Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-11-09


I'D like very much to CO." answered
Drace. But can we get back before
Thursday?Y
Easily by Wednesday morning.
Anything important for ThursdayY
ooh, no. An old fellow down at the
ferry wants me to go fishing with him
Thursday, and l gave him my word
that I'd be on hand. Most remarkable
old man, full of fun; quite charac.
ter"
you must mean old Spence. But
are you sure it is not that pretty
daughter of his that attracts you?
You'll have to be little careful, my
son. We may associate with men out
Of our social running, but not. with
women. All, Tycie! Mr.. Drace
has just consented to give me his COM
pany to Natchez."
The Black Hawks band played
welcome, and the captain came down
the plank to conduct the General on
board. From quiet, lazy and almost
dtSSl lcd ldHdinS tiie pldtt iSdpCu ihto
the full throb of life. Negroes and
shiftless whites came from their novels
to gaze upon the magic splendor of
this journeying palace, and the three
shell man stepped ashore to gather up
dollars.
Dinner was state occasion, and
after it, the ball. Then their state
rooms-then morning, and Natchez.
The address was to be delivered in
the afternoon and when the time came
the General led him over to the hall to
hear the speech, imprisoned him with
out bail in corner, and there he had
to sit. The address was long, academic
and dull, and the sufferer unused:
II don't see why Shottle ever, called
you remarkable character"
Everybody came about the General
to take his hand. Young women told
him that they had never been so
thrilled Drace lied to him, too, swore
him an orator.
LET us walk off alone" said the
General.
time the old gentleman struck a
brisker pace, toward the River.
"Now, my boy, as we've got through
with those beaters of dust out of old
carpets, We'll have some fun. Old
Colonel Pemberton wanted me to go
home with him, and he has delight
full house, a gracious wife and hand
some daughter, but / had to decline.
I've stood about as much now as l
can. Wen go down to old lobe Ma
sons tavern, under the hill. lobe is
gentle old fellow, never killed but
three men,"
The tavern was as tough place as
river men could make it. Built of logs,
bricks stone and clapboards, it looked
like an architectural stagger, trying
to climb the hill In the main room
was the bar.
"Well, I'll be knocked in the head
for steerw old lobe cried out, stump
ing toward the General II haven't
seed you since the River tuck fire.
Well, we'll! Thinkin' about you the
hand, Mr.. BRACE. Set right down."
"Tobe, I'm glad to see you" said the
General. "And fetch US about two
quarts of that summer-grape wine. Let
me tell you about it, Drace. We have
a wild grape here that gets ripe along
in August It's much larger and is not
sour like the fox-grape, and its vine
likes to climb about sassafras sap
ling. And then you see an umbrella of
grapes. Now don't say a word till
you've had good taste of it. lobe
makes it himself, and he'll fetch us
some that's at least twenty-five years
old. Here we are"
The wine was as red as blood, cool
and yet warm. It's flavor was the rip
ened sweetness of the spirit Of autumn,
It was as mellow as the scent of the
apple at harvest time
"What do you think of it, hey?"
"Uncle Howard, are you sure that
this was not made by Bacchus instead
of Tobe?"
"Good, my boy! Enjoying yourself"
Eyes, I'm doing fine, General. You
see, / can't express myself as well as
you can. l haven't as much to draw
from. You've not only book-knowl-
edge but experience, worth more So
cially than all the libraries in the
world"
"You hit it off well. But what is
better than it all? Moral freedom.
| This table here is rough, with one
rheumatic leg slightly drawn; these
| chairs we sit in, bottomed with strips
! of hickory bark, would be scorned at
| sheriff's sale; but sir, Mark Antony,
| in his first triumph, his chariot drawn
| by lions, was not more regal than we
are at this moment, enthroned and
sceptered with moral freedom. Pour
| out. for as that same Antony said ::
'Scant not my cups.'-Tobe, where's
that old scoundrel who used to play