The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03

self sound and river-worthy, or racked
IN the turning.
Young John went home then. When
he saw his boat-again, she had a floor,
a steering oar, working on a pin; Il
deck half way her length, a cunning
deck-house forward, and a square
hearth OF beaten clay for the cooking
fire. She had been rushed through in
order that young John might load her
up ard go out with her in the De
cember rise.
The fiat went down about the mid
die OF December, carrying a varied
load. There were hams and bacon,
lard IN barrels, whiskey likewise bar
relied, sacks OF dried fruit, other sacks
of fine goose feathers, and big, solid
cakes of pure yellow beeswaX. Young
Johns tobacco crOp-ten heavy hogs
heads-lay head TO head in the middle
of the boat, with a stack of hides
above it, and bales of peltry here and
there. His corn had been turned into
whiskey, through exchange at the
nearest still-house, or bartered with
neighbors, who had more hogs than
gram, tor sound old bacon.
The COW and calf were going along
with him, not in their own proper
shapes, but transmitted commercially
into big rolls OF homespun-jeans,
brown, or black, or sheep's-gray mix
ed, linsey-wolsey, plain and plaid,
checked cotton in variety, and one fine
web of honeycomb counterpanes. He
had, also, four dozen pairs of stout
knitted woollen socks-yarn socks, he
called them, as did everybody around
him.
Folk said there was a market at
New Orleans for anything under the
sun, provided you didn't strike town
when there was more of everything
offered than four such towns could
buy. Furthermore, Orleans-they al
ways scanted it of the prehx-was not
the only chance TO do a rOusing trade.
All down the river, after you struck
the cotton country, men-planters
mostly-came to the landings in
search of supplies. They wanted meat
and corn and whiskey; cloth, too, to
cover their negroes, and socks for
their men TO wear-yarn socks, Of
course. John devoutly hoped he might
Slilke. one Oi lHCoG HldllCIS- IlC ndu
bought his socks at a bit a pair, and
wondered il it would be extortion TO
sell each pair at 4 shilling.
$3.50
Hedge MCGEE went along-partly
because he knew the river, partly be-
cause he was taking some OF his pay
for bodybuilding IN freight. At least,
he said so. He really had a bunch OF
coon skins, a dozen pair OF socks and
himself. He "reckoned it might be
with a matter o $40 ter take all that
passed. down ter Orleans" MIR. Majors,
Johns father, also reckoned 50; but
did not trouble himself to put the $40
into the account, which Hedge had
| already considerably overdrawn. He
knew Hedge would work his passage
and something more, and was secretly
glad TO have him go along. Hedge
had been up and down five times. He
had so great a gift for lounging that
the long drill down made him quite
forget what a task It was TO walk
back.
John had to contend with another
experienced persOn-black Simon, who
had gone with the fiat when Johns
elder brother, Bob, went down. \
fiddle and heaps OF experience were
the net results of Bob's boatload
Simon fetched home a rusty sword,
with which, according to its owner,
Gin1 Jacksun he chased dam redcoats
clur in de ribber, and Simon himself,
on the way home, put various and
sundry robber chieftainS to flight
Young John meant that there should
be another story when he got home,
Through a fortnight of fine weather
the fiat made 4 great run. II was
clear and cold-just comfortably nip
ping without the least skim OF ice. BY
New Year she had swing into the
Mississippi. and was part of a gay
tlotilla headed south. Then John be
gan to understand why Hedge was SO
keen TO come along, There were SO
many Hedges in the hOtilla-men who
loved to eat with huge appetiteS, drink
deep. sleep long sleeps. and wake
without care. tell stories. smoke and
gossip. and. above everything. to play
"old Sledge." The cards-there were
but three decks-never got co1dJ One
set OF gamesters got ND as the Others
went to bed. Long before the Jour.
ney's end the original decks had beer
worn to pieces. and Others bought. &c
be likewise worn out
Old Christmas Day-Twelfth Might
brought a change. The wind. shift
ing south. made the whole r~iver-valle,
a.sea Of fog. The fog held on tedi-
ously. In the week of it they made