The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-05-04
CHAPTER VI.

field" these were the things that kept
my mind in kind of rapture all the
way. To the speedy meeting with my
benefactor I looked forward impa-
tiently. Never, I believe, did man cast
his former life behind him more en-
tirely than I had done. .'
Twas ashore at Vicksburg before the
steamer was fairly moored. It was
not the picturesque little city of to-
day, but a scattered town of barely
four thousand inhabitants, struggling
along the river bottom and trying to
climb the heights. I arranged with
one of the dozens Of loafing negroes to
carry my trunk, and, escaping from
the crowd of passengers, cotton-buyers,
and ''roustabouts, that the dozen
steamers lying with their tall smoke
pipes along the river front had
brought here, climbed we'll up the
bluffs and engaged quarters at quiet
place kept by one-eyed Frenchman,
who would talk without the slightest
excuse or provocation.
After supper, as we sat out in front
and watched the twinkling lights on
the river, and heard the hoarse shouts
of the steamboat men to the negro
roustabouts, as they unloaded cargo or
wooded up" asked my host if he
knew anything of Mr.. Pierce Bostock,
a wealthy planter of the vicinity.
''''Bossytook, sair? nevair hear re
name"
81 believe he does not live right here;
it is a few miles below"
81 cannot tell; know him not"
A small shadow fell upon nv exuber-
ant spirits. had taken it for granted
that everybody in Vicksburg knew of
the great and rich Mr.. Bostock.
AS we sat there, my host inquired of
several loungers, one after another, if
they knew the object of my search.
Not one had ever heard of him.
III do not gay zere is not such man"
said the Frenchman. ''But I have been
here four year, and have not hear re
name"
"Who was it?" man asked, coming
in for a drink.
"A planter named Pierce Bostock."
He gulped down his brandy, wiped
his mouth with the back of his hand
and began to mediate.
s'Bostock' I declare I have heard the
name. I'm up and down the river all
the time, and things gifts away from
my head in a week; but if I amt clear
outen the channel a man with some
such name was mixed up in a fight
some time ago. Wasn't it so, Frenchy?"
II tell you 1 know not re name"
Rather detected, was about to re-
tire, resolved to start out in the morn
ing and make systematic search for
information, when a communicative
old negro approached me. He had
heard my inquiries and told me that
"bout seben year ago, or mebbe
longer" he was lone of Marse Bos-
tock's boys" He remembered the
place we'll; he could tell me just where
to find it. I slipped half dollar into
his hand and encouraged him to go on.
ooh, yo' can't miss EN-, young maus-
sa! Great big house, bout three mile
back from de ribber; with great v'ran-
der all round.''
'But how far-and what road?''
tits right smart ways. specs as
much as five or seventeen miles. Yo' 90
up to de bluff road, an yo' follow him
down right smart; den yo' branches off
at de Muddy Corners; after awhile yo'
turns to de right, an den 40 aces de
acay! O, yo'll find him."
Not much encouraged by this rather
cloudy direction, but glad to find
somebody who had some faith in the
of the object of my search,
took nights rest. The morning found
me early astir. I succeeded in hiring
a mule, being assured that there was
no other mode of carriage practicable,
and after breakfast I mounted and
pushed out on my quest.
The reader who has ever tried to
make his way over the roads of the
south of thirty years ago, to say moth
ing OF later day, and to gain infor-
nation as he progressed about dis
tances and localities, will not be sur
prised to learn that I consumed the
whole of that long June day in finding
the plantation of my search. Doubts,
ignorance, and very little positive in
formation, were surprisingly mingled.
Had not the patience of my mule been
matched by my own, think should
have turned back in despair before
Whether white or black
were inquired of, the general uncer-
talnty was the same. Some had heard
OF Mr.. Bostock; some had not. OF
those who had heard of him, some
thought he had been killed some way;
they could not tell how. Others
thought he had moved away some
where, they knew not where. Still
others there were who were sure that
Mr. Bostock still lived on the big plan
tation, but whether it was five miles
away or fifty, they had not least idea