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122 THE FIRE-SIDE. For the Southern Cu’tivator. JOHN HICKSON’S EXI'EIIIENCE. CHAPTER 11. “ Change of Base." Our home was rented at a price which I will not men tion, out of delicacy toward the gentleman who owned the same, for fear that in some distant day his feelings might be hurt, if any one couTd show in print that he charged a Confederate soldier such a price for such a house. The landlord had been an officer in our army— one of that “ old fogy” class who, while endeavoring to their utmost to do good to the cause, by serving as offi cers, did, in reality, much harm ; inasmuch as by age and education, they were at least fifty years behind the times. The gentleman who had occupied the premises at a mod erate rent in National currency, before I rented, had the rental of the place ; and he thought fifty per cent more than he paid in Confederate currency, a fair rent. Thejtfajor consented that I should take the house at the price stipulated by his agent, and wrote to that effect, he being absent from the city at that time. I prepared, therefore, to move in. My wife had been very ill, and was now merely con valescent, but notwithstanding, she was eager to get into our house. “ Our Home” was the place upon which we had often thought, weaving bright fancies of the joys and beauties that were to be centered therein. Those who have lived with others—and those not congenial others — can best appreciate a home entirely their own. We expected to start in our home under happy auspi ces, as regards house-keeping. During a short sojourn on the sea shore, my wife had attracted the admiration of a “ lady of color” there living, as “ maid of all work,” and said maid was anxious to come to “ our house” when w.e got in, as cook, washer and ironer. My wife, prepos sessed in her favor, agreed to hire her, when her time ex pired at the hotel. The bargain was made. She was to come to us in the city, on the 20th October, at wages of fifteen dollars per month. I laughed at my wife and told her she need not expect to see Catharine again ; for “ cullud pusson’s” promises are like pie crust —more easily broken than made. Hut in this instance, we were agreeably disappointed, for on the twenty-first of the month a cab drove up to the house where we were temporarily stopping, and Catharine alighted. To describe her—for Catharine was large enough to have a lengthy chapter devoted to her—she was large and'Jieshy, weighing probably 275 pounds. I say “probably,” for her size and weight was a tender point with her, and though frequently urged by the shop-keepers to let them/veigh her, she would never consent. Jn her walks abroad, the boys used to “ poke fun” at her, on ac count of her size, and people would frequently stop to look at her. She was said to be a No. 1 Creole Cook, was pleasant in her manners, and never impudent, and we were glad to get her. Catharine had seldom been in the city, and was “ very green” as to city ways and doings. She had been paid •'wenty dollars, amount due her by her former employer, S<)UTIIERN CULTIVATOR. and brought the same with her to the city. On landing, she met with an acquaintance, who proposed to show her the sights. When she alighted from the cab at our stop ping place, she was minus any money whatever, and bor rowed from my wife money to pay her cab hire. And all she had to show for the twenty dollars, was a hat, trim med with purple—the all-prevailing hue among the ne-' groes at that time. It was one of the small hats, then in fashion, without rim, and on her large head looked lost. We laughed so much at her hat, that she only wore it a few times, and subsequently disposed of it to another “la dy of color,” for about ten per cent on cost. I sent Catharine over to make fires in the house, and have tea for us on our arrival. First impressions arc fre quently lasting, and I wished my wife’s first impressions of “ our new abode” to be cheerful and pleasing. Catha rine carried my kittens over with her. 1 believe that a cat is a necessary appendage in every well-regulated house hold. One more portrait. The “gentleman of color” whom I had engaged to cut ray wood and work my garden, as I expected to have a garden, was a character. He rejoiced in an apostolic cognomen, viz : Matthew. lie was tall, and yellow in color, with a phiz more akin to that of an ourang outang than anything I ever saw. He was very deaf—particularly when he did not care to hear—and about seventy years of age; but very active for his age. In consideration of board and ten dollars per month, this gentleman was to give us his services. As my wife was an invalid, I borrowed a horse and car riage from a neighbor; but as they had no “male gentle man of color,” old Matthew was advanced to the post of driver for this one time. The carriage was an ancient affair, and the harness, if not as old as Matthew, was not half as strong, or as well preserved. It was a cold and disagreeable afternoon, and the distance we had to drive was about a mile. Before we had gone a quarter of a mile, the horse walked out of the shafts, leaving us in the middle of the road. Some ten minutes were spent patching up the harness, and then off we started ; when about half way the old concern gave way at another point. Strings were out, and we had to use my handkerchief and that of my wile to tie up the same. AY hen within a hundred yards of “our house,” with night rapidly approaching, we again broke down, and in default of any other string, the broken harness was now fastened with somebodies garters, which happened luckily to be a very strong pair of silk ones. That was a memo rable ride, and right glad were we to reach home. Cath arine was at the gate, ready to lift my wife out of the carriage, and carry her into the house, where she had a cheerful fire burning, and the tea-table spread. The yellow and white kitten “ Bragg,” who will often be mentioned in my nurjative, was snugly nestled on the hearth-rug, before the fire, apparently feeling quite at her ease. We were at home ! It is not often 1 will allow my imagination to run riot, but the present position is one eminently suited fora poet to dwell upon, and I, although no versifier, will stop a few moments and muse. Out of doors, dark, cold, and drizzling rain ; within a cheerful fire, and well-spread tea-table; a comfortable