The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
returning to my native state, after an absence of four years, I took my
seat in the mail stage, and travelled three hundred miles without once
going to bed. Such a journey at this day of steamboat and railroad car
would be nothing, but at that time it was a great undertaking, and
attended with much fatigue. The vehicles were crazy and often broke
down, and the passengers had the pleasure of paying dearly for the
privilege of walking many a mile through the mud. At length I arrived
at the little town of F----, the end of my journey on the great mail
route, where I expected to meet with some kind of conveyance to take me
into the country to my uncle's. As I leaped from the carriage to the
pavement, where many loiterers were gathered to witness the arrival of
the stage, I found myself suddenly locked in the arms of some one, who
exclaimed, "_There he is, the very moral of his grandpapa!_ God bless
your honor, how do ye do? I'm so glad to see you." Extricating myself
with some degree of embarrassment, because of the crowd around me, I
perceived that the salutation proceeded from one of our old servants,
who stood gazing upon me with the moat benevolent smile. His appearance
was quite outré to one who had lived so long at the north. His old and
faded livery, was blue turned up with yellow; he held in his hand a
horseman's cap, without the bearskin; his boots had once been
white-topped, but could no longer claim that distinctive epithet; like
Sir Hudibras, he wore but one spur, though probably for a different
reason; his high forehead glistened in the sun, and his slightly grey
hair was combed neatly back, and queud behind with an eelskin so tight
that he could hardly wink his eyes, exhibiting a face remarkably
intelligent and strongly marked, with a nose uncommonly high and
hawkbilled for a negro. Perceiving my embarrassment, he drew back with
a very courtly bow, and begged pardon, declaring he was so glad to see
me, he had forgotten himself and made too free. I made haste to assure
him that he had not--gave him a hearty shake by the hand--called him
Uncle Simon, a name he had been always accustomed to from me, and
drawing him aside, overwhelmed him with questions about every body and
every thing at home. Tell me, said I, how is my uncle? "I thank you
sir, quite hearty, and much after the old sort--full of his projjecks,
heh! heh! perpechil motion, and what not." What, said I, is he at that
still? "Oh yes--oh yes--and carridges to go without hawses; God love
you, Mass Ned, I don't think they ken go without animel nater." And how
does my aunt like all this? "Ah!" said he, putting up his hands with an
air of disgust, "She can't abide it--things go on badly. You 'member my
four greys? So beautiful!--my four in hand!--all gone, all sold. Why,
sir, I could whistle them hawses to the charrut jest as easy as snap my
finger. Our fine London charut too! _that's gone_--and my poor Missis
your aunt, has nothin to ride in, but a nasty, pitiful push phaton." I
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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