The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-11-13

one place is as good as another for me,
you find us here Sis is just home from
school foP the first time in two years,
and with the hunting, parties, etc
perhaps we may manage to throw a
little spice in your life for a week or so,
as the people up here are what you
would term original"
1T was some hours after dark
when we drove up to the Hail. or
rather, to a big country store in front
of it, where a negro took charge Of the
team and we entered the store, where
we were met by Mr.. Thornton, a rubi-
con, red faced, good-natured looking
old gentleman of perhaps 60 years,
dressed in brown jeans, a Stetson soft
hat, pants stuck in high top boots and
a leather guard to a $3.50 gold watch.
He welcomed me effusively, and intro
duced me to the assembled crowd, after
we had all taken a smile in the shape
of hot eggnog"
This is our venerable recluse, MI.
Oscar De Vann, Mr. Foster" present
ing me to a very intelligent looking old
gentleman with long white hair and
beard, piercing black eyes and rather
French cast of features. He carried
a long rife of the flint and steel pat
tern, and was followed by a lean look
ing yellow hound"
This is Bill Skies, Joe Martin, Gus
Davis, Jim Kiser and Fred Pats. Pats
is the man who held the polls at the
last election and went off coon hunting
with the ballot box, taking all the votes
with him. He has just got back, but
our party was elected fair and square,
so there was no harm done. Gus Davis
here thinks himself the best shot in
this section, but if / am not much mis-
taken Jack here has taken some of the
starch out of him. He bet him one day
last week a quart of u best apple
brandy he could shoot the cooa's>tail
off that cap without touching Gus, at
thirty yards. Jack lost the brandy
and Gus only a small piece of his ear,
but it was fine shooting" ~whereupon
all laughed.
"All these gentlemen are up here to
get Santa Claus, Mr.. Foster, and we
will promise you a day of it to morrow
if the snow does not freeze too hard.
But I am keeping you from supper.
Here, Starchy," turning to a young
country lad, keep store until we re-
turn"
Il shall never forget my surprise on
entering the home of my friend, Jack
Thornton. I knew him to be a gentle
man Of considerable wealth, education
and refinement, but he was always so
full of energy, uncOuth sayings and
freedom of speech that M would not
expect to find him surrounded by such
a refined home circle. The mother was
a pale, languid old lady of true
Southern a~ristocracy, and she wei
coined me in the most cordial but dig
niied manner, and expressed the hope
that my stay would be pleasant, and
uL4Ou Nv "OOAN a OCA4AOA4CJ W. w
ize Jack. I was somewhat anxious to
know what the sister would be like,
but as no mention was made of her, l
occupied my time in looking over the
house, which was built of iron colored
stone from the adjacent mountains, of
two stories, with a veranda on all sides,
covered with wild creepers. The fire
places we're massive, and a bright fire
of hickory logs cast a mellow glow
throughout the room, aided by the
light from a huge brass lamp suspended
from the ceiling, with innu nerable
chandeliers. The pictures, carpet,
furniture and brica brac were rich and
in good taste. In fact, it was Oh g of
the most complete country home-pic,
lures I ever beheld, everything indi-
eating ease and comfort. A negro ser
want girl announced supper, and we
piled into the long dining room, where
there was a bright fee at both ends Of
the room. Tt is impossible to- describe
that supper, and much more soato
describe the vision of loveliness that
greeted my eyes as we entered the
room. I shall forget my sensa
sations on being presented to Kate
Thornton, for I can new remember
just how I got through with either the
supper or Introduction, for I felt al if
I had been ~mesmerized, or had just
awakened from a dream She was tall,
graceful, with aperfect figure, and her
movements we're the embodiment of
grace and the art of motion; she had
long black hair, which fell in flowing
masses over her shapely shoulders and