The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-29
A TRIP TO THE COUNTRY.
important Notes by the Waysitle.

Important Notes by the Wayside.
The editor of the Press and Banner took a
day last Friday to visit his sister on Hard
Labor.
quite a while, but owing TO the threatening
weather and other circumstances II was post
pOned from time TO time.
Friday morning was not more promising
| Thin king that that day would not be more
wet than the other days, we hired one OF
Messrs A. NJ. Hill Sons fast travellers, and
off we went. -,
q heavy rain was falling in the distance The
wind being favorable we had SO little fear OF
rain, that we did not put up the side curtains
or get out the oilcloth to throw over the dash.
board and lap robe. Suddenly rain fell. II
we undertook then TO buckle up the curtains
and open the oil cloth, we would certainly get
wet SO we opened our umoreIia ~ IA ana M wns Pro @
half an hour, but not enough TO run In the
road.
on the farms. Fields bad been plowed and nn-
iergrowth had been cut along the way. The
edges of the fields In some places mad been
cleared and ploWed where we doubted The ex-
pediency or advisability OF the act. where
the road has been worn down below the sur.
face OF the field, the clearing to the edge OF
the road may, in some instances, cause the
land to wash and allow the cream OF the soil
To escape.
We saw some new garden palings at differ
ent houses. occupied by colored persons. In
each Instance they were OF greer, pine SPIT
we took 10 be of pine poles with the bark on
them. Others, warped between the rails
made what we have heard called "wottle'
fence or paling. One OF the chief dithculties
incident TO putting up garden fence In this
way lies In the fact that the palings shrink
with the first sunshine, and afterwards the
rabbits and chickens don't seem to understand
what the fence Is for, and innocently 60 IN at
the cracks and help themselves TO whatever
vegetables may please their taste or attract
their eye. But this disadvantage is offset IL
by the 5ep sse Reod % Ss
burn, the wife can easily get spare slat
Off the back part OF the garden, with which to
start the fire.
In instructing the chickens and rabbits as 70
the intention and purpose OF setting up the
"wottle" palings, there can be no doubt OF Its
benefits as tire-kindler next winter.
We saw some hillside bitches and some hill
side plowing, too. AS land-destroyer there
Is nothing equal TO hillside ditch, except
perhaps the plan OF running the burrows up
and down the hill. II the object is 10 run off
every particle OF soil as quickly as possible,
the hillside ditch and the aforesaid burrows
will come nearest accomplishing the purpose.
Terracing, If properly done, Is what we
need.
TIE roads had been very we'll worked In
some places, and other places were then being
touched up.
notable cnange In tne route OF tne puoilc
highway is made on the lands Of Mr.. John L.
Mcneil. where the road is turned slightly to
the right, and kept on the crest Of the hill, In
stead OF, as formerly, running down and up
preciate the Improvement. There are many
other instances where, by a little trouble, a
greatly improved road may be had.
The road workers in one place had about
slide of the road. We presume that everybody
knows that the letters on the mile post should
always read toward the place from which the
road is posted. For instance; ;,H, A:C; IT,, should @
House. Leaving Aobeville the traveller
should find the mile posts on the right hand
side OF the road but In gGip1g 1s to Aooeviie
The road which formerly allowed the trav-
eler to pass the town of Verdery in the rear
has been closed and now everybody passes
through the main thoroughfare OF the town;
After staying for several hours With rela.
tives, we put up all the curtains and spread
oil cloth all over Us. We started home.
ward, and 1t didn't rain at all.
lis smith lives. Bonhan began to cut some
extra capers while giving unmistakable signs
OF a disposition TO get away from that par
tic2lar spot In the shortest sort OF order.
still, and upon examination II was found that
an important piece Of the harm ess had parted.
There was no chance to avoid 1t. We had TO
un wrap and get down In the road where the
which makes IT most adhesive to ones shoes.
The harness tied. we again took up our jour-
ney.
When within q mile or SO of Long Cane
creek we met colored man who said Norris
creek was too full for him to cross, and Long
Cane was nearly up to the bridge. This was
not com mforting, but we hurried across Long
Cane which, by the time that We reached
the crossing was tapping the bridge, and
the water was running across and covering
new places In the fields on this side OF the
bridge. The water in some places on the
road in the bottoms was over the axle OF the
buggy. Passing this stream In safety, we
went lelsurly to Norris Creek, q mile and half
distant.
Knowing that the steam would run down
In very short time, we resolved TO walt for
the subsIdeuce Of the waters rather than be
drowned In attempting TO ford q greatly
swollen stream. At the bank. we met one
man who had just crossed the creek and
we saw another standing In the middle
of the stream, allowing his horse TO drink.
We forded in safety, and on the last few
miles toward home found that very heavy
rain had fallen. It Is said that II was the
heaviest rain that has fallen at Abbeville in
years. Two of Mr.. Patrick McCaslan's mules
were drowned in the Blue Hill branch.
Arriving at home just In time for warm
supper and a good cup of coffee, we read the
letters and papers for awhile, closing up with
one OF Talmage's sermons, and at an early
hour we lay down and were soon fast asleep.