Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-08-02
Virgiuia frse grrss.
W. ". b. GALLAHBR, Editor.
Ohariesto'O", JEFFERSON County, West Va
august ?, 1898.
Hoe the Governors Met.

In the olden lines or our statehood, be-
fore the steam engine bullied the earth
with thunderous stroke and reduced space
to a mere matter of time, when whiskey
with sugar was FIVE cents glass and all
backs were turned when that glass was
filled, and when a white man was con-
sdered as good as negro if he behaved
himself, the Governor of North Carolina
took it into his head one day to pay a
long promised visit to his neighbor, the
Governor of South Carolina. So he put
clean shirt and a pair of socks in his
saddle bag, mounted his horse and rode
away through the pine forests toward
the south. Diligently following his nose
in that direction he came in due time to
the home of his brother Governor, where
he was received with all the honors Of
southern hospitality. When asked how
he felt, his characteristic reply was,
"Thank you, Governor, | am tired,
sleepy, hungry and sober" The host
cordially assured him that he could rem
edy all these. Next day dinner was served
at twelve o'clock as the horn blew for
the hands to come in. After it was over
the two Governors retired TO the shade of
the long back porch, where corncob pipes
with long twists of home grown tobacco
awaited them.
There, in the long, soft afternoon, re-
clin,ng in easy bottom rockers, they
lolled and smoked and talked the hours
away. Betwixt the twain, on the floor
sat brimming pitcher of apple toddy
with the mellow, roasted fruit impudently
floating on the surface Of the divine tip
pie. From time to time this aided and
enlivened the conversation. They talk
ed of the comparative excellences and
advantages of their respective States, OF
the price of cotton, of horse raising and
runaway negroes as they talked they
smoked aud as they smoked they drank.
They speculated on the coming glorles
of the country, they pledged eternal
friendship to each other personally, and
vowed to preserve all neighborly courte-
sizes between the two Carolina States for
ever and forever, amen Now and then
they would doze in their easy chairs un-
der the mellow influence of their happy
surroundings, and on waking up would
Indignantly deny having been asleep, and
take another drink to prove their wake
fulness. And thus things went on.
Now it happened that the Governor Of
South Carolina had wife-as all good
Governors shoald have, on the principle
Of the old maxim that he who aspires to
govern should first learn to obey-and
her name was Betsy Jane. She well
knew the failing of her Governor and she
easily guessed that the visiting Governor
was tarred with the same stick. Quietly
watching proceedings she at length con-
cluded that these two old cocks were
about as full as they could we'll hold
without stopping over, and it was time to
stop. Watching her opportunity, during
rather protracted doze, she slipped away
the pitcher, still half full, and inserted
in its place a piggin of cool spring water
with clear, yellow gourd hanging on
the handle But the instincts of nature
are infallible. Though sound asleep the
Governor of North Carolina felt tha
something was wrong-a lack of spirit a
it were-every nerve in him cried ou
against the presence Of hostile element
and he awoke. His perturbed soul bad no
deceived him. The pitcher of toddy wa!
gone. He Immediately awakened hi
host, who coufeously inquired, What il
the matter?" Don't you see what is th'
matter?" SAID the guest, looking ind g
nantly at the piggin and the gOurd.-
"Indeed, l see nothing wrong. said th
now distressed host. "Please tell M
what is the matter, my dear Governor.
"The devil you say Nothing wrong, in
deed | 60 to sleep with pitcher Q
toddy before me, | wake up aud fnd
piggin of spring water, aud the Governo
of South Carolina tells me in his ow
house fhat he sees nothing wrong in that