第 3 节
作者:
谁与争疯 更新:2021-02-19 00:36 字数:9322
little treat; most generally a cut off of a loaf of sugar; that used to be
sold in the shape of a long loaf of bread。 We would follow her down
to the stile; where she would get off; and delight us all by taking something
good to eat out of the 〃reticule。〃 We would tie old Kit; and then
take our turn in petting the colt。 The first grief I remember to have
had was when I heard of the death of my grandmother。 I wanted to
see her so badly and go to the funeral; and for weeks I would go off
by myself and cry about her death。 I used to love to lie and sit on
her grave at the back of the garden。 Older people often forget the
sorrows of childhood; but I felt keenly the injustice of not being allowed
to see her dead face and do to this day。
We left that home; when I was about five years old; for a place
about two miles from Danville; Kentucky。 The house had a flat roof; the
first one built in that county; it had an observatory on top。 Our nearest
neighbors were Mr。 Banford's family; Mr。 Caldwell; and Mr。 Spears。
Dr。 Jackson and Dr。 Smith were both our physicians; and my father
used to hire his physicians by the year。 Dr。 Jackson was a bachelor
and said he was going to wait for me; and I believed him。 I remember
visiting Dr。 Smith in Danville and seeing a human skeleton for
the first time。 I also saw leeches he used in bleeding。 I remember when
one of my little brothers was born; they told me Dr。 Smith found him in
a hollow stump。 After that I spent hours out in the woods looking
in hollow stumps for babies。
My mother's father was James Campbell; born in King and Queens
County; Virginia。 His parents were from Scotland。 He was married
twice。 By his first wife he had two sons; William and Whitaker。 William
married and died young; and I heard; left one child; a daughter。
Uncle 〃Whitt〃 lived to be an old man。 The second time my grandfather
married a Miss Bradshaw。 He had four sons and six daughters。 I
used to stay at grandma's with my aunt Sue。 When my mother would
take long trips or visits; she would send the younger children; with my
nurse Betsy; over there to stay until she returned。 The only thing I
construe into a cross word; that my grandfather ever spoke to me; was
when I was running upstairs and stumbled and he said: 〃Jump up; and
try it again; my daughter。〃 I was so humiliated by the rebuke that I
hid from him for several days。 He was a Baptist deacon for years。
When gentlemen called on my aunts; lie would go in the parlor at 10
o'clock in the evening and wind the big clock。 He would then ask the
young men if he should have their horses put up。 This was the signal
to either retire or leave。 He never went to bed until everyone else had
retired。 My grandfather lived in Mercer County; not far from Harrodsburg。
My grandmother was an invalid for years; and kept her room。
My aunt Sue was housekeeper。 In the dining room was a large fireplace。
The teakettle was brought in at breakfast; water was boiled by
being set on a 〃trivet;〃 over some coals of fire。
Every morning my grandfather would put in a glass some sugar;
butter and brandy; then pour hot water over it; and; while the family
were sitting around the room; waiting for breakfast; he would go to
each; and give to those who wished; a spoonful of this toddy; saying:
〃Will you have a taste; my daughter; or my son?〃 He never gave but
one spoonful; and then he drank what was left himself。 This custom
was never omitted。 I remember the closet where the barrel of spirits
was kept。 He used to give it out to the colored people in a pint cup
on Saturdays。 Persons have often said to me: 〃Our grandfathers used
it; and they did not get drunk。〃 Truly; we are reaping what they have
strewn。 They sowed to the wind and we are reaping the whirlwind。
After breakfast; the colored man; Patrick; who waited on my
grandfather; would bring out a horse and grandfather would ride around
the place。 He was very fond of hunting; and always kept hounds。 My
father would tell this joke on him。 When 〃Daddy〃 Rice was baptising
him in Dick's River grandpa said: 〃Hold on; Father Rice; I hear Sounder
barking on the cliffs。〃 Sounder was his favorite hound。 There was a
Mr。 Britt who was a great fox hunter; who lived near my grandfather;
and whose wife was opposed to his hunting。 One morning my grandfather
went by Mr。 Britt's house winding his hunter's horn。 Mr。 Britt
jumped for his trousers and so did Mrs。 Britt; who got them first and
threw them into the fire。 Another time; quite a party of ladies and
gentlemen had gathered at my grandfather's place; to go on a fox hunt。
