table, aud in many ways assists lac
father in his business Another part Of NJ
Easby's family who live or a small farm som
quarter of mile of, is q negro family, once NJ
Easby's slaves, but now his hired servant
These consist OF POmpey, his wife Hannah, an
two girls, Of whom more will be said hereaitc
Mr. Easily has. near his house, a cOuutr
store, in which Is kept all such goods as n
usual IN such establishments. lie gives cred
30 such OF his ueighbOrs rs he has conf !cnS
IN, but his chief business is in barter. lie y
ceiyes hides OF becves aud wild animal
} feathers. beoswax, wool, ginseng, and smok,
meat and in fact almost any surplus ar;icl,
which the small farmers have 10 dispose Of ]
} exchange for goods lie has a young ma
! named Bcal in charge o, the store.
Mr.. Easily, in his physique, reminded n
very much Of President Lincoln. In fact, b
, nose and eyes are not unlike those Of that gre
! man. found him 70 be a man Of fine cOmmC
sense, with good deal Of general iBlOrmatio
lie takes a number Of newspapers and kee
. himself informed Of what is going in the wOri
aud expresses himself la plain, clear mamie
E lie BIAS long been Justice Of the Peace loT h
' district. but tells me that there is very litt
litigation among the people, rs they general
!. settle their disputes by arbitration. lie "
, born on the place where he lives, aud, being
4 only child, Inherited il with other proper
= from his father
d After a few days stay told Mr. Easily that
Q would like % have a hunt IL he could arran
r il for me. lie told me that he could have 4
matter arranged for some day early in 1
n coming week the reason for p0stp0ning
c being that the best huntsman aud owner
! the only pack Of deerhOunds In the ncighb,
q hood was absent and would not return
}, several days lie then suggested that Z
u clothing was not suited 10 such rough usal
y aud suggested, as "A matter Of both comfort a
}. economy, that i get me a jeans jacket a
q pair OF trousers made for the purpose. lie d
Is me that the Jeans cloth could he had al
e store, and that living about half mile Rw
i were the widows OF two brothers lone Of VIII,
d had lost his life ia the Union army and (
4 other in the Confederate who did all Of {
y tailoring Of the ncigbborhood, aud did II "
aud very cheaply. lie gave the name Of 1
10 widows ms Young
n Being directed how 20 fud the place. ] ma
ID my way there and on entering found tic /
D. widows sitting near the front window, bl
with their needles Just % the rear was \ S
a, OF counter such as is seen IN tailors' workir
rooms and few feet back Of the counter