The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-14
Chance Trip With pr. Curry
BY KATHARINE HOPKINS CHAPMAN.

The train plowed cautiously through the snow ladened fields of Virginia The passengers, after exhaustlng the well
 nigh exhaustless editions of tho Sunday papers, turned their attention to the beautiful scene without or fumed at pos sible loss of connections according to their several natures.
 The Pullman was occupied almost en- tirely by business men so entirely con- secrated to their god-Mammon, that they chose Sunday to cover the space from one field of activity to another, figuring and calculating in note books meanwhile.
 The only lady in the car leaned back, physically wearied and mentally congest- ed by the exertions and settlements of month in New York and Washington dur Ing the height of the winter gaieties. The boy beside her rested his red serge elbow upon the window ledge and gazed with delight and wonder on the trackless and virgin snow, so strange to his south ern eyes and so different the dirty slush The had slipped on in the cities. Before her closed eyes passed many recent epi- sodes, but especially that afternoon in the
 
 tional affairs through the columns of l day old newspaper 1t had seemed posi- 1 lively exhiarating to see such things ac- l tually happening. Her own particular senator had apologized, as they sat in the visitors gallery, for the humdrum session offered for her inspection; but | had made amends by witty eharacteriza- 1 ton of the various celebrities he pointed l out
 "The man speaking is senator from the Pacific slope. He's a democrat now, but he used to be a republican. He came south as a carpetbagger and representing the federal government, tried to enforce measure very distasteful to the leaders against reconstruction, among whom were myself and my present colleague In the senate.
 .@ro gain time we refused to obey MT. Carpetbagger unless he would produce written authority. In those days 1t took some time to receive an answer from Washington and during that time we sent to Montgomery for MT Carpetbag- ger and lodged him in our jail until his Washington authority arrived. For some unknown cause MT. Carpetbagger de- cided to move out west and we lost sight of him and his political conversion until my colleague read that we might expect the pleasure or embarrassment(O of joining forces here with him in the senate. We had rather dreaded our introduction, but the embarrassment was all on our side, our pity all wasted" chuckled the venerable senator, flor what do you think he said when we finally met? No need of an introduction here he said to his sponsor, suavely, for l know both of these gentlemen. In fact, have visited them at their earnest solic- itation
 The smile produced even in her drowsy state by such monumental audacity, con vinced Boysie that his mamma was not really and truly asleep, so he said:
 Mama, tell me a story!
 "Oh. no. Look at the funny papers on the seat in front, dear" suggested mann ma.
 why. I've finished Happy Hooligan and the Twins long ago. he bragged. She sat up immediately at the detection l of these trusted allies and to fortify her self for story telling, said:
 Ring for some water Boysie.
 But he begged to get 1t himself, as his little red legs were cramped. Soon his bright figure and merry face cheered the whole car; even the absorbed business men gave him a kindly glance, but the most encouragement came from short grizzled man on. the front seat where Boysie usually staggered as he raced about"
 "oh souse me-" gasped Boysie as he clutched the grlzzled ones shoulder TOT support.
 Not unless you tell me who you are and where you live" said the man With mock severity, as he swung the gay little figure into his lap. This he glibly told. for his name and local habitation had been carefully drilled Into him before braving the crowds and snares of city
 "From Selma? We'll that's a place l used to love and pretty, name, too; but you don't know where it got that name" leased the scholar, for such the grizzled one was.
 "No, I don't. but bet my mamma l does" and the little fellow flashed back to the source of all information-in his | eyes at least. Now, mamma had been an only child herself, so she realized how much her little one lost and tried to make | it up to him by sharing all his interests and patiently answering those puzzlng questions.
 This one seemed rather unusual and beyond his depth but she began. Selma S name? It was named by William R.. King, the only vice president from the 1 south. whose plantation was near sour home. When the citizens of Moore's Bluff, as it was then called, decided they wanted more distinctive name. they | naturally asked their most prominent man to select It. MT. lNlng was very | fond of ancient poetry especially Welsh | hard called Ossian, one of whose sweet est characters was named Selma. So | when -" | But Boysle was already giving his own i peculiar version of this to the scholar. | Slowly rising he clasped Boysie's hand and they together made their way to | Mamma. striking picture of mature | force. drawn from past adversities. lead I Of