The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-05

and he viii recollect how the pretty
81ris IN carriages accompanied the
march To the steamers landing. and
how their bright eyes made many q
manly heart under a laced coat throa
more Violently than usual-for a it'll.
whiie- h esprit du corps between the
Fayetteville COMPANIES ard hat OF VIII
mingroGs was very cordial. and circum-
stances increased Its warmth: a. they
were comrades. lie I mistake uoe.at
New Bern I'm celebration Of the build
ing OF the Atlantic n north Carcs.na
railroad
One OF the largest country p4cnics
it Was ever my good fortune 10 attsni
was not an ante belium entertainment.
but ft was svery % ago-faIl thirty
years, I think IL was In 1ss4 that I was
present at a BLADDER Springs picnic. n
few miles out from Whitehall. on the
Cape Fear river. I " by invitation
to deliver an address. but I have for
gotten what was h occasion. and
what ] talked about I do remember.
however. that Mr.. Alien. a well-knoSn
public speaker OF that section. followed
me md by his wit and readiness stirred
the crowd into life again. somewhat de-
pressed under my rather heavy Cicero
nianism. There was % course a collec-
tor OF all the good things or the coun-
try for dinner; and after that a gay
young fellow got out his fiddle and ali
OF US that could get into the h
house Joined In a dance. I was one o.
the participants remember. reader. /
was only 30 years ODD, and I a for
partner a very bright, pretty girl from
Wilmington. Miss Fflyaw. The night
before the picnic, the steamer getting
there about 5 O'Clock. 1 was the guest
till morning OF Mr.. James Evans. then
merchandising at Whitehall, % OF
the firm Of J. & o. Evans. OF Fayette-
willie, and a large stockholder OF the
Merchants and Farmers Steamboat
Company between this place and VII
mington.
Mr.. Evans was counting at that time
and he had I'm due time sent WORT
home TO have a trunk full OF fnery
sent down to do extra honor TO the DC
casfcn. The trunk went down all right,
but made a through trip Of 81, going 70
Wilmington I pitied my host when
the irresponsible mistake was discover
ed; but I only added TO his horror when
I suggested that I had an extra suit
OF clothes which he could have for he
next day. He 8 six feet IN his stockings
with his moist eye. n turned away
without a word-his grief was too
mighty for expression.
But less han a year ago ! had the
honor Of speaking TO and minSling
with the largest gathering in
all my experience in this part OF the
countryside Confederate veterans pic
mic at Maxton on the sth of a Au-
gust. 1 had the pleasure OF addressing
and the delight and amazement OF see
ing bountifully fed $500 men, women
and children, gathered from all parts
OF one OF the best sections OF North
Carolina. The crowd was 30 large thar
their entertainers. with al, their exps-
rience, got anxious about a scarcity OF
food. and early in the day set in to
boil a lot OF extra hams. many OF which
never had a knife in them. Outside OF
the picnic. 1 was the guest OF Mr.. and
Mrs. A. A. Mclean. OF Maxton, the
best of types of generous. unostenta-
tious hospitality.
All, me, the days that are gone. and
the sadness of 1t! What, weeping ripe.
old man, because OF your youth that
is fed, end OF the joys that are sped.
like the mist that fioats with the river
Because our joints are stin. shall har-
lequin dance no more Because your
stomach is bad and our teeth are
gone shall there be no more cakes and
ale? va, verify. j. III. NJ.