The Cumberland Mountains 



change to pay my bill. When I told her that un 

 fortunately I had nothing smaller than a five- 

 dollar greenback, she said, &quot;Well, I m sorry, 

 but cannot afford to keep you. Not long ago 

 ten soldiers came across from North Carolina, 

 and in the morning they offered a greenback 

 that I could n t change, and so I got nothing for 

 keeping them, which I was ill able to afford.&quot; 

 &quot;Very well,&quot; I said, &quot;I m glad you spoke of 

 this beforehand, for I would rather go hungry 

 than impose on your hospitality.&quot; 



As I turned to leave, after bidding her good 

 bye, she, evidently pitying me for my tired 

 looks, called me back and asked me if I would 

 like a drink of milk. This I gladly accepted, 

 thinking that perhaps I might not be success 

 ful in getting any other nourishment for a day 

 or two. Then I inquired whether there were any 

 more houses on the road, nearer than North 

 Carolina, forty or fifty miles away. &quot;Yes,&quot; 

 she said, &quot;it s only two miles to the next 

 house, but beyond that there are no houses 

 that I know of except empty ones whose own- 

 [21 ] 