Grandfather went upstairs hurriedly to put on his buckskin suit。 He
jumped across the banisters to facilitate matters; lost his balance and
tumbled down into the hall; where the company was waiting。 He did not
get hurt; it was a great joke on him。 When he was a young man
he learned carpentering in company with Buckner Miller; who was of
the same trade。 These two young men came to Kentucky from Virginia;
on horseback; seeking their fortunes。 They had many experiences;
always endeavoring to stop at houses for the night where there
were young ladies。 One house where there were quite a number of
girls; Buckner Miller played off this joke on my grandfather。 The
girls occupied the room below where the men were sleeping。 The men
heard a commotion in the girls' room。 My grandfather tipped softly;
down and Buckner after him; to find out what was going on。 They
opened the door sufficiently to see the girls in their gowns; circling
around the candle; playing 〃poison。〃 Mr。 Miller; to pay my grandfather
for some pranks he had played off on him; gave him a push; and grandfather
rushed into the middle of the room in his night clothes。 The
girls flew under the beds and the men ran upstairs and climbed out at
the window。
{illust。 caption = MY FATHER; GEORGE MOORE。}
My father's name was George Moore; and his father's name was
Martin Moore。 He was of Irish descent。 He had two brothers who
died when the cholera raged in Kentucky; about 1842。 One of them;
William Moore; married a Miss Blackburn of Versailles; Ky。 He had
several sisters; some of them died young。
Mark Antony; in his memorial address over the body of Caesar; said
that Brutus was Caesar's angel。 If I ever had an angel on earth; it was my
father。 I have met many men who had lovable characters; but none
equaled him in my estimation。 He was not a saint; but a manone of
the noblest works of God。 He was impetuous; quick; impatient; but never
nervous; could collect himself in a moment and was always master of
the situation。 I have seen him in many trying places but never remember
to have seen him in a condition of being afraid。 When he lived
in Cass County; Mo。; during the war; we saw Quantrell's men coming
up to the house。 These men were dressed in slouch hats; gray suits;
and had their guns and haversacks roped to their saddles。 My father
was a union man; but a southern sympathizer。 He cried like a child
when he heard the south had seceded and taken another flag。 He did
not know to what extent he was disliked by this gang of bushwhackers;
and we were very much alarmed; fully expected some harm was meant。
Men on both sides were frequently taken out and shot down。 When
the Bushwhackers would kill a union man then the Jayhawkers would
kill 〃a secesh。〃
My father said to us: 〃You stay in the house and keep quiet。 I will
meet them。〃 I watched him through a window。 He was tall and straight
as an Indian。 He walked up to them; taking off his hat and called 〃Good
morning〃 to them in a friendly tone。 Asked them to get off their horses;
for he had a treat for them。 In the corner of the yard was the carriage
house and under that was a rock spring house; through which a
living stream of water ran around the pans of milk。 He took them to
the door; gave them seats; then went in this milkhouse and brought out
a jar of buttermilk。 I have heard it said that buttermilk is one of the
greatest treats to a soldier。 He talked with these men as if they had
been friends; brought out fruit; loaded them with bread; butter and milk;
and they left without even taking a horse from us。 I fully believe it
was their intention to do some harm; but by the tact of my father they
were disarmed。 〃A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words
stir up strife。〃 He was a thorough business man; but his social qualities
exceeded all others。 He often had to pay security debts; one for
Mr。 Key; his brother…in…law; of five thousand dollars。 Just before the
election of Lincoln; he took a large drove of mules to Natchez; Miss。;
twenty…two of these mules were of his own raising。 While there Lincoln
was elected; which threw the south into war。 He sold the mules
on time and never got a dollar for them。 To the honor of my father
be it said; he gave up all his property to pay his debts; never withholding;
where he could have done so。 A short while before he died there was
one debt of a few hundred dollars he could not pay。 He wept and told
me of this。 A year ago I settled up with Mr。 Wills' heirs and paid
this debt to his children; who live near Peculiar in Cass county; Mo。
It would be such d joy to my father to know that I di