The Meeker herald., 1893-05-06
A YANKEE GIRL.

James river canal on what was called
packct-boat from Richmond to
buchanan. Buchanan is a little old
village on both sides of the james
in the shadows of the Blue Ridge and
Purgatory mountains.
was miss of 10, by eve" |
mean my parents and myself. My
father had an interest in an iron
mine there. This is what attracted
us to that locality
A new railroad up the valley was
! juet boina completed, 80 our trip was
the last one on the old canal Mules
were the motive power. They were
driven by negroes, Once or twice
the interest of our trip was varied by
the mules getting ''yankedh back by
the rope catching in n snag; then
mules and drivers would roll down
the bank all in a tangled heap. The
captain on those occasions was much
more concerned about the mules than
about their drivers.
The room in the boat called the
grand saloon in the day time was at
night transformed into II dormitory.
The floor was slippery with tobacco
]
tain at night for the women to slum-
Der in, the other end was yelled for
the men. On certain evening, as
we ladies We're retiring, a German
emigrant missed one of his small
boys and feared he had fallen over
board. He frantically invaded our
apartment, shouting wildly for his
'poy." The sight of mouse would
not have caused greater consterna-
tion among us. After we got to bed
we were entertained for the rest of
the night by the iicas; mean the
remainder of the night, for there was
no rest in it.
We changed boats at midnight.
The two crafts "hove to" alongside
each other with bunk windows oppo-
site, through which the men crawlcd
and the women were pulled. Some
Of us We're asleep when the transfer
occurred and could not account for
the changed appearance of the boat
next morning. 1t must have been n
boat like this that Martin Chuzzlewit
and Mark Tapley travelled to Eden on.
We landed in some yellow mud and
stood in it till the bus returned from
delivering our baggage at the hotel
The bus was grocery wagon. While
waiting, the darkcy women urged pc
titions for places as cook or washer
women, recommended their BOYS. Said
\ -.s.=--I>--'- -L,-;- -.-----i.i---,-
Jaugc Washin'ton TO- dom chores /;
Mas Wood was after him this mawn-
in but | done tole him | dun keeped
him for you'ns."
At the hotel we were assigned
rooms on the third floor. The win
dows of them were denuded of cur
tains, the walls were blank and the
floors bare Homespun counterpanes
of dark hue were spread upon the
beds. We took it as the style, and
concluded to do as the Nirginians
did. The male guests were all titled
gentlemen. No man was common
'.mistcr.n My father was given the
title Of captain" the next day. The
.'majorn of the hostelry was in a
room next mine. BY series of sim
gular condolences the major always
happened to be coming out of his
apartment at the same moment that
was leaving mine. He, stepping
would result, which called forth
from him polite bows and apologies
and declarations that did he have
any idea that / was making my exit
he would have waited, for he consid-
cred it hallowed ground where was.
In this way he improved my acquain-
lance and placed his mare Perch at
my disposal.
He was middle-aged major-a
Southern gentleman and a gentleman
of honah, sab. In the dining-room
he sat as near me as he could, and
faced me. His teeth seemed impaired,
for he had a custom of extracting the
juice from meat and other food. leav-
ing the fiber in pulpy chunks on the
edge of his plate, and all the while
keeping his eyes on the Yankee girl.
Our bill of fare was boiled turnips
and fat pork for dinner. What was
left was warmed over for supper, and
the balance we had cold for break
fast These Injuries were accom-
panied by fiat hot biscuits or corn
broad and molasooc.
There was an ancient, solidly built
square house in the town that was Il
bank before the war. JEFF Davis drew
his last money-$75, 000-out of it to
carry on his cause. This house be-
came our home when we left the hotel.
One moonlight night | was seated
at my chamber window admiring the
shadowy mountains, when sweet
strains from guitar arose from be-
meath. 1t was the first time / had
been serenaded, and | was not sure
that it was done in honor of me. but
] believed it TO be very romantic.
The next night it was repeated. Then
ventured to drop a flower with u
friendship ring fastened to it upon
which were my initials. My father
jealousy guarded me against all
suitors. and, as this one became per-
sistent, he sent me to spend a few
weeks at the Natural Bridge in order
to break up the one-sided affair, for
as yet ! was not acquainted with the
mysterious serenader. i sojourncd
at hotel there, and was accompanied
by chaperon who kept me as Sc
cluded as possible. One day | saw
the major there, to my surprise. but
he was not given chance to come
near me.
The next morning very early
slipped away to take a walk alone
and explore a cave that | had heard
| f.,,, Il