Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-07

people, white and black, so differcn
from those 20 whom had been accut
tomcd the sights and sounds Of tn
river by day and by night, and, as w
entered the cotton belt, the spectacle
of immense tracts Of rich black loan
on the bottoms or the uplands, burst
ing into the "mimic snow Of the cotton
field" these were the things that KEEP
my mind In kind OF rapture all tn,
way. To the speedy meeting with m!
bencfactor looked forward impa
tiently. Never, believe, did man cas-
his former life behind him more en-
tirely than had done.
was ashore at Vicksburg before Thu
steamer was fairly moorcd. IL wa
not the picturesque little city OF 20
day, but n scattered town OF barely
four thousand inhabitants, struggling
along the river bottom and trying I,
climb the heights. arranged will
one of the dozens of loaiing negroes u
carry my trunk, and, escaping from
the crowd Of passengers, cotton-buycrs
and "roustabouts," that the dozer
steamers lying with their tall smoke
pipes along the river front had
brought here, climbed well up the
bluffs and engaged quarters at quieI
place kept by n one-eyed Frcnchman
who would talk without the slightest
excuse or provocation.
After supper, as we sat out In front
and Watched the twinkling lights on
the river, and heard the hoarse shouts
of the steamboat men TO the negro
roustnbouts, as they unloaded cargo or
"wooded up" asked my host II he
knew anything OF Mr.. Pierce BostoclS,
n wealthy planter Of the vicinity.
'lIossytook, sair? | nevair hear 20
name"
81 believe he does not live right here;
IL Is few miles below"
81 cannot tell; know him not"
A small shadow fell upon my exuber-
ant spirits. had taken IL for granted
that everybody in vicksburg knew OF
the great and rich Mr.. Bostoclt.
AS we sat there, my host inquired OF
several loungers, one after another, II
they know the object OF my search.
Not one had ever heard Of him.
al do not gay zere is not such man"
said the Frenchman. But have been
here four year, and have not hear 20
name"
A'Who was it2" man asked, coming
In for drink.
"a planter named Pierce Bostock."
He gulped down his brandy, wiped
his mouth with the back Of his hand
and began TO mediate.
"BostockI declare have heard the
name. I'm up and down the river all
the time, and things gifts away from
my head In week; but II amt clear
outen the channel a man with some
such name was mixed up in n fight
some time ago. Wasn't IL so, Frenchy?"
81 tell you know not ze name"
Rather detected, was about to re-
tire, resolved TO start out In the morn
ing and make n systematic search for
when II communicative
old negro approached me. lie had
heard my Inquiries and told me that
'' bout seben year ago, or mebbe
longer" he was lone OF Marse Bos-
tock's boys" lie remembered the
place we'll; he could tell me Just where
10 find II. slipped half dollar into
his hand and encouraged him TO 90 on.
"Oh, yo' can't miss EN-, young maus-
sal Great big house, bout three mile
back from dc ribber; with great v'ran-
Ter all round"
But how far-and what road?"
TITS n right smart ways. specs as
much rs five or seventeen miles. Yo' go
up to de bluff road, an yo' follow him
Town right smart; den yo' branches off
1t de Muddy Corners; after awhile yo'
,urns TO de right, an den 20 ares do
cdW o, yo'll find him."
Not much encouraged by this rather
cloudy direction, but glad to find
somebody who had some faith In the
existence Of the object of my search, /
took nights rest. The morning found
ne early astir. succeeded In hiring
h mule, being assured that there was
no other mode OF carriage practicable,
and after breakfast ! mounted and
pushed out on my quest.
The reader who has ever tried to
make his way over the roads of the
south of thirty years ago, to say moth
ing OF n later day, and TO gain infor-
nation as he progressed about dis
tances and localities, will not be sur
prised to learn that consumed the
whole of that long June day In finding
The plantation Of my search. Doubts,
ignorance, and very little positive in
formation, were surprisingly mingled.
Had not the patience of my mule been
by my own, think should
have turned back In despair before
meridian. Whether white or black
were inquired of, the general uncer-
tainty was the same. Some had heard
II MIR. Bostock; some had not. OF
those who had heard of him, some
thought he had been killed some way;
they could not tell how. Others
thought he had moved away some-
where, they knew not where. Still
others there We're who were sure that
MIR. Bostock still lived on the big plan.
-ntion, but whether II was five miles
away or fifty, they had not least idea.
t5PN cet1---DA
I c.; ;iz;f1t, 5R|fl.EE IN
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