The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, February 16, 1878, Image 1

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VOL. Ill J. H. &W.B. SEALS, (pROFMKTOKS ATLANTA, GA„ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1t5. 1878. nY ttiti -1 rn j |3 PER ANNUM TERMS,) IN ADVANCE. NO. 131L KING HAROLD. BY CHARLES W. HCBNER. With his lords assembled in grave debate. In his council hall sits Harold the Great; On shears and shields, and hanberks bright. Gleams weird the hearth-tire's flickering light. Bose-red the flames leap in their play, Or enllenly sink into darkness away; Specter-like shadows arise and hill. And fade, and flare on floor and wall. Without the incessant thunders smite The rock-ribbed earth in their terrible might; And never as far had the Sea-God's host Swept their white-plumed crests o'er that desolate coast; But liegeman and lord have as little care For the wr; ckful sea and the howling air, As the rosy-tongued flames on the hearth, that defy With musical prattle the turbulent sky. Still speaks King Harold, when " whirr ’’—behold ! With wet wings glistening lil e molti n gold, A wild bird flutters athwart the room— A glinting flash—he is gone in the gloom I “ Ah! like you lost and wandering thing Is the life of man !” sayeth Harold, the King; “ Out of the darkness we whirl into light, To perish at last, in storm and in night." Then Griskar, the Gray-beard, his face aglow Like the sun-lit heavens, makes answer low: " Yea. Harold, yet why should our souls despond— Hath not the birdling his nest bevond I” From the “Boys and Girls of the South.” Charley’s Good Luck; — OR, — Tony’s Devotion. By Mary £. Bryan. ‘A little flirt—an arrant deceiver; I thought her the sweetest, best girl in the world; I was sure she loved me; her eyes have said so a hun dred times; and here she is slighting me for that whiskered fop—laughing at my ‘micro- soopic moustache,’ as she calls it, and pretend ing to examine it through her opera-glass—all to insult me and outrage my feelings. I’ll make her suffer for it; I’ll kill that hateful, grinning lawyer she is so sweet upon; and then I’ll go to California or Texas and wiite her word sue uas blusieu my hie forever!’ This high-flown tirade sounded funny from the lips of the speaker, for he was a smooth faced, pretty boy of seventeen. Ten years hence he would laugh heartily at the remem brance of his young romantic folly, bnt just now it was terribly real. Tears stood in the bright, hazle eyes, and a flush burned on his cheek. He was outraged at tke slight his (sweetheart, pretty Idaline, had put upon him. He felt like doing something desperate. To be slighted, and then laughed at; his budding moustache (his weak point) ridi culed mercilessly, this was more than seven teen could bear. He brooded over his wrongs, and just when he was worked up to the highest pitch, he fell in with two young men with whom he was slightly acquainted, and found that they had come to town to complete their outfit for a Western trip. They were going to the Indian Territory to hunt their fortunes, and cordially invited him to make one of their party. He seized the offer, and made the few preparations that were needed that very day. He had few ties—his mother was dead, and a step-mother reigned in her place—she and her children filling his father’s heart so com pletely that Charley thought there was little room for him. He had saved some little mon ey from his clerk’s salary the past year; then he had a pony, which he found no difficulty in selling. This money would pay his traveling expenses and buy him a gun and some ammuni tion when he reached New Orleans, and per haps a little stock of beads and ribbons and mock jewelry to trade with the friendly In dians when he should reach the Territory. He did n ot see his false fair one again, but, the night before he left he serenaded her with his guitar, and sang— “Farewell, false-hearted,” under her window. He was sure he heard a mocking giggle inside, and something fell at his feet, which, on picking up, he found to be a bouquet of cabbage leaves. Indignantly he went away, more reckless and more determined to leave than before. He packed his valise in readiness for the train, told his intentions to no one of the family except Tony, a faithful ne gro boy who was only a few years older than himself, and who had been devoted to Mars Charley from the time they hunted rabbits and set bird traps together. He told Tony in con fidence where he was going, and was much af- feoted when the faithful fellow burst into tears, and begged to be allowed to go with him. ‘No, Tony, that can’t be, ’ he said, ‘I haven’t money to take ns both. Besides, I am going among the savages and there will be dangers in plenty. I don’t care how soon I am killed; life ain’t anything to me now, but I wouldn't like to have you ‘scalped’ just because of me.’ ‘ Mars Charley, dere’s where you makes a mistake. I’m de very man to go among dem savunges. Dey can't sculp me, kase dey can’t gitde grab on dis wool!* And he took off his battered tile and Bhowed his woolly head, shaven close. But this argument did not avail with Char ley, who reluctantly bade his faithful friend good-bye. Tony eyed him as he turned away, and wiping his eyes on his coat-sleeve, ejacu lated— •Ef I don’t follow him up and find him you may skin me—that's all!’ At ten o’clock that night Charley and his two friends climbed into a second-class car of the departing train and were soon steaming away in the direction of New Orleans. Our party reached the Indian Territory in safety, and met with success in peddling their wares, and had many adventures. Charley’s two friends were sharp fellows, and they traded to advantage, and found opportunities to send back for supplies suitable lor the Indian trade. Finally, lured by hopes of success, they pen- Petals Plucked from a Sunny Clime. As the Weapon came Down, it was Suddenly Dashed Aside by a Blow from Behind. etrated farther into the country—into a wilder region, wb'’re the average Indian settlers re tained their savage and bloodthirsty instincts. But there had been no recent outbreak, and our | young commercial travellers met with no hostil- ■ ities, but with great success. One evening, how- ! ever, as they were passing through a belt of i woods, after having left the prairie home of a i wealthy Indian stock-raiser, to whose pretty | daughter they had sold some of their finest orna- i ments, they were suddenly overtaken by the ! girl riding her Mustang pony and apparently j much excited. j She rode up to them and warned them to turn | back, saying ibat news had just reached her father, that some United States troops nad had a brush with a portion of a tribe of hostile In dians that had been depredating and murdering the settlers in a part of the country nearly a hundred miles distant. The Indians had re treated, committing lawless acts as they went, and the soldiers had followed and overtaken them only a dozen miles away. Here they had had a fight, the Indian’s had been sharply pun ished, and a good many taken prisoners. The others had fled and hid in the woods, and the troops had gone back. ‘But,’ said the girl, ‘numbers of the hostile Indians are lurking in the woods about here, and there is great danger that they may kill you. You had better turn hack and make your way to the nearest settle ment,’ She spoke in very good English, for NValeeka was well educated, and had from her infancy, been trained by an excellent instructess—an accomplished American lady, to whom she was greatly attached. The young men thanked her and promised to take advantage of her friendly warning. Bending her graceful head to them, she wheeled her pony and galloped back, her long black hair floating in the wind. She was only a third Indian; her father and mother being both half-breeds, and her complexion was a rich brunette. Notwithstanding the warning they had re ceived, the two companions of Charley decided to push on through the wood to the houses of a trio of wealthy Indians that they had been told were living just beyond the forest. They were sure of finding purchasers there; afterwards, they would turn back. Charley remonstrated, but with no avail. They quickened the pace of their horses and hastened on through the wood. Suddenly, as t hey were passing through the thickest portion, a bullet cut the air just by Charley's ear, and at the same instant, he saw one of his companions fall. Another shot fol lowed, and buried itself in the breast of Char ley’s horse. He had scarely time to leap from him before the poor animal fell to the earth groaning in the agonies of death. Three stal wart savages now leaped yelling from the woods, and ran forward brandishing their spears. Char ley’s remaining comrade spurred his horse, cut loose his pack, that dropped to tne ground, and fled. One of the savages caught and mounted the horse of the man they had killed and started in pursuit. The other two advanced upon Charley, having first seized his gnn, which had unfortunately fallen to the ground in the shock produced by the sudden attack and the killing of his horse. He had only his pistol, which he I fired as they approached, killing