386
HOSPITALITY.
as if it had been purposely constructed for holding the numerous progeny
expected to result from the happy union.
The black boy was engaged in grinding some coffee. Bread was.
prepared by the fair hands of the bride,, and placed on a flat board in
front of the fire. The bacon and eggs already murmured and spluttered
in the frying-pan, and a pair of. chickens puffed and swelled on a gridiron
over the embers, in front of the hearth. The cloth was laid, and every
thing arranged, when the clattering of hoofs announced the return of the
husband. In he came, bearing a two-gallon keg of cider. His eyes
sparkled with pleasure as he said, " Only think, ELIZA ; father wanted
to rob us of the strangers, and was for coming here to ask them to his
own house, just as if we could not give, them enough ourselves; but here's
the drink—Come gentlemen, sit down and help yourselves.'" We did
so, and I, to enjoy the repast, took a chair of the husband's making in
preference to one of those called Windsor, of which there were six in the
cabin. This chair was bottomed with a piece of deer's skin tightly
stretched, and afforded a very comfortable seat.
The wife now resumed her spinning, and the husband filled a jug
with the sjDarkling cider, and, seated by the blazing fire, was drying his
clothes. The happiness lie enjoyed beamed from his eye, as at my request
he proceeded to give us an account of his affairs arid prospects,
which he did in the following words :—" I will be twenty-two next
Christmas-day," said our host; " My father came from Virginia when
young, and settled on the large tract of land where he yet lives, and
where with hard working he has done well. There were nine children
of us. Most of them are married and settled in the.neighbourhood. The
old man has divided his lands among some of us, and bought others for
the rest. The land where I am he gave me two years ago, and a finer
piece is not easily to be found. I have cleared a couple of fields, and
planted an orchard. Father gave me a stock of cattle, some hogs, and
four horses, with two Negro boys. I camped here for most of the time
when clearing and planting; and when about to marry the young woman
you see at the wheel, father helped me in raising this hut. My wife, as
luck would have it, had a Negro also, and we have begun the world as
well off as most folks, and, the Lord willing, may but, gentlemen,
you don't eat; do help yourselves—ELIZA, maybe the strangers would
like some milk." The wife stopped her work, and kindly asked if we
preferred sweet or sour milk; for you must know, reader, that sour milk
is by some of our farmers considered a treat. Both sorts were produced,
but, for my- part,' I chose to stick to the cider.
Supper over, we all neared thé fire, and engaged in conversation. At
length our kind host addressed his wife as follows :—" ELIZA, the gentlemen
would like to' lie down, I guess. What sort of bed can you fix
for them ?" ELIZA looked up with a smile, and said : "Why, WILLY,
we will divide the bedding, and arrange half on the floor, on which we
can. sleep very well, and the gentlemen will have the best we can spare
them." To this arrangement I immediately objected, and proposed lying
on a blanket by the fire ; but neither WILLY nor ELIZA would listen. So
they arranged a part of their bedding on the floor, on which, after some
debate, we at length settled. The Negroes were sent to their own cabin,
the young couple went to bed, and Mr FLINT lulled US' all asleep, with
a long story intended to shew us how passing strange it was that he
should have lost his "way.
" Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep,"-—and so forth. But
Aurora soon turned her off. Mr SPEED, our host, rose, went to the door,
and returning assured us that the weather was too bad for us to attempt
proceeding. I really believe he was heartily glad of i t ; but anxious to
continue our journey, I desired Mr FLINT to see about his horses. ELIZA
by this time was up too, and I observed her whispering to her husband,
when he immediately said aloudj " To be sure, the gentlemen will eat
breakfast before they go, and I will shew them the way to the road." Excuses
were of no avail. Breakfast was prepared and eaten. The weather
brightened a little, and by nine we were under way. WILLY on horseback
headed us. In a few hours, our cart arrived at a road, by following
which we at length got to the main one, and parted from our woodsman
with the greater regret that he would accept nothing from any of
us. On the contrary, telling Mr FLINT with a smile, that he hoped he
might some time again follow the longest track for a short cut, he bade
us adieu, and trotted back to his fair ELIZA and his happy home.
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