Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-11-01
AN AFRICAN ROMANCE.
A Story Blended with Some Interesting
Colonial History.
BY EDWARD EVERETT HALE.

NnaU UlQ was 10 lay my Hedu OA Olio
side as If l were desirous of sleeping,
and to put my finger IN my mouth as If
I wanted 10 eat 1 had learned the
first signal from the ballet, and the
second from Mother Nature and the
Navajo Indians. He laughed good
naturedy and pointed to tho village. A
group of boys and girls, with few
uncles and aunts, fathers and mothers,
were assembled already to see the won
der. For myself, was asking myself
whether they would sing, as they did to
Mungo Park;
Let us pity the white mani
No m )ther has he to bring him milk,
No wife to grind his corn.
But am not writing for Mr.. Fewkes or
the chronological Society SO will only
say that my guide was evidently top
sawyer In the crowd, and that he made
them march right and left as he would.
Before ten minutes had passed was ly-
Ing on two or three nice sweet mats OF in
describable perfume, and gentle black
woman, dressed also in high-cOlored
Manchester chintz, had brought me
cup of coffee. AT er this there was
enough TO cat, and OF the best, too
And, to make the story as short as l can,
in this house spent the night, on these
same mats, indeed Conversation is
very hard when it has to be confined to
pantOmime. 1 described the river as
well as l could, and the play Of the
walk ng beam of the engine of the Prin-
cess Beatrice. Of one thing [ may say
/ am certain-that my friend had seen
her or had not. But, whether he had
seen her or not do not know. At one
time thought he had, and went on with
inquiries as to the distance that might
part me from her at that moment. But
afterward had reason to think that he
supposed l described the jumping up
and down Of some monkeys who had been
playing upon the tree. Such are the
dangers of sign language.
After little conversation or this sort
intimated that l would like to go to
sleep. He intimated that there was no
better time nor place. With consider
alton had not expected, he stretchet
mat, or sort of curtain across the
room-or house, for there was but one
room under the roOf-and [ found my
self in my bedroom. | cannot say that
l went to bel. / was already in my bed
"a rapidity OF com o have not found
in more elaborate forms OF civilization.
1t was the next morning that the
revelation came, which | am trying TO
write out in this story, if by good luck
and persistent effort can get to it. l
wss wakened early from a sound sleep,
by the singing OF the birds, believe it
is called by the poets. 1t was, in fact,
the rasping and eXasrerating screaming
of cocks, guinea hens, geese and ducks.
For these African villages are nothing
thout their poultry 1t is easy 10 dress
when you have not undress ed and it
was scarcely 6 o'clock when l found
myself, not at table, for were all on
the ground, but at breakfast, with a
larger company than the night before.
The fare was much what it was then.
There were plenty Of ta2anas, much
finer than the newsboy ever sold n e on
a TAN. The resistan e-piece was a
platter of rice, wi boiled chicken and
lut.er, all together. The eli ken was
iointed so that one could take hold of
any piece he wished. For we ale as
Adam and Eve did--if, indeed, they had
come as far as kabobs of chicken.
AS bent forward to take a side-bone
which looked attractive, fine old fell
low in white nigh gown happened to
see, hanging from my watch-chain, an
old, very old, silver shilling. 1t was
shilling of Charles I. in perfect condi-
ton, which dug up several years be-
fore in our orchard when l was setting
out some qun2e trees. When the old
man saw this he bent over eagerly and
begged me to show it to him that he
might examine it, His manner was
perfectly courteous. But l confess l
thought looked my last on my shilling.