the foremost : Indian. The next instant a bullet from the other Indian had shattered his right arm. and ! he saw the horrid, painted monster advancing j upon him. He turned and fled for lif-. the khv- ' age in hot pursuit. Active and swift of limb was Charley, and he had need of all bis speed at this moment. He outstripped his pursuer at i first, but the loss of blood trom his wound told j on his strength, and he felt his enemy gaining.; upon him. Nearer and nearer sounded uis foot- ! steps, till they seemed in his ears like thunder, i He heard the deep panting breath close behind i him, and the gutters! grunt of triumph as the savage neared him. His brain swam and he sank to the ground exhausted; while his horrid I pursuer, uttering a wild yell, reached liis pros- | trate form, and elared upon him in horrid sat- ! isfaction. Then, taking his keen spear, the ' savage aimed at the poor boy’s heart. But as | the weapon came down, it was suddenly dashed | aside by a blow from behind. As the Indian i turned to see who his assailant was,received an other blinding blow across the face; another and j another, that made the blood spurt, and caused him, already weil-blown with the long chase, to stagger and fall. In an instant, Charley’s queer deliverer leaped upon him and belabored him fast and furiously with the weapon—which to his astonishment, was an umbrella. Still more, to his amazement, the strange figure,as became down with all the might of his brawny arms upon the Indian, uttered ejaculations in the well-known voice of Tony. ‘ Dere, yer murdersome willain! Take dat, yer ugly, sculping warmintl’ vociferated Tony, as he plied the umbrella with such terrible whacks that the savage at last grunted for mer cy. 'Dere, I done broke dis good umberilla— all along uv you, yer pisonous Injun. Mars Charley how yer do ? Told yer I was gwine to follow yer. Had times gittin’ here, I tell yer— wucking my way long. Las’ I fell in wid some sojers cornin’ dis way, arter de savungers. I cum wid um, cooked and curried horses, and all dat, till we cum up wid de red raskils; den we hab a big tight. When it got too hot, I slips in a holler log and lie dere, like coon, till all de fuss done wid. When I cums out, all wus gone but de dead folks. I gedders up dis hat, and dis sword, and dis umberil what I done broke now over dis warmint, and I mounts a a loose hoss, what de rider of him done killed, and I tuck to de woods. Been ridin’troo ’em all day thout a mouthful to eat; when all at to onst I hear guns a poppin’ and cum up jest in time to see de iDjun runnin’ yer down, Mars Char ley. I kicked my mustang in de sides, den I tell yer, and took arter yer, and corned up jes in time to keep dis red imp from sculping yer, and gib him a tase of my omberil. He’s broke it now;so I takes dis sword. | I don’t know well how to manage de ting , bnt I reckon I can cut his head off wid a swing like dis.’ ‘ Ugh! ugh!’ grunted the savage, who lay, his face covered with blood, held down by the ne gro’s big foot upon his breast. ‘ Hoes yer mean by dat grunting talk dat yer willin’ to behave yerself and quit murderin’ and sculpin’, and be an honest Injun?’ asked Tony again, flourishing his long sword, before the eyes of the prostrate savage. ‘ Ugh 1 Ugh 1 ’ muttered the Indian again. ‘Den git up ef yer can and take yerself off,and mind who yer fool wid nex time. I owes yer a grudge ferbreakin’ dis good ombrella.’ He removed his foot from the Indian’s breast, and helped him to rise to his feet. When he had limped away, Tony turned to his young master and examined his wound anxiously. ‘Youse pretty bad hurt, Mars Charley,’ he said ‘ but it mout a been wuss. Lemme help you on my pony and take you some whar. Dey tell me some of dese livin’ round here is friend ly Injuns. I don’t like to truss no red-skin my self, but it can’t be helped in dis case.’ He managed to assist Charley to mount the stout mustang that stood where Tony had leap ed from it when he came up with Chaxley, and the murdering Indians. After wandering about some time they struck a path that led to the house of the wealthy Indian, Waleeka’s father. The girl was standing iu the door, and at once c. lied her father and spoke to him in the In dian language. The chief, for such he was, came out and assisted Tony to bring in the wounded youth, whose strength by this time was utterly exhausted with the pain and the loss of blood. As they took him from the horse he fainted and was tenderly borne to a room and laid upon a couch. A stimulant revived him anil he was soon able to bear the operation of setting his