Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1921-02-17
"reminiscences.
Personal Rses|Isetlsns Of a Trip to Texas
In Pioneer Days, and Some Incl
dents In Cow Boy Life In
the West.
(By L. N. PerkinS)

(By L. N. PerkinS)
Texas is a country of a great
variety of climate and products.
For q hundred miles or more
west of Marshall where we were
stopping, the country is heavily
timbered, mostly yellow pine,
and corn and cotton were the
principal crops grown. 1t was
now late in November and there
had been considerable rainfall,
and we were told that the. roads
were bad. We had some diff.
Guilty in getting conveyance on
further. There were eight of US
in the party, all with considera-
bic baggage; so no baby outfit
was able to undertake the job.
We finally met up with a man
who was equal to the emergency
and agreed to take US on to Dal.
las for $4,000. So at the time
appointed he came with four
good horses and a big stage
coach, and we loaded up and
commenced th e journey. We
had not been misintormed about
the roads for they were certainly
ly anything but good-plenty of
mud in some locations and in
others dangerous quicksands.
There were no towns along the
We travelled, although the coun-
try was right we'll filled with
settlers. There were no public
places of entertainment, as most
of the travel consisted of wagons
hauling cotton to market and
goods on their return. So we
had to depend on private enter.
tainment when we stopped at
night. which was often Cimes
very difficult to obtain. One in
stance l remember we'll, which |
will relate:
One afternoon the driver in.
formed US that some distance a
head of us there was a very dan.
gerous road and that the people
living necr were unhospitable
and we had better look out early
for a stopping place, as he would
not undertake to drive over that
road after night. So an hour or
two before sun down we com
menced trying to get a stopping
place for the night, but in every
instance we were refused so we
travelled on till after dark when
we pulled up to q good looking
place where they seemed to have
plenty of room and feed for the
horses but, as usual, were turn.
ed down and We were told that
they could not keep us at all. The
driver, who was a big, burly fel.
low, and looked as though he
meant every word he said, told
the man that he positively was
not going any further that night;
that he knew the road and a
short distance ahead it was very
dangerous and he would not at
tempt to drive over it in the dark,
and that if he would not let them
have shelter Gt was then begin.
ming to rain) he would camp in
the road. On hearing this ultima
tum the man said we could come
In and we could have some place
to sleep, but they could not gel
supper for US. SO while they were
caring for the lo"ses we went
into a room shown US by the lady
of the house, and sat down. She
also took a seat for a few seconds.
We all sat there, no one speak.
ing, and the whole party looked
like we were at a funeral, when
the least child, a boy about p.
years old went to his mother and
asked for something TO eat. We
were all hungry, as we did not
stop for dinner. but ate a. light
lunch which we carried with as
The child's mother told him she
had nothing for him; he seemed
mnch diSannaintada and Lnna. 4e