Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/284

 256 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

a day with us is as a thousand years with them. The day was far spent when, after the slow ride, the hour for dinner and the drive about the city, we found it time for the train to start back, and not a moment had been allowed for shopping. Therefore my wife and I decided to stop over until the late train and purchase the sugar. We went to a large grocery store whose proprietor imparted much pleasing information in regard to Richmond's increasing busi- ness, its enterprise and prosperity. We bought the sugar and he promised that it should be at the baggage room on time. We started for the depot. The train was due to leave at six-thirty P. M., which time arrived, but no sugar. Consider my anxiety, the article paid for and we about to leave the place, prob- ably never to return ; could not advance without sacrificing the price of the purchase, could not recede for fear of losing the train. Doubtful moments ensued, yet not without hope. Our experience had taught us that every thing moved when it got ready. No exception in this case. About ten minutes late, a team came with the sugar which was delivered into the car, but the baggage master refused to take merchandise as baggage, advising me to give it in charge of the express. I wished afterward I had taken his advice, but in the interest of Mr. Sears, to save expense, I ran to the office of the railroad officials, some distance off — leaving my wife trembling in nervousness lest the train should stait — and obtained permission to take it along with me, and about half an hour late we started, thinking the matter settled and all right.

We reached West Point about ten o'clock in a torrent of rain, transferred the sugar and ourselves to the steamer, expecting soon to be with our friends in the cabin of the Frances. But on account of the storm, the captain decided to remain at the wharf until daylight. The boat was tremendously crowded, and we camped down on settees for the night, in company with several New Hamp- shire officers and passengers of the Frances who had waited till the late train with us to .see more of Richmond.

The next morning we learned that another boat would start at nine o'clock, some two hours earlier than the one on which we had taken passage. We were anxious to be back in Yorktown, for it was the day that Winthorp was to speak, so we scampered to make the change, not forgetting the barrel of sugar in our flight, and expecting our care of it would here end.

Again we were disappointed. The utter lack of system caused our contin- ued trouble. Nine o'clock came and with it a train from the interior, loaded with a confused multitude. They crowded the wharf and crowded themselves into every part of the vessel. Destitute of order, pocket-picking and watch- grabbing was the game.

And it was here that a brave woman drew a pistol and forced a pick-pocket to give up her watch which he was transferring from her belt to his own pocket ! She could defend herself and her property.

There was no one to look after anything, no safe place to put luggage. We left our charge on the deck for a tired woman with her child to rest upon. And so we boated down the river in the fresh air, under the clear blue of that October day, new editions of human nature around us, the moments filled with new experiences, returning to the dust and discomfort of Yorktown.

It would seem that now we should be relieved. But, alas, there was no one to take the barrel off our hands, no' place to put it on the shore ; conse- quently we had to leave it on the boat. The circumstances being told to Mr. Sears, he sent a man to get the much needed sugar. The messenger found the steamer had dropped away from the landing, down the harbor, and anchor- ed two miles away. Night came on and the hunt was postponed until another day. It was my satisfaction, however, to know that just before the Frances

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