broken arm, which was perform ed by the chief, who seemed to have an intui tive knowledge of surgery that necessity had developed. Charley lay for a long time quite ill, but under the faithful nursing of Tony and the care of the young Waleeka, he at last recovered. The | chief had taken an interest in him and refused to consent to his .going away. So he remained, and soon learned to love the life of a stock-mind er on the great rolling prairies of that beautiful land of the buffalo and deer. After three years he decided to return to his native State to see his father and his for mer friends. He was no longer the slender, beardless boy he had been when he went away, He was tall, luanly-limbed, with a rich, glowing complexion, and a black moustache shading his handsome upper-lip. Idaline saw him at an entertainment the first night of his arrival, and lost her heart to him without knowing who he was. When she found out that the graceful stranger was her quondam devoted lover, she thought it would be easy to bring him again to her feet. But she found her mistake. He paid her courteous attention but refused to be entrapped. Iu vain she smiled and sighed, and did everything to renew the old feeling. Charley had another imagein his heart—that of a beautiful creature, with the dark, shy, tender eyes of a fawn, who he knew was sitting in the vine-wreathed portico of her far prairie home thinking of him. Her pure, fresh heart had never known deceit or art, and it had thrilled with love for him only. He had loved her ever since she nursed him kind- j lyduring his long illness, and he recalled now her sweet, girlish face, was she sat by the win dow with the vine blossoms touching her i cheeks, accompanying on her gnitar the songs she sang—the sweet, wild love-songs of her race. No; he could never be untrue to Waleeka, even were she less beautiful and intelligent than she was, and his heart reproached him for lingering from her so long, when he received an agitated letter begging him to come as soon as possible, as her father had received a hurt which left him disabled, and she feared destined to but a short span of life. He went at once, to the keen dis appointment of Idaline. He reached Waleeka in time to soothe her grief in her father’s dying moments. All the chief’s wealth was left to his daughter, as his wife had long been dead. Be fore he closed his eyes forever, he put Waleeka’s hand in Charley’s, and looked from one to the other significantly, as if expressing his desire that they should be united. They were married a few weeks after the chief- tau’s death, and now among the happiest as well as the wealthiest of the large land and stock owners in that fertile and lovely territory, is Major Charley Bradley, whose beautiful wife was last summer the admiration of Saratoga. Tony—the faithful—still remains his trusty follower. He became quite a beau among the dusky damsels, and has long been promoted to the post of assistant superintendant of his mas ter's increasing business—an office which he trustily discharged. Among his most valuable souvenirs, Charley cherishes the broken um brella with which Tony thrashed the Indian and saved his yonng master’s life. In leaving Fernandina by water we come oat Amelia Iliver which is formed by the tide from the Atlantic. We pass Old Town one mile from Fernandina that has a lookout tower tor pilots who take vessels across the bar, besides a few old Spanish residences. Fort Clinch is the last noticable point before we reach St. John s River Bar, twenty miles from Fernaudina. It is the month of January, and a bland breeze greets us. Our thoughts revert to the earliest settlement of the country, when the Spanish galedus, a strange looking craft, navigated these wators, also ponderous old ships with figure heads of various devices on their prows, and high peaked sterns, the timber used being ma hogany and cedar. Many of them were driven to pieces in a most merciless manner among the breakers, scattering their *reuures of silver and gold, on the strand to tempt the cupidity ot those who found them. Vessel’s dread this bar as those drawing six feet of water are often detained here when going and returning with their cargoes of lumber, on account of low water. The white caps wave their snowy plumes as a warning when the wind i blows, which sends terror to the hearts of the I timid,but the more daring say -‘It looks grand! As we cross the Bar we are in sight of two re- i sorts. May port and Fott George Island, with i accommodations for summer, and winter visi- ! tors. , Mayport was named by the French after May | River, now called the St. John s where they formed a settlement. Fishermen also live in ; this diminutive town, employed like the j Apostles when the Saviour called them in mend- i ing their nets. ! Shad fishing is very profitable here during the season. Six miles from the mouth is located St. , John’s Bluff fifteen feet high, the-site of the j French Hugenot settlement, called La Caroline. , It was founded in 1564 by Laudonniere, and de- ! stroyed by Melendez, 1565. It is supposed to | have been an Indian mound, as human bones, ! beads, pottery Ac. have been dug out here. From the mouth of the St. Johns to i’ilatka, ; there are numerous bluffs, some of them ten or ■ twelve feet in height, with an understratum ot [ shells; on these elevations the pine tree tlourish- /es. The cvpres«. ash, and cabbage palmetto, grow on the banks above Pilatka. The weeping cypress, with its leafless coni cal excrescences, called knees, and dropsical feet, loves to be alone. Florida gives a friend ly greeting to the grey moss, which lives and swings from it’s tallest liuibs.to the lowest twtgs, forming a complete mantle ot grace to the naked j appearing trees. This moss has no affinity tor the pine or palm, which thrives in close prox- j imity, colonizing and Iraternizing in groups, ; and sometimes solitary sighing or rustling as the sea breeze comes to meet and kiss it’s leath ery crown and perennial foliage. A tew of the i trees are deciduous, as the swamp oak, ash, and j poplar, most of the others are persistent, the change of leaves taking place so quietly, it is j scarcely observed. The mistletoe, with it’s i green tufled foliage, faster s on the oak, and is : a regular parasite, a thief, for it deprives the ; tree of vitality. The mistletoe seeds are used : as an article of food by the birds, and thus tran- I sposed to the forest trees, where they adhere by means of a natural gluten until germination takes place. The change of flags in 1821, produced a change with many ot the citizens, when much local information connected with I lorida was lost. This province, when ceded to the L nited States, was divided in two parts, called East and West Florida. Petitions were frequently forwardod to Washington, with a request to have the country remain divided, as it was in conveniently large. During the Indian war, which soon followed, many new explorations were made iu the hid den hammocks and intricate recesses ol the country. The drinking water used in Florida, does not come from mountain streams nor Arctic regions, but in many instances is not palatable, unless mixed with lemon or orange juice. Such a mixture is healthful as well as ageeable. Mosquitoes abound in some places on the coast, and to the dwellers in tents, the impres sion has no doubt been received, that the air was made of these insects. There is a due propotion of fleas in some parts of Florida, but uot more than in the sandy soil of other countries. The olimate is constantly tempered by the Gulf Stream that conducts away the tropical heat, returning in a submarine current the cooler waters from the North, thus producing an at mosphere of salubrious influence and lite-renew- ing properties. No month is without its fresh products and fruits, while every warm day the mocking-bird sings above our head on some airy perch. Many theories have been advanced in regard to the formation of terra firm# on our conti nent ; the one most generally received being that it was all once submerged under water as a proof of which shells and other marine depos its have been discovered in elevated positions which only could have been placed there by the sea overflowing the land and then receding. When this conclusion is attained Florida can not be included, as every year the land aug ments from the combined efforts of the coral in sects, Limulus and Barnacles, together with the debris which is deposited upon these afterwards. If the disturbing influence along the shore from fierce gales were less, the increase ot land would be much greater, as winds and waves are as de structive to the prosperity of these subterranean architects as tornadoes and cyclones to tfie growth of fine forest trees. . . , . The coral insect is constantly working m his briny bed, making masonry which resists 1 action of the element in which it is placed, thus laying the foundation for Islands and conti- Ttt the work of these madrepores and polyps which form the reefs that wreck so many ves sels on the Florida coast and make fortunes for those who follow salvage entirely as their source of subsistence and support. bmviA Sunshine.