The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-08-18
CHAPTER ".

rather Hugh Caravan, as he will be
known in the future.
Down in the valley, almost at the
foot of Sunrise Peak, shaded by bal
sans, oaks, and frs, stand a plain,
u~npretentious, one story structure, built
of log and stone. Extending aroundon
three sides of the dwelling, is low, wide
piazza, the upright supports Of which
are simply the bodies of small tree,
from which the bark had not SO much
the woodbine and yellow jasmine,
their bright red and golden bells hang
ing IN clusters from the ewes above,
filed the air with an Intoxicating
sweetness, In front Of the cottage
stretches a smoothe, grassy lawn, dot
ted with beds of blooming flowers and
rOckeries of ferns and cactus. IN this
secluded and picturesque nook-the
home of the mountaineer and his beau
tiful daUghter-Hugh Caravan rests
serenely, all unconscious of the Incl
dents related in our last chapter and
the changes that are soon to be wrought
in his life.
Oae evening as he lay stretched at
full length upon the lawn-a picture of
peace, contentment and laziness-the
following collCquy reached his cal.
Rose was in the kitchen, helping Aunt
Hannah, one of those old, privileged
family servants, to pre- pare tea. Aunt
Hannah had been humming a nIelan
cholly ditty, but accidently spying
Hugh Caravan where helay beneath the
tree, she suddenly stopped, mum5led
to herself for a few moments and then,
addressing her young mistress, said:
Honey"
"Well, Aunt Hannah"
Il wans!er ak you somethin' an l
don't want yer to git mad with de ole
oman fer 'pearin' to NEEDLE wild what
amt none o her business"
Very well, AFFINITY Hannah, I'm lis,
tening; what is it?"
C winter promise you won't git
mad, honey?"
Yes, I reckon 30
"Well den, fust, I wanter ak you a
question: How longs dat city chap
gwinter loaf round here anyhow"
Rose, more amused than vex9d, an
sWered:
WHO do you refer to, Mr.. Cara
van?"
Yes, dat his name. Cant think ov
it somehow-sounds s)rter like-well
I don't know what"
80 you want to know how long Mr..
Caravan is going to stay 2"
Yes, honey, OATS jest what I Wanter
know"
That's more than I al say, Aunt
Hannah, but there is one thing that I DO
know and that is, that he is welcome
to remain with us Just as long as he
likes"
'Taint none o my business course,
but it pears ter me he's mighty we'll
pleased wild SOMEBODY; he's bin here
nigh on'ter two weeks, an hain'G got
no notion of leavin' Utter while.
L9as' ways, OATS de way it pears ter
IF Mr.. Caravan has found his stay
with US pleasant-so much so that he
has no notion Of leaving 'yiter o
while as you say, our mountain
scenery must indeed be tiue. He tells
me that he has travelled all owe
Switzerland and Scotland, and that the
scenery to be found in the Alps and
the Highlands of Scotland is nothing
in comparison to that to be found here
in Western North Carolina. Just think
of that, Aunt HannahI"
'LOr, child, he don't care nc more
bout de scenery round herein I do.
Why, honey, he ain5 bin fifty yards
frum de house since he come here.
He amt looked alter mount'n since he's
bin here. H. wouldn't know dare was
sich'r thing round here less he run'r
gin it 6ccidently. Lor, honey, he amt
studdy'n' scenery-he amt. He amt
scuddy'n'nuhn' butyou'nan an dat purity
face o yOwn."
Aunt Hannah"
'Lor, honey, you can't fool dis'year
ole oman; her amt got but one eye
and tooth in her head, but her can seer
heap more'n some folks think. Now,
child, l wanter gia you sum good ad-
vice, long as you amt got No ma
ter wise you; and your daddy-well,
there amt no use talkin' bout him he
gone bline, too-leasways, he seemster