St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-04-26
AUNT MARTHA "GOES DOWN"
written for the CALIFORNIAN

Ph1l, Sa1Q aunt MdIlHd " h0l
husband, as they sat before the open
fire in their little cabin, Il wants to
go down."
Down WHARF asked Phil,
Strengthening up, and knocking the
ashes from his stone pipe.
ITO Wixbug, ub coase," rejoined
his wife.
SIS dis a new kink," pursued Phil,
"or a tower you bin thinkin' Oh some
time?'
81 bin thinkin' bout it some time"
replied Aunt Martha. "Wixbug
amt fur, an 1 wants to see little
ub de worl' by myself"
oval, Marthy," said Phil, resign
eddy, you got yo' ye'r's work. You
kin do as you please wild it. l amt
nothin' tall to say bout it."
Aunt Martha was the cook at the
owners residence on a large cotton
plantation in the South. She came
nearer being as broad as she was
long than any human shape l ever
saw. Her gait was a regular ducks
waddle. Mentally, she was almost
totally lacking. At the time of the
above conversation, she had just
finished a years work, and must
have some way to enjoy the hundred
dollars that remained above ex
penses.
There was new railroad being
built through the country, but 1t
was not yet ready for transporter
ton. Nevertheless, it was possible
to ride on the construction train
which passed up and down once
day. The means by which she went
made no difference to Aunt Martha.
She was determined to ''go down."
Accordingly, when the necessary ar
rangements had been made, and the
fatal morning came, Aunt Martha
and Phil stationed themselves on the
road-crossing to wait for the train.
Mr.. Charles Banks, son of Aunt
Martha's old master, was also pres
ent. There were almost no accom-
modations on the road. No such thing
as station existed. The train was
simply tagged wherever passenger
wished to board it.
well, Aunt Martha" said Mr..
Banks, Il see the train, and must
bidIyou goodbye. AS have toldyou
several times, l wish you would not
go alone, particularly when the
travelling is so bad. If you are de-
termined to go, slip this into some
pocket you don't use very much. 1t
may help you if you get into trouble.
Remember not to take it out, as
long as you have good time"
Phil tagged the train. With the
assistance of several men, Aunt
Martha was soon perched on the top
of car loaded with ties.
Goodbye Phil; goodbye, Marse
Cholly," she turned and shouted
back.
As the train moved off, and she
saw her best friends left behind, her
courage failed. She would have
wept, but the foreman of the train
came along just then, and asked for
her fare.
Where are you going, Auntie ?"
asked he.
"I's gwine down." she said.
ITO what placer" roared the i'm
patient man.
ITO Wixbug, SIR" answered Aunt
Martha, in evident alarm.
This train goes only to the Yazoo
Bridge" returned the foreman.
From there, you will have to go
around by river. The fare to the
ferry is dollar and a quarter"
dat enough ?" asked Aunt
Martha, smiling idiotically, as she
handed out half dollar.
"You old fool" Numbered the fore
man, in evaporation, II told you
the fare was dollar and quarter"
wal, here's noz' on, den, said
Aunt Martha, as with increasing
dread of the man, she passed him a
five-dollar gold piece. Is you salts
fed now?"
THAT will answer" he growled,
taking advantage of the poor
woman's ignorance, and pretending