Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-11-24
CHAPTER TX.
AYLoAT ON THE MISSISSIPPI

4
| brief time that had been under this
roof / had enjoyed a sample of home
| life at the south that was to me as
novel as it was agreeable. When these
kind ladies learned that | had de-
! termined to prosecute my journey to
Louisiana, they joined their husband
and father in urging me to delay.
eve are hardly acquainted with you
vet" said the matron. I'D have you
know, sir, it's not at all the Mississippi
way for a visitor to come one day, and
go the next"
''My curiosity isn't half satisfied"
laughed Miss Celeste. Il supposed,
from what had heard, that your New
England people were kind of
kangaroo. We see so little company
here that an interesting young man
like you is positive godsend."
"And them added a mischievous
younger sister, "Simon Basnet doesn't
come over more than once a week"
perhaps | can furnish you with a
good reason for stopping with us
awhile. You want to see slave life
down here; you can't half see it unless
you witness the cotton picking. We
shall begin in less than month, and
The sight will be well worth seeing.
I'm southerner born and reared; yet
this is something that is always new
to me and always grand. The section
of Louisiana where you are going is all
sugar; you'll see no cotton there, only
what is piled up in bales at New Or
leans. Don't tempt you now?" Thus
Mr.. Dorion talked.
He assuredly did; so greatly that l
realized that my only safety was to
firmly decline To remain here even q
week would attach me so to these peo-
pie and to this home that the thought
of Mr.. Bostock would cease to trouble
me. If would go to him, must go at
once. There is nothing of the fatalist
in me; Notwithstanding the strange
events of my early life which have
been and are to be recorded, / am
plain, matter-of-fact kind of person; |
had at twenty-one no more than the av-
erage sentiment that belongs to young
people. When, therefore. l say that
felt urged, impelled to travel on, it
viii probably appear to others, as it
does to me, that had a destiny to ac-
complish.
1 tried to say all this to my kind
friends in way that would not seem
ungracious.
''Well, my lad, so be it," said Mr..
Dorion. 81 have forebodings about
you, and you must promise to write to
me all about Bostock. l have heard
something of northern pluck and obsti-
macy; reckon you've got both. If you
will go, wait till the cool of the day,
and I'll drive over with you to Barrels.
It's only four miles across, and it will
be much handler than to go up to
Vicksburg. The Cotton Queen stops
there to wood up on her way down the
river"
Very little passed between us as we
rode over to the river that evening.
Mr.. Dorion was serious and thought
full; and, while ! anticipated new
scenes and adventures, | could not but
be sad with the parting.
II hope we shall meet again, Dorr,"
he said, as glimpse of the river APP
peared through the trees.
81 kn0n we shdH," was my answer, de-
livered with fervor that startled my
self.
1t was like the voice of prophecy.
We did meet again, in situation and
under circumstances which romance
would vainly attempt TO rival
"Barre's" was place on the low
riverbanx where stood a solitary store
house, and some thousands of cords of
dry wood, ready for use. Two white
men of the class which had never
been two miles away from the river
sat and dangled their rusty boots in
the water, and with some profanity
and a vast expectoration of tobacco
juice, hotly argued the unsettled
question as to which was the fastest
boat, the Cotton Queen, or the S. s.
Prentiss.
''Thar comes the Queen now" said
the champion of that craft. ''Ah, but
she's beauty If she ever kitches the
S. S. on this water she'll walk right
off'n her"
"She'll never cotch her"
''Much you know bout boats"
so, you talk! / was sailin' the Mis-
sissippi when you couldn't tell pint
o. water from hogshead o. lasses."
The discussion was in fair way to
ego on forever" but the near ap-
proach of the stately Queen put an end
to it. Heralded by great volumes of
smoke beyond the point, and by that
peculiar, deep-drawn coughing of the
pipes that accompanies one of these
river monsters, she burst into view like
splendid apparition, reminding one
of the genii of the Arabian Nights.
Her great paddles churned the river
into foam. Twilight still prevailed,
but the signal colored lanterns were
hung out fore and aft and aloft, and
lamps were lit in the saloons, state
rooms and cabins. Tier upon tier the
! great height of the steamer rose from
the water, the light flashing out from
every opening. Surmoun ling the
whole was the Texas" or pilots
cabin, with the gilded figure of a queen
displayed in front of it, seated on a
, gilt-corded bale of cotton. The lofty
smoke-pipes lowered from the decks.
| Everywhere the boat was crowded
with people.
had long ere DOW recovered from
the amazement with which / learned
that wharves and docks were unknown
in these waters, which deepen rapidly
from the shore, and that these steam
ers are so light of draught that to use
the quaint language of the illustrious
man who thoroughly knew the west,
they can go anywhere where the
| ground is a little damp" The Queen
came straight up to the shore; the two
loungers who had been discuss -ng her
and her rivals took the cables that
were thrown out and moored them to
the trees; and Immediately swarm of
half-naked negroes sprang ashore, and
under the urging of the mate, with an
occasional oath and blow, began to
take in wood for the long passage
down the river. II was n work of some
time, and darkness succeeded, the
moon rising late. An open iron bas-
ket, fixed on a standard at the bow,
was filed with fat pine knots, continu-
ally replenished as they burned out.
The fierce red light fiared out over the
duslly faces and fitting forIas of the
negroes, and gave occasional glimpses
of the passengers as they leaned on
the rails and watched the picturesque
scene. Mr.. Dorion, standing at my
side, suddenly pinched my arm.
Look up there on the second deck,
just beyond that group of ladies. Do
you see that tall man with the red vest
and check shirt-front?"
''Yes."
81 haven't seen that face in twelve
year.; but can't be mistaken in it.