Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-09-20
"reminiscences OF County
Districts Are Recalled
/ .(Continued. from page y

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forsweeks was trip to Washington
or Georgetown to buy new fnery and
see our friends.
"There were two ways we could
make the trip, drive all the way with
a horse and buggy or go on the
Packet, a little boat which made the
round trip from Georgetown to Point
of-Rocks each day, on the canal. 1t
took about hours to go from
Seneca to Georgetown but the Packet
might vary its schedule to the extent
of several hours, which would prove
quite annoying to the passengers at
Seneca impatiently pacing the canal
bank or waiting inside the old stone
lock house at Seneca where Johnny
Riley lived for so many years. and
which is still standing.
"The Packet was divided into three
compartments, saloon in the mid
die, the. captains room in front and
the kitchen in the rear. Folding tables
were set up at meal times in this
saloon while the passengers were SER
we'd, then they were removed to give
more space.
"The Packet could accommodate
about fifty passengers, though it was
very seldom that so many as fifty
took passage. The saloon had long
seats around the sides which were up
holstered in red plush and looked very
fine.
Generally the rides were quite
pleasant though some ladies, my
mother among them, invaribly had
headaches before the trip was over.
We often had very interesting people
as fellow passengers. remember my
mother with Mrs. F. D. N. South
worth, the novelist, as companion.
81 wildly recall one gruesome &C.
casion, when man fell overheard and
before he could be rescued and while
the passengers watched Mortified was
drowned before our very eyes.
ellis lifeless body made the remain
der of the trip wrapped in an old
sheet, in the prov of the boat.
"You can well imagine the effect
this unfortunate event had upon the
rest of the passengers.
"But as l said before, we did not
always travel on the Packet. Some
times we made the trip from Seneca
to Washington with horse and car
riage. This generally happened
through the cold, winter months when
the Packet didn't run. If you have
ever experienced cold feet on a long
drive, multiply it by ten, and you will
have some idea of the way I felt, as
some other members of my family
and I sat through the long hours
while our horse slowly plodded
through mud over his ankles or bump
ed US over frozen knobs of mud like
iron spikes as we travelled the Old
River Road for that was always ou1
route, being the shortest way.
~ remember one particularly cold
day, our horse became balky. We
reasoned with him pleasantly and un.
pleasantly, but he remained calm anG
immovable in the middle of the road
and refused to bulge.
"About this time an old colored
man appeared upon the scene Boss
he said, to my uncle, who was driving
what you wants to do is to build a
fire under him.
II felt like suggesting they build
one under me too, for I was nearly
frozen to the seat. My uncle quickly
put the old darkey's advice to the test
gathering some leaves and brush he
struck match and soon a nice, cozy
little fire was burning under Dan.
SIT worked like magic and in few
moments we were speeding along sc
rapidly we made up for the time lost
by our earlier modes of persuasion.
"When we arrived in Georgetown
we hurried to the homes of our
friends where we were given a royal
welcome. My, my can't l remember
warming up after one of those long
cold rides and drinking many cups Of
hot tea which our friends had ready
for US, upon our arrival"
Those trips and those roads make
me think of job a relative of mine
likes to tell
An old colored man arrived one cold
winter day at country parsonage,
accompanied by his wife and several
children, to be married.
The preacher looked at the old
darby severely. "Are these your chill
dren," he asked?
eyes, boss, every one of DEM"
"And you're just getting married ?"
demanded the preacher, more sever
ely.
Tho old do,.lrxx souoL.I.J - /.