went my load to the bottom of the bank again.  A chain had broken, and now my load of corn was left in such a position that I evidently could not get it up again without help.  In the hindrances to which I had been subjected it had come to be 9 o’clock.  I looked about and saw no light save in a saloon that had been built under the bluff to catch custom, for this was the ferry landing.  I do not usually visit saloons, but “necessity knows no law,” and I walked in; and whom should I find but Grafton Thomassen, the man that made the raft on which they sent me down the river, sitting and playing cards with a number of South Carolinians!  They were thunderstruck, and I have to confess that I was almost as much taken aback as they were.  But I spoke to them and said, “Gentlemen, good evening.”  Then I explained, as well as I could, what had befallen me, and that I had come in for assistance.  But they were dumb—­they never spoke a word.  I waited till my position became embarrassing, then said, “Well, gentlemen, you seem to be busy, and I don’t want to interrupt; I will go somewhere else.”  I had already opened the door when Grafton Thomassen found his voice and said, “Boys, it is not right to leave Butler without help.  Let us go and help him.”  “Yes! yes! yes!” they all cried at once, “we will go and help him.”  And, springing to their feet, and hastily putting on their overcoats, hats and gloves, they came rushing to the door, saying, “Yes! yes!  We will help you.  What is it we can do for you?”

I went with them to the river bank, pointed out my sled loaded with corn on the ice, and explained to them it had to be brought up the bank.  They asked incredulously, “An’ kin ye haul that thar slide up that slippery bank?”

I said, “Yes, I have done it once,” then I explained how the chain had broken, and how my load of corn had gone down onto the ice again.

They exclaimed, “O!  Well now!  We have come all the way from South Carliny to see a Yankee trick an’ haint we got it?”

They were eager to help, so as to see the fun.  When everything was ready I gave my horse in charge of one of them, saying to him he must in nowise let the horse turn till the load of corn was well up and in the traveled road, then gave the word to start.  My team was eager to pull, for they were getting impatient; and in fine style they brought the load up on the level ground, and then immediately were in front of the saloon, and I called a halt.  When we got everything fixed I said to them, “Gentlemen, I thank you.  You have done me a real kindness.  But the night is cold.”—­and handing one of them a piece of silver, I said, “Please take that and get something to warm you.”

He took it and with something of hesitation said, “Won’t you come in and drink with us?”

I replied, “Please excuse me.  You know me; you know I don’t drink.  But all the same I want you to take it.”

He said rather proudly, “We did not work for you for pay.  We did it to oblige you.”