"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, "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." 

 "Very well," I said, "I'm glad you spoke of 

 this beforehand, for I would rather go hungry 

 than impose on your hospitality." 



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. "Yes," 

 she said, "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 ] 



