We drank tea at Mrs. McCord's; she had her troubles, too.
The night before a country cousin claimed her hospitality, one who fain would
take the train at five this morning. A little after midnight Mrs. McCord was
startled out of her first sleep by loud ringing of bells; an alarm at night may
mean so much just now. In an instant she was on her feet. She found her guest,
who thought it was daylight, and wanted to go. Mrs. McCord forcibly
demonstrated how foolish it was to get up five hours too soon. Mrs. McCord,
once more in her own warm bed, had fallen happily to sleep. She was waked by
feeling two ice-cold hands pass cautiously over her face and person. It was
pitch dark. Even Mrs. McCord gave a scream in her fright. She found it was only
the irrepressible guest up and at her again. So, though it was only three
o'clock, in order to quiet this perturbed spirit she rose and at five drove her
to the station, where she had to wait some hours. But Mrs. McCord said, “anything
for peace at home.” The restless people who will not let others rest!
SOURCES: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 337-8
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