'

'Very soon, I reckon. He was sentenced to fifty lashes a week ago.'

'It'll do 'im good; I'd given 'im more'n thet. He war allers up ter
dealin' with nigs.'

The road, when we started, was in a very bad condition, and as we
proceeded it grew gradually worse, till, in the vicinity of the runs
where we then were, it had become almost impassable. We frequently
turned off into the woods and open fields to avoid the worst places, but
even there the jolting of the coach was so violent that I momentarily
expected our 'lady' passenger would roll off into the mud. Seeing that
she was in absolute danger, and being also willing to dispense with her
refined society, I finally said to her:

'Would you not prefer an inside seat?'

'Yas, I would; but I han't th' money fur't. The' axed so like durnation
fur totein' me in thar, I couldn't stan' it, no how.'

'What fare did she pay, driver?' I asked of the Jehu.

'Half-price.'

'That's enough for seventy miles over a road like this. Let her get
inside.'

'Karn't, stranger, 'tan't 'lowed, (d'rot yer dirty hide--you,
Jake--g'up!) the old man would raise 'tic'lar (wha 'bout--g'lang, ye
lazy critter) music ef I done thet.'

'How much more do you want?' I inquired.

'The hull figur, (g'up thar, g'lang, ye durnation brute,) nary a red
less.'

'I will see that Dibble finds no fault, and you shall 'moisten up' at
the doctor's,' said Preston.

'Wall, Squire, (d----n yer rotten pictur, why don't ye g'lang?) ef ye
says thet, (whoa--whoa, thar, ye all-fired rockabone--whoa!) it's a
trade.'

The stage halted, and the woman got inside.

We arrived at Kinston about an hour after noon, and stopped to dine. The
village was composed of about twenty dingy, half-painted
dwelling-houses, and a carriage manufactory--the latter establishment
being carried on by an enterprising Yankee, a brother to the stage
proprietor. He told me that he furnished large numbers of vehicles to
the planters in all parts of the State, and took in pay, cotton, tar,
and turpentine, which he shipped to another brother doing business in
New York. There were, if I remember aright, five of these brothers,
living far apart, but all in co-partnership, and owning every thing in
common. They were native and natural Yankees, and no disgrace to the
species.

After a meagre meal at 'the doctor's' (that gentleman eked out a dull
practice among his neighbors by a sharp practice on his guests,) we
again mounted the stag