The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25

contempt OF the Ash in that river as poor
mudcsts and yellow perch. ignoble crea-
lures beside the denizens OF his native
After tho purser had shown ashore with
elaborate courtesy about midday q smiling
country woman, the round tripper was
left the sole passenger. The purser,
nowever relsxed none Of hs ,amiabic At.
tine Southwestern of a voice growIed out
friendly inquiries for the welfare OF bis n
guest.
The other officers were equally prompt
to further the passengers comfort, n
with only one stranger to feed, James
served with his accustomed grace as excel
lent a meal at dinner and at supper IA at
breakfast. At dinner, indeed, after having
furnished three kinds OF meats, he set down
a plate with q whispered:
"A chicken leg which / had fried To- you.
suh.'
The captain had let fall casually that his
vessel drew eight feet OF water. whereas,
with the tide as it promised to be next
afford but six. He added, c~heerfully, shat
the mud was soft, and intimated that IL was
at least semi-navigable.
As a matter Of fact. for miles the vessel
had left a dark reddish stain of disturbed
mud in her tortuous wake, and at half q
dozen wharves she had pivoted ten minutes
or more upon the bottom in her efforts TO
turn and depart. BY this time the stream
was almost doubling upon itself in great y
curves; and. indeed, ii seemed everywhere
as the bewildered voyager vainly attempted
to orientate his course.
There were wild wooded bits of shore
now, with wharves at which odd looking
OK teams waited the coming Of the vessel,
and queer w~igwamlike structures peeped
out from among the evergrecns. On many
OF the heights stood big farmhousee, at
tanning with their great chimneys almost
to the dignity OF mansions, and on the slopes
below gloomed the vast, gray tobacco barns,
while the ou~tbuildings OF the farmsteads,
set at d angles, huddled with gable and
pent roof, as il for shelter, about the dwell
ings.
Tiny cottages here and there initiated
the great chimneys OF their big neighbors,
so that the sturdy brick chimney with its
aggressive shoulders looked like the orig
inal structure and the cottage itself like a
trivial afterthought.
At 3 o'clock the boat swept around a bend
and into the little wharf at the head OF
navigation: Thus the outward voyage OF
seventeen hours ended at a point less than
two hours by rail from Baltimore.
h most pleasing object ashore was the
Quaintest and neateet Of whitewashed negro
cabins. with two or three additions clspped
on in picturesque fashion, and a tall chimney.
also w~hitewashed, which in a moment Of
inspiration the owner had tipped with
brilliant red paint. Fishermen mended
their nets in scriptural fashion on the green
beside the cottage, and a great flock OF
gray geese swan in the edge OF the stream
hard by.
A sunset OF gold and crimson was fol-
lowed by a delicious still afterglow which
was mirrored upon the flooding tide, itself
seemingly motionless, q now and then
when the ghost OF a breeze ruf1ed the stream
into the faintest shimmering ripple with the
semblance OF rainbow tinted raw silk.
Far across the marshes on a height against
the purpling sky a fine old farmstead with
its dense evergreens seemed a cool reservoir
OF evening mirk, and from the negro cabin's
red topped chimney the faint blue of the
smoke swept lazily southesstward, whlle
from the gathering dusk there came The
cries OF children at play, mingled with the
bark Of dogs and the Groom OF nesting
birds. and now and again a negro deckband
broke into m~elodious song.
The next morning all the captains fore
bodinRs proved false. for the vessel got
away from the wharf only ten minutes
behind time, and went comfortably down
stream, her paddle wheels scooping up
Of the return trip was an epitome OF local
industries.
Great tobacco ~hoCsheads OF the pattern
made in the seventeenth century to be-
much OF the time for wheeled vehicles,
little bags OF chestnnts, fish, oysters, po-
tatoee, chickens in panniers, dogs in crates,
bawling calves, kicking steers and fright
ened sheep all came aboard. along with
household furniture and a variety OF shabby
small articles that it seemed impossible
should be worth the freight bills. Crowds
gathered to watch the loading OF the larger
live stock.
A mule shipped for sale TO Baltimore
proved a disappointment TO the ~onlookers,
he took his embarkation 80 sedately. -Jes'
seems proud he's goin' to the city, was the
comment OF a colored spectator.
Some of the sheep came up the n
plank with roustabouts astride OF their
backs, others in the arms of the negroes.
Three or four steers cleared the wharves
In their frantic efforts to resist expectation,
and one vas taken aboard only by the con-
certed efforts OF the whole crew. The
calves usually went aboard with a negro
at zach ear and a third behind to twist |
the tail at critical instants.
A day of softly yelled skies wore TO a
rich sunset, and the long afterglow found
the vessel weaving back and forth from
food as over a polished floor
inlaid Of gold and purple. The waves that
swept in the wake Of the paddle wheels
the glory overhead at all angles
until the roughened waters were robed
in the hues OF 1.-THE rainbow.
Far in the purple distance the pointed
sails Of little oyster craft iecked the orizon,
and the eastern cliffs were warm with re-
OF the rosy west. The afterglow
had gradually lost itself in the light Of q
Of a lovely little creek Of sanity name,
and the searchlight revealed here a low
wharf backed with trees Of mellow color
there a d gniied mansion on the heights,
and close to the sand trimmed shore a nest
oyster bugeyee, their noise OF laughter
mingling with the strains Of violin or &C
Gordon.
soon after the vessel, with her bleating,
lowing and cackling. 'quacking. below
freight, had turned into the bay, and
time in the small hours her dream
passengers were drowsily aware that
she had crept to her berth in the crowded
harhor NJ baltimore. o.