{"id":767,"date":"2010-04-23T08:44:03","date_gmt":"2010-04-23T15:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/?p=767"},"modified":"2012-06-18T12:07:00","modified_gmt":"2012-06-18T12:07:00","slug":"dick-and-i-chapter-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/767\/dick-and-i-chapter-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Dick and I, Chapter 1, 19th Century Unpublished Book by S. B. McKenney"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dick<\/a>
Dick and I by Samuel Bartow McKenney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This manuscript was written before 1881 by Samuel Bartow McKenney. In the transcription I’ve not changed spellings or punctuation unless I absolutely must for coherence. There were no periods in the manuscript and I have added those.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dick and I<\/p>\n

Chapter I<\/strong><\/p>\n

The evening wind shrieked wildely: the dark clouds
\nRested upon the horizon’s hem and grew
\nMightier and mightier ———
\n——————- There arose
\nFrom the infinites of waters sounds
\nConfused appalling; from the driad(sic) lee shore
\nThere came a hevier swell, a lingthend roar
\nEach moment deeper, rolling on the ear
\nWith most portentious voice<\/em>
\nCarrington<\/p>\n

Behold him here
\nNo welcome guest it seems —–<\/em>
\nFramthe(sic) Frences <\/p>\n

A wild night in September. The wind went shrieking and howling
\naround the old gables and through the tree tops in fitful gusts.
\nThe lindens and maples knocked their branches furiously against
\nthe walls of my chamber as if envious that any one should be
\nafforded shelter while they were exposed to all the face of the
\nterrible storm that raged without.<\/p>\n

In an occasional lull of the tempest, the sullen roar of the
\nbreakers could heard thundering against the huge bowlders (sic)
\nthat surronded Spirit Knoll.<\/p>\n

It seemed as though all the dusky indian spirits of Minnesota that
\nhad ever held an incantation or offered up a sacrifice on the
\nKnoll, were moving upon the waters of lake Minnetonka that night
\nand mingling their wild yells and angry imprecations with the
\nscreaming sobbing wind and trying to drive the intrusive pale
\nfaces from a spot where they had performed their weird rites and
\noffired up this rude worship to the Breat Manitou for so many
\nyears.<\/p>\n

The cold driving rain rattled against the window panes and the
\ntempest seeming to gain renewed force from every lull howled and
\nroared with renewed fury causing, as each successive squale hurled
\nitself against the buildings, every timber to tremble and vibrate.
\nI threw down my book which I had been vainly trying to read for
\nthe last hour and drew my chair up to the fire and fell into the
\nvery unprofitable employment of watching the glowing coals,
\nlistening to the storm and building all sorts of fanciful castles
\nin the air. (See Note 1 page 48)<\/p>\n

My dreaming however, was of shirt duration as I was soon called
\nback to the practical affairs of life by my land lord in the room
\nbelow —-<\/p>\n

“I’m orful sorry, but there aint a spare bed in the house. I
\nguess if yew go doawn tow Phinias Barlews they kin keep ye. Its
\nonly about two miles.”<\/p>\n

“But Sir” replied a voice “two miles is an interminable distance
\non such a night: and besides it would be almost impossible to find
\nMr. Barlows in this darkness. If you will allow me I shall be
\ncontent to sit by the fire the remainder of the night”<\/p>\n

“I guess I haint got wood enough to last all night and then I
\ndon’t like tew hev strangers laefin raound that I don’t know
\nnothin about.”<\/p>\n

“I am neither a robber nor a thief and will try and dispense with
\na fire if you will be kind enough to afford me the shelter of your
\nroof. lt’s a terrible night and —”<\/p>\n

– 1 –<\/p>\n

“I can’t help if if it is. Look a here: there ain’t no use yer
\nbeggin and cerlaverin around I don\u2018t keep stranger, without money.
\nYew can either find shelter somewhere else or lay out dern. I
\ndon’t care a darn which.”<\/p>\n

“Thank you,” replied the stranger, “as niether of your alternatives
\nhappen to suit me on a night like this. I believe I shall remain
\nwhere I am.”<\/p>\n

“Hey! Goneter stay whether I’m willin or not any yew – Yew darned
\ndead beat! Ill show ye! Bit out o here. By Gosh I hev ye
\narrested in the mornin Yew Sol darned Klew Kluck! Bit out o this I
\nsay!”<\/p>\n

“No thank you,” quickly replied the stranger. “I prefer your bluster
\nto that of the storm but I would suggest that you be a little more
\nchoice of your language Reserve your complementary epatats until
\ntomorrow.”<\/p>\n

Now I know my red headed Yankee host to be a man of considerable
\ntemper and fearing that we might have squally times inside as well
\nas without I decended the stairs in order to soothe his troubled
\nspirit by paying the strangers reconing for Rufus R. Woolsey had a
\npassionate fondness for shin plasters.<\/p>\n

On entering the barroom I discovered the ungainly form of the Land
\nlord on one side of the fire, his red hair bristling up like the
\nquills on the fretful porcupine. His freckled face expressive of
\nboth wonder and anger at the audacity of his unbidden guest while
\nhis greyish blue eyes glared minancing(sic) at the intruder who
\nseated opposite, and apparently paying no attention to the
\ninnkeeper whatever, was quietly warming himself at the fire while
\nacross a chair back hung his dripping water proof cloak from
\nwhich a small pond of water had already fallen on the neatly swept
\nfloor.<\/p>\n

The stranger arose as I entered and instinctively my hand
\ncontaining the money was thrust into my pocked; not that I thought
\nhim unworthy of my offering but the idea of offering charity to
\nsuch a man was not to be entertained for a moment. In person he
\nwas tall, fully six feet, and straight as an arrow There was an
\nease and grace in every movement that betokened not only an
\nacquaintance with the ‘best society’ but the possession of great
\nmuscular strength. His age could not have exceeded twenty eight
\nalthough a causual observer might have taken him to be
\nconsiderable older.<\/p>\n

