384 HOSPITALITY. 



ductor Mr Flint, the landlord of the tavern, boasting of his perfect 

 knowledge of the country, undertook to drive us by a short-cut, and we 

 willingly confided ourselves to his management. So we jogged along, 

 now and then deviating to double the fallen timber. Day commenced 

 with promise of fine weather, but several nights of white frost having oc- 

 curred, a change was expected. To our sorrow, the change took place 

 long before we got to the road again. The rain fell in torrents ; the 

 thunder bellowed ; the lightning blazed. It was now evening, but the 

 storm had brought perfect night, black and dismal. Our cart had no 

 cover. Cold and wet, we sat silent and melancholy, with no better ex- 

 pectation than that of passing the night under the little shelter the cart 

 could aiFord us. 



To stop was considered worse than to proceed. So we gave the reins 

 to the horses, with some faint hope that they would drag us out of our 

 forlorn state. Of a sudden the steeds altered their course, and soon after 

 we perceived the glimmer of a faint light in the distance, and almost at 

 the same moment heard the barking of dogs. Our horses stopped by 

 a high fence, and fell a-neighing, while I hallooed at such a rate, that an 

 answer was speedily obtained. The next moment, a flaming pine torch 

 crossed the gloom, and advanced to the spot where we stood. The Negro 

 boy who bore it, without waiting to question us, enjoined us to follow 

 the fence, and said that Master had sent him to shew the strangers to the 

 house. We proceeded, much relieved, and soon reached the gate of a 

 little yard, in which a small cabin was perceived. 



A tall fine-looking young man stood in the open door, and desired us 

 to get out of the cart and walk in. We did so, when the following con- 

 versation took place. " A bad night this, strangers ; how came you 

 to be along the fence .'' you certainly must have lost your way, for there 

 is no public road within twenty miles." " Aye," answered Mr Flint, 

 " sure enough we lost our way ; but, thank God ! we have got to a 

 house, and thank you for your reception." " Reception !" replied the 

 woodsman, " no very great thing after all ; you are all here safe, and 

 thafs enough. — Eliza," turning to his wife, " see about some victuals 

 for the strangers, and you, Jupiter," addressing the Negro lad, " bring 

 some wood and mend the fire. Eliza, call the boys up, and treat the 

 strangers the best way you can. Come, gentlemen, pull off your wet 

 clothes, and draw to the fire. Eliza, bring some socks and a shirt or 

 two." 



