A Coach Ride to Eufaula. 289 



ring just as the cars stopped to secure the seats. 



e accomplished the feat in fine style. Two strap- 

 ping clerks went on the top grumbling. We had 

 eighty three miles to go with miserable horses. 

 Presently it began to rain, and then to pour ; the 

 night was pitch dark ; the streams swollen, and the 

 hills high and slippery; we traveled scarcely more 

 than three miles an hour, as, at every steep hill, we 

 had to get out. To go over shoe tops was a small 

 affair ; I plunged in up to my knees. To crown all, 

 Mrs. G.'s sympathies compelled her to invite the 

 strangers on the top into the coach. Mr. G. took 

 her on his lap, and I had the two men on either 

 side of me, soaked with rain, smashing me into a 

 cocked hat. So we crawled along for twenty-two 

 hours. A bridge had been washed away. I and the 

 other gentlemen crossed on the sleepers, while Mrs. 

 G. kept possession of the coach delighted at the idea 

 of an adventure. At length we reached Eufaula in 

 safety ; express riders had announced our coming. 

 Mr. I)., a wealthy planter, with a pretty young wife, 

 gives, to-day, a dinner party and a great deer hunt, 

 on my account, they tell me. They have learned 

 here that I am a good shot, if I am good for nothing 

 else. I have, however, declined to go, as I am very 

 hoarse from exposure, and cannot speak above a 

 whisper. I have had to disappoint these kind peo- 

 ple, who had made up their minds that I was to 

 preach for them. Instead I became a listener, and 

 heard three pretty good sermons during the day 

 one from a Baptist, the second from an Episcopalian, 

 and the third from a Methodist. I should have 

 omitted the night service, for I increased my cold 

 the lady doctors are dosing me with catnip tea, and 

 nursing me up. I am better, and hope to be suffi- 

 ciently well to tie a knot to-morrow evening, that 

 neither the devil nor his angels can break. 



