Read Books Online, for Free |
XIII. Hostages to Momus | O Henry | |
Section II |
Page 1 of 2 |
After breakfast we went out on the front porch, lighted up two of the landlord's /flor de upas/ perfectos, and took a look at Georgia. The installment of scenery visible to the eye looked mighty poor. As far as we could see was red hills all washed down with gullies and scattered over with patches of piny woods. Blackberry bushes was all that kept the rail fences from falling down. About fifteen miles over to the north was a little range of well-timbered mountains. That town of Mountain Valley wasn't going. About a dozen people permeated along the sidewalks; but what you saw mostly was rain-barrels and roosters, and boys poking around with sticks in piles of ashes made by burning the scenery of Uncle Tom shows. And just then there passes down on the other side of the street a high man in a long black coat and a beaver hat. All the people in sight bowed, and some crossed the street to shake hands with him; folks came out of stores and houses to holler at him; women leaned out of windows and smiled; and all the kids stopped playing to look at him. Our landlord stepped out on the porch and bent himself double like a carpenter's rule, and sung out, "Good-morning, Colonel," when he was a dozen yards gone by. "And is that Alexander, pa?" says Caligula to the landlord; "and why is he called great?" "That, gentlemen," says the landlord, "is no less than Colonel Jackson T. Rockingham, the president of the Sunrise & Edenville Tap Railroad, mayor of Mountain Valley, and chairman of the Perry County board of immigration and public improvements." "Been away a good many years, hasn't he?" I asked. |
Who's On Your Reading List? Read Classic Books Online for Free at Page by Page Books.TM |
The Gentle Grafter O Henry |
Home | More Books | About Us | Copyright 2004