The long wavy hair, black as midnight, was brushed back from a
\nbroad white forehead that was marked by lines indicative of deep
\nthought and one not unacquainted with mental suffering.
\nThe mouth, small and sensative as a womans, was shaded by a long
\nsilken mustash of the same raven hue as his hair. The eyes, large,
\nand dark seemed capable of flashing fire or of being infinitely
\ntender and gentle as the occasion might require.
\nAt present they appeared to be a morbid of living expression in
\ntheir dark depths that could not have been caused by the
\ninhospitable deportment of the innkeeper for he seemed to have
\nutterly forgotten his presence–<\/p>\n

“Excuse me Sir,” said I advancing, “there is a much better fire in
\nmy room If you will honor me by being my guest l think I can make
\nyou more comfortable than you can be here.”<\/p>\n

– 2-<\/p>\n

“Thank you I shall indeed be most happy to accept of your _
\nhospitality the more so since Boniface here does not seem very
\nsocially inclined tonight.”<\/p>\n

I led the way to my room leaving my Yankee host growling and
\nmuttering to himself as he proceeded to punch the fire
\nrevengefully.<\/p>\n

I seated my guest in my chair while I proceeded to a closet after
\na bottle of some old burgundy which I thought would not be
\nunacceptable after a trip through such weather.<\/p>\n

“My name,” said he, “is Richard Rashboy lately from LaGrange
\nMississippi although I can not say that that place or any other in
\nparticular is my home and now sir may I ask who that kind friend
\nis who has so generously offerded me shelter from this infernal
\ntempest and rescud me from the presence of that gory headed
\nheathen down stairs.”<\/p>\n

“My name is Constand Ethridge and I, like you, have not permantly
\nlocated my self in any place (Note 2 page 48) although now that we
\nhave formally, or informaly (….) which we introduced
\nourselves fill your glass and allow me to drink to our better
\nacquaintance.”<\/p>\n

“Willingly, Mr. Ethridge, I expect to remain here a few weeks for
\nthe purpose of making some sketches and shall probably stop at the
\n‘Mapewood House’ on Carsons bay about two miles from here I
\nshall be indeed glad to see you at any time.”<\/p>\n

I learned during the conversation that ensued that my guest
\npossessed a rare and highly cultivated mind and that he had left
\nhis trunk containing all his money at the railroad station in
\nWayzata and it was owing this last fact that woolsey the landloard
\nrefused him shelter.<\/p>\n

When I went to bed that night it did not seem possible that I had
\nonly knew Richard Rashboy but about two hours; he seemed to me
\nrather as an old friend returned after a long absence. Now I can
\nnot say as I am in general a very social man or one fond of making
\n(forming) new acquaintainces, but there was something in this man.
\nA sort of subtile magnetism that attracted me toward him in spite
\nof myself A feeling, perhaps, not possessed by all to such an
\nextent as experienced by me, but one that I believe to be felt by
\nevery one more or less: A feeling of either attraction or
\nrepungance toward every person with whom we come in contact
\nI have often when walking the through streets of some populus city
\ncome suddenly face to face with a man, whom; had I acted from the
\nfirst impulse of my feelings I should have knocked down and felt a
\nsense of relief in doing so, so sharp was this feeling of
\nrepungence excited within me. I have on the other hand met
\nstrangers toward whom I felt strongely attracted. Whether such
\nmysterious influence is caused by the feelings portraying them-
\nselves on the features, gives to faces such a diversity of
\nexpression, which, almost unconsious is recognized as an index of
\nthe feelings and impulses of the heart by others who feel
\nattracted first in proportion to the account of congeniality and
\nharmony within the two persons or whether there may be a more
\nsubtile power still by which spirits find their kindred I am not
\nprepared to say but it was perhaps owing to this influence that I<\/p>\n

– 3 –<\/p>\n

felt so strongly attracted toward my guest.
\nI have often been lectured by practical old ladies and called a
\nvisionary and a lunatic by worldly-wise men for allowing my
\nfeelings to influence my actions and told that I would be a looser
\nby it many times but some how I never could quite persuade my self
\nto bring all my sensibilities and kind impulses down to a monirer
\nbasis and measure out my love for a friend by a system of profit
\nand loss.<\/p>\n

The same sages would tell me that all things were made for a
\npurpose but did not say for what purpose those fine intiutive
\nfeelings amounties almost to instinct were given us if not to
\nassist us in the choice of our friends and associates.<\/p>\n

Mr. Rashboy departed the next morning after having urged me to
\nvisit him soon and I determined to avail myself of his invatation
\nand endevor to learn ( —– ) more of a man that seemed to be such
\na strange ( —– ) of strong passion and marvelous coolness. A
\nfiery thinker and great patience and a fierce vindictive
\ntemperment and ( —– ) most gentle ( —– ) all of which was
\ngeneraly ( —– ) man beneath a calm exterior ( ————- )<\/p>\n

– 4 –<\/p>\n

Go to Table of Contents for “Dick and I”<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This manuscript was written before 1881 by Samuel Bartow McKenney. In the transcription I’ve not changed spellings or punctuation unless I absolutely must for coherence. There were no periods in the manuscript and I have added those. Dick and I Chapter I The evening wind shrieked wildely: the dark clouds Rested upon the horizon’s hem […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[192,686],"class_list":["post-767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mckenney-family","category-uncategorized","tag-dick-and-i","tag-samuel-bartow-mckenney"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=767"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}