He had been three months from the United States; had made one trip to
Scotland, one to Wales, one to Paris, and his impressions of the
different points and the people he had seen were most vivid and unique.
His talk ran a little in this vein: "Yo' see, up in ther Highlands, I
looked fur the lakes and mountains that yo' read to us about, Jim. There
is some fine lakes, but mountains! sho, we can beat 'em in America, all
holler. And ez to broad rivers, why, ther Mississippi cud take um all in,
and wouldn't know she had a reinforcement; while pour 'um into ther
Colorado gorge and they'd be spray afore they reached ther bottom. I
looked for ther pituresk Highland heroes in ther tartans and with ther
bag-pipes; but they tho't, I reckon, that I war James Fitz, and wur all
ambushed. But I did see some pretty girls thar, 'an some powerful fine
black cattle. They war fine--good for twelve hundred pounds neat.
"The blamd'st thing I seen war in Wales. I didn't see that, but hearn.
That war the language. It's a jor-breaker, if you har me. I don't see how
the children up thar learn it so blam'd young.
"Paris is a grand place, a genuine daisy; but I believe it is wickeder'n
Santa Fe wuz when the rush war to New Mexico."
Grace explained to Jordan that they were going down to Sussex to visit
some relatives of Rose, and begged him to go along, and bespoke for him a
hearty welcome.
"I'm greatly obleeged, Miss," said Jordan, "but I must beg yo' ter 'scuse
me. I must see my hoss home. I've been ridin' him and teachin' him a few
things, like startin' and stoppin', for a month. He war wild when I tuk
him fust, but since he and I got 'quainted, we agree zactly, and I told
ther men as own him he should be home ter night, and I must take him. I
wouldn't send him by the are-apparent hisself. Besides, my society
accomplishments war neglected some'at when I war young, and I would
rather break y'r heart, Miss, by declinin' ter go, than hev it broke by
my arkerdness 'mong y'r friends."
But he told Sedgwick where he was stopping in London, and it was agreed
that on the return of the party to the great city they should see more of
each other. So Jordan returned to London, and the young people took the
train for a little town on the coast, not far from Brighton, in Sussex.
They found the uncle and aunt of Rose. A great welcome was given them,
and four or five days were delightfully whiled away.
A regiment of English regulars was stationed there. Our party made the
acquaintance of the officers and their families, and one day a horseback
ride into the country was proposed for the next morning.
It taxed the capacity of the place to supply the necessary animals, and
one of the horses brought up, though a magnificent and powerful fellow,
was but half broken at best, and he snorted and blowed, and reared and
pawed, and took on a great deal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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