The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-29
HENRY Il. JACKSON POET AND
SOLDIER ALONG.
Mr.. Hale Writes of q slow stage Coach
Journey-The Western Railway
Was Partly Built Then.
ny 8. a. HALE.

Not many persons OF this day can
realize fully what q journey from
Montgomery to Sumterviile. 8. c..
meant In the early days Of June ~
At that date by far the largest portion
stage. sumterville was the town of
my mothers nativity and two years
had elepsed since she had seen any of
the relation from whom she parted
when she removed to Montgomery.
However she corresponded regularly
with those whom she had left behind
in the old state. and they, whenever
an opportunity presented itself. would
send toys to the little cousins. they
had never seen. The first step my
mother took In preparing for the trip.
was to have a suit of "broadcioth."
made for each OF her three little boys
Mr.. Stubs was the tailor In that day.
His shop was on Dexter avenue q few
buildings westward from the corner o.
South Perry. My mother selected the
cloth for each suit and carefully de
rected the measurement OF each.
BY the nrst OF June the day for
our departure everything for the jour
ney was In readiness. On the morn
ing before my father visited the
Montgomery ONCE of the stage con-
tractors, to assure himself that my
mother would have no trouble in secur-
ing stage accommodations for herself
and family. when she reached the
terminus Of the Montgomery and West
Point railroad where she would have
to make the transfer. Although. he
ha annIah N the a nd
thought Il was understood that a
coach was engaged for his family. he
was told that 1t was doubtful IL one
could be furnished.
When he considered himself badly
treated by any one he never minced
words In giving his opinion of such
conduct, consequently, on this occasion
he soon became involved In q difiieuIty
with two employees In the once. When
he returned home, that afternoon, he
related to my mother the above in
cident, and she became so nervous.
that she was not willing to leave for
Carolina, next morning, as my fathers
ofticiai duties precluded the possibility
of his making the trip at that time.
But he told her she must go az every
arrangement for the journey had been
made. Next morning, we reached the
old Montgomery and West Point depot
there previously and everything per-
tanning to the railroad was new to
- Aad everything was IN miniature
as compared with the railroads and
their equipments OF this day. About
midday our train reached its destina-
Ion q deep cut" about half way
between the sites OF the present towns
of Notasulga and Loacnapoka.
A rude stairway Of plank. laid from
ka Nathan NJ the tn tnA tom aF tina
embankment. Near the head Of the
stairway, stood the "heteP'-the skele-
ton OF a framed building. Across the
road from the hotel, was the stage
stand" near which we're several
stages, to which two pairs Of horses
were attached. Our squad consisted
Of my mother. Bess-always her
factotum-my two little brothers. my
self and our darling little sister
eight months Of age. My father ac-
eompanied US this far on our journey.
saw that the baggage was put aboard
the stage, and then caught the little
car on return trip to Montgomery,
He stood upon the rear platform and
waved his hat until he was hid from
view by the intervening curve In the
road. Our coach had gone but short
distance. when heard a voice cali to
our driver: "John, don't you want
The driver answereed 'yes." and
halted the stage. From his seat upon
the drivers box. he received the big
blue bucket filled with plums ex
tended them toward my mother, and
said, Madam take some plums for
your children"
Lunch ON the Coach.
She took a small handful, which she
gave to her little boys and Bess.
had never seen plums and I thought
they were the most delicious fruit I
had ever tasted. The driver insisted
that my mother help herself more
and was astonished that
she did not do so. Long years after
I helped myself. ad libitum to PUN
taken from trees that were growing
in that section where I had eaten my
frst plum.
In June az the Mexican war was
nearing Its close. At a point in Geor-
gia. we passed q company OF soldiers.
They were In full uniform had arms
stacked and were bivouacking in the
shade Of big oaks. Every ten miles
we would reach a stand and the tired
team would be exchanged for a fresh
one. My mother and family had a
coach to themselves, until we reached