t I could not tell
in the dark whether or not this was a house of entertainment."

"I guess it's the finest hotel you'll find between the Ohio and
Harrodsburg," answered the man.

"All right," said my father; "I'll see my wife and child, as well as our
goods, safe inside; then we'll take the horses and waggon round to the
stables."

Saying this he helped my mother and me to the ground. We entered a
large room with a huge cooking-stove at one end, and a long table down
the middle, flanked by benches. A middle-aged woman, with three
strapping girls, her daughters, advanced to meet us, and conducted my
mother and me up to the stove, that we might warm ourselves; for as it
was early in the year, the evening had set in cold. Our hostess talked
away at a rapid rate, giving us all the news of the country, and
inquiring what information we could afford her in return.

We found that we were still nearly another day's journey from Green
River, after crossing which it would take us the best part of a third
day to get to my uncle's location. Three or four other travellers came
in, armed with bowie-knives, and pistols in their belts, each carrying a
long gun, which he placed against the wall. A black man and a girl
appeared, to serve at table, and we heard several others chattering
outside, reminding us that we were in a slave-state. On my father's
return he took his seat by my mother's side, and talked away to prevent
me hearing the conversation which was going on between the other
travellers at the further end of the table, which showed they were as
rough in their manners as in their appearance. However, they did not
otherwise interfere with us.

At an early hour my father begged to be shown a room.

"I guess it's not a very big one," answered our hostess; "but you and
your wife won't mind a trifle like that. There's a bunk in the corner,
in which your young one can stow himself away."

I remember the dismay with which I saw the bunk spoken of. It was in
reality a huge chest with the top propped up, but I tumbled into it
notwithstanding, and was soon fast asleep. At daybreak the next
morning, after a substantial breakfast, in which fried eggs and Johnny
cake formed an important item, we again started off over the same sort
of corduroy road as on the previous evening. On either side were
numerous clearings with log huts, and here and there a more pretentious
store, before each of which several persons were seen t