Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-09-29
Long Time Tween Drinks.


when whiskey with sugar was i've
csnts glass. and all backs were
turned as that glass was filled, writes
Senator Vance, and when a white
man was considered as good as ne
gro if he behaved himself, the gov
ernor OF North Carolina took IL INTO
his head one day TO pay long prom
ised visit to his neiGhbor, the govern
or of South Carolina. s. he put
clean shirt and pair OF socks In his
saddle-bag, mounted his horse and
rode away through the pine forests
toward the south. Diligently follow
inc his nose in this direction, he came
in due time to the home OF bis broth
er governor. where he was received
with all the honors Of genuine south
EN- hospitality. When asked how he
felt. his characteristic reply was;
Thank you, Governor, | AIN tired,
sleepy, hungry and sober. ~ The lat
ter cordially assured him that he
could remedy all these.
Next day dinner was served at
twelve o'clock, rs the horn blew for
the hands TO come in. After II was
over, tn. two governors retired to the
shade OF the long back porch, where
corncob pipes. with long twists OF
homegrown tobacco, awaited them.
There. in the long, soft afternoon,
reclining on easy-bottomed rockers,
they lolled and smoked, and talked
the hours away. BetwiNt the twain,
on tho floor. sat brimming pitcher
Of apple-toddy, with the mellow,
roasted fruit impudently floating on
the surface OF the divine ;ipplc. From
time TO time this aided and enIiveued
the conversation. They talked ot the
comparative eIceilences and advau-
tages OF their respective States, and
OF the price OF cotton, OF horSe-ralslnS
and runaway negroes. As they talked
thev smoked. and as they talked they
drank. They speculated on the com
ing glories OF the country, they
pledged eternal friendship TO each
other personally, aud vowed to pre-
serve all neighbOrly cOurtesies be
tween the two Carolins States for
ever aud forever, amen. Now and
then they would doze in their easy
chairs under the mellow influence OF
their happy surroundings, aud on
waking up Indignantly deny having
been asleep and take another drink
to prove their wakefulneSs. And
thus things went on.
Now, it happened that the govern
or OF South Carolina had II wite-as
all good governors should have, on
the principle OF the old maxim that
he who aspires TO govern should lirst
learn TO obey-aud her name WAS
Betsy Jane. She well knew the fail
ure OF her governor, and so easily
guessed that the visiting governor
was tarred with the same stick.
Quietly watching proceedings, she at
length concluded that these two Old
chicks were a. full as they could well
hold without stopping over, aud 1t
was time TO stop. Watching her op
portunity during rather protrRcted
doze, she slipped away the pitcher,
still half full, and inserted in its place
a piggin Of cool spring water, with n
clear. yellow sourd hanging on the
handle. But the instincts OF nature
are infallible Though sound asleep,
the governor Of North Carolina felt
that something was wrong-a lack OF
spirit, "a it were; every nerve in him
cried out against the presence OF a
hostile element, and he awoke. His
perturbed soul had not deceived him.
The pitcher Of toddy was gone.
lie immediately awakened his host,
who courteously inquired: What II
the matter - Don't you see what Is
the matter" said the guest, looking
Indignantly at the piggin and gonrd.
Indeed, see nothing wrong, said
the now distressed host. please tell
Inc what is the matter, my dear Gov
ernor." The devil you say 20 to
sleep with pitcher Of toddy before
me. | wake up and find piggin oil
spring water, and the Governor oi
South Carolina tells me in his OWL
house that he sees nothing wrong ir
that. Well. we'll All have TO say,
said the Governor OF North Carolina
rising with a very great but rather
unsteady dignity, lis that it is a Ions
time between drinks oh, saiG
the Governor OF South Carolina, al
the situation flashed on him, Il see
that's Betsy Jane. She means stop
and we're done for the day. I'm sorry
| can't bring that pitcher back.
humbly beg your pardon, but mayb'
there's Betsy Jane at your nous
and maybe you know how it Il your
self" The offended dignity Of TN
/ Governor Of North Carolina dissolved
slowly into a genial smile Of intelli
gent comprehension, and, solemn.
winking one eye, he fell-either upoI
the neck OF the host. or upon tn
porch floor, tradition does not "a.
Misunderstanding, you bet, old boy
you bet
And that's how il came about
Throughout all that southern LAM
tradition has wickedly repeated an
kept alive the saying Of the Goyerno
Of North Carolina a. convenien
mode Of jogging the memory or stin
ulating the tagging hospitality OF
host. but has failed to embalm in hU
man memory the righteous prudsnc
and wifely virtues Of Betsy Jane, tn
spouse Of the Governor OF South Ca