Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-23
AFIsHISG STORY.
In Which the Fish Do NOR
Figure.

Correspondence Of the Dispatch)
DWALE. DICKINSON COUNTY. VA,
August 20-Looking al the thermometer
few days ago, and noting the height to
which the mercury had Inadvertently"
assembled. naturally enough suggested
trip 10 the Breaks" OF Cumberland.
which Is associated with the idea Of cool
breezes in summer, and l suppose with
the quality I'm more positive sense. say
s'cold" in winter. Then ! called upon
my friend Howell, whose Christian name
Is simply Jim" but who signs promis-
sorry note as III. F." Howell. meaning
Henry Frank" and suggested this trip
TO him. He signified his perfect willing
ness 10 take the trip, but said that
vacuum in his pocket-book. which had
existed there since the panic OF 1888 viz
tually decided the question, 10 so. or
not 10 go, with him. Now. the same
condition existed with regard TO my
pocket-book, but I could not allow this
ihing Of nothingness 10 hamper me IN this
manner We each had some means.
but IL was not available on the present
occasion. I had 1923 invested in a gourd
and cucumber crop, and as soon as they
can be marketed. I shall be possessed
of available funds. Ny friend Jim,
alias Henry Frank" had s1.T invested
in moonshine distillery. His means
was expended in rye for distnlng pur-
poses. and the whiskey will be sold at
the next term OF County Court, when he
Will be financially Independent.
But my plan was 10 carry provisions.
matches and starch with US and do our
own housekeeping and laundering. So l
had the partner Of my joys and sorrows
20 bake bushel of corn meal into
dodgers Of respectable size and shape.
which. by the way, when baked, did not
hold out measurement and came very
near causing me 10 suspect her honesty.
But from the depths Of my heart ! could
not blame her; for this was the only
bushel OF meal we had and the children
might cry for bread while I was gone.
Then We put the three pecks and one
quart Of bread in the neither end Of
large meal sack. and the same measure
OF green cucumbers In the hither end.
and saddled old Kate, whose years Of
service date from the Greeley-Grant
campaign. In whatever year. A. D.. that
was. Then balancing the sack upon the
old mare, we started. driving a COW be-
fore US. 10 give milk-for we are told
that bread and milk Is the stat OF life.
NO ADVENTURE.
We had no adventures on the way
worth relating. The safo COW evinced
ecme unwillingness 10 be found in our
company. but we could not allow her 10
think OF returning Old Kate must have
felt herself honored by being In our COM
pany. for she showed willing dsposi-
tion TO do whatever we suggested. Just
as old Sol was preparing 10 make his
exit, and enter the land OF Old Kaintuck,
we arrived at our destination and began
90 make arrangements for our encamp-
ment. We built FIRE. and broke bushes
20 make us a "downy' bed upon which TO
repose our tired features" ] MIXED
e.
being rather warm but very palatable
Now. one difficulty doomed up 10 our
view. we had forgotten to make any
provisions for feed for old Kate and the
cow We haltered the old mare up
promising her TO make business trip TO
eome farmers oat-feld for her benefit,
and told the COW 10 Craze upon the bushes
at her own sweet Will. We passed the
night In toierable comfort save we were
awakened frequently by the mosquitoes.
who called at all hours OF the night. and
peremptorlaily insisted upon making our
acquaintance. Our breakfast consisted
of the same fare we had for supper the
previous night After breakfast we did
not forget the promise we. had made TO
old Kate; the cow was also the bene-
nclary OF this trip.
SOMETHING WRONG.
Things being now put in order. we pro-
cceded 20 take IN the scenery. 'Jim."
alias Henry Frank" pretended that he
had been there before. but between you
land me, gentle reader, doubt Il. He
said we would 30 10 the "Chimneys"
first; 30 We set or through briars. brush.
rocks, and perhaps snakes. The latter.
however. DID not bite US. but the briars
did After rambling about till nearly II
o'clock Nj. and finding no "Crimneys."
he said there was something wrong
about the matter which IL f,lst what /
bsd been thinking. He then said we
oouid md the Towers" any way but
- AWAY wsss iiksvisS 10 vhers 70