opportunity for indulging in a shower-bath, of
which they seemed greatly in need. The chimney, which had intruded a
couple of feet into the room, as if to keep out of the cold, and
threatened momentarily to tumble down, was of sticks, built up in clay,
while the windows were of thick, unplaned boards.

Two pretty girls, one of perhaps ten and the other of fourteen years,
evidently sisters of the unadorned beauty, the middle-aged woman
who had admitted us, and the dog--the only male member of the
household--composed the family. I had seen negro cabins, but these
people were whites, and these whites were _South Carolinians_. When such
counterparts of the feudal serfs still exist, who will say that the days
of chivalry are over!

After I had seated myself by the fire, and the driver had gone out to
stow the horse away under the tumble-down shed at the back of the house,
the elder woman said to me--

"Reckon yer wet. Ben in the rain!"

"Yes, madam, we've been out most of the day, and got in the river below
here."

"Did ye? Ye mean the 'run.' I reckon it's right deep now."

"Yes, our horse had to swim," I replied.

"Ye orter strip and put on dry cloes to onst."

"Thank you, madam, I will."

Going to my portmanteau, which the darky had placed near the door, I
found it dripping with wet, and opening it I discovered that every
article had undergone the rite of immersion.

"Every thing is thoroughly soaked, madam. I shall have to dry myself by
your fire. Can you get me a cup of tea?"

"Right sorry, stranger, but I can't. Haint a morsel to eat or drink in
the house."

Remembering that our excellent hostess of the night before had insisted
on filling the wagon-box with a quantity of "chicken fixins," to serve
us in an emergency, and that my brandy flask was in my India-rubber
coat, I sent Scip out for them.

The stores disclosed boiled chicken, bacon, sandwiches, sweet potatoes,
short cake, corn-bread, buttered waffles, and 'common doin's' too
numerous to mention, enough to last a family of one for a fortnight, but
all completely saturated with water. Wet or dry, however, the provisions
were a godsend to the half-starved family, and their hearts seemed to
open to me with amazing rapidity. The dog got up and wagged his tail,
and even the marble-like beauty rose from her reclining posture and
invited me to a seat with her on the bench.

The kettle was soon steaming over the fire, and the boiling water, mixed
with