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excursion. See to it that the youth is properly j
equipped, or he may suffer.”
“I am persuaded that'you are right,” said I,
on reading the last lines. “ You have had an
opportunity of informing yourself.”
“If that is your spirit,” replied 11., “you
will do well. You and Preston will be good
friends.”
So I placed myself under the directions of the
gallant Captain, who assigned me a place in a
mess, and saw to the purchasing of my accoutre
ments. My messmates and I hired an old hunt
er, to accompany us, and act as “ chief cook and
bottle washer;” and besides, I carried Howard,
a bright negro, of about my own age, who had
been my playmate in childhood, and my sen-ant
afterward.
There was one point on which I needed no
urging—to make me provide myself well I
spared no pains, nor expense, to mount myself
and my follower in good style; and we rode
forth on steeds equal, in speed and strength, to
the best.”
We left the station on a bright, lovely morn
ing, with a sky over our heads as blue as Italy
ever saw. It seemed to look down propitiously
and smilingly upon us, as if offering the shelter of
its canopy to men who were not to sleep under a
roof for many, many nights to come. Clad in
my tasty hunting suit—a frock of dressed deer
skin, with a cape, edged with gaily-colored
fringe, leggings of the same material, also fringed,
and a glazed leather cap, whose large, projecting
visor sheltered the eyes from the sun and rain—
as I bestrode my noble bay, my blood bounded
with tumultuous joy, and I could hardly refrain
from such an exhibition of enthusiasm as would
have called forth smiles of contempt from the
veterans of our party.
I felt a sensation of wild freedom and inde
pendence, as I remembered that I was about
leaving, for a while, civilization, with its thou
sand shackles of form and conventionality, to see
nature in its grand unmutilated magnificence,
and to mingle with tho rudest and simplest of
her children; I compared the frivolity and want
of purpose of the fashionables, with whom I
had associated, to tho earnestness and manliness
of my present companions and the red men we
were to meet.
I looked around on our cavalcade, and saw tho
weather-beaten veteran, with grizzled hair and
iron countenance, but undimmed and eagle eye,
sitting his horse with the ease known only to
those who are accustomed to the saddle from
childhood, and swinging his ponderous rifle as
strength alone will enable one to do. Beside
him rode the young ranger, whose eager and
restless glance betokened tho spirit as yet un
disciplined by hardship and danger.
Our gallant Captain was distinguished for his
graceful horsemanship and soldierly bearing.—
lie seemed fifty-five, or perhaps sixty years old;
but although his locks wero turning gray, and he
had been designated as old by my friend, there
was not the slightest evidence of ago in his
movements. And although one of the most
careful and wary of men, when there was neces
sity for being so, his manner was ordinarily
dashing and bold.
All of us wore dresses similar in their main
features, and varied a little, according to the
taste, or ideas of convenience entertained by
each particular wearer; to-wit, a frock, confined
by a belt—in which wero stuck the indispensa
ble repeaters—leather leggings, and caps**
We marched steadily on for several days,
stopping only at night. At the end of that time,
we halted for twenty-four hours, to allow those
who were so “ keen” for it, an opportunity of
hunting. Among these, of course, I was one.—
Our huntsman, old Hinks, went oiit, and invited
me to go with him, but I chose to try my luck
alone. With rifle in hand, I sallied forth, to
ward a heavy clump of timber on the side of an
eminence to the Cast of the camp. I had never
had much experience in stilf hunting, but I
trusted to the little knowledge I had picked up,
and to a sort of instinctive insight into wood
craft, which I inherited from my father.
Wandering through the silent forest, I passed
several places likely to afford deer, but saw
none for a good while. As I walked warily
along, stopping now and then to reconnoitre, at
length, as far ahead as my vision would reach,
I saw in a little dell, green and fresh, around the
head of a marshy thicket, five of the “ denizens
of the forest”—one noble buck with branching
antlers, aucj four does. My heart fluttered at
the sight. They were feeding fearlessly and
leisurely, unaware of the vicinity of their enemy,
man.
I regretted that I did not bring my double
barreled gun, as I felt confident of being able to
get near enough for a shot with it to take effect.
If I had brought it, instead of the ride, I thought
I should have killed two deer, whereas, I must
now satisfy myself with one. Immediately, on
seeing the game, I stepped behind a large tree,
and having formed a plan of approach, I com
menced to shorten the distance between myself
and the quarry.
The large trees stood convenient, and availing
myself of them, I drew nearer and nearer the un
conscious deer. Where the growth was thick,
it was easy work, stealing from one massy trunk
to another; but before I could get to the giant
of the forest, from whence I expected to make
my shot, I had to cross an open space. To pass
this, unseen, required nice management. Down
on all-fours I went, sliding my rifle along, while
I moved on, personating a hog, keeping a stump,
or something of the sort, between me and my
game, as well as I could, and stopping perfectly
still whenever the old buck turned his head to
wards me.
[to be continued.]
Origin op Punctuation. —Written letters were
at first not divided into words, but in ancient in
scriptions whole sentences form one continuous
series.
It was at a much later period than is common
ly imagined, that dots, or similar marks, were first
employed to part sentences and words from each
other; to leave an open spaco between them is
a comparatively modem improvement. Marks
of punctuation, also, remained unknown until the
time of the Alexandrian grammarian, and es
pecially Aristophanes of Byzanz, and the Maso
retes in Hebrew writings. Even then, however,
they were only used as an aid in*books of instruc
tion, and neither the Goth, nor the Coptic, mnch
less the Northern Runes, ever knew their use.
The order in which the fines of written letters
are arranged, has varied considerably. Among
the ancients; the direction from the right to the
left prevailed generally; modern writing follows
the opposite direction. The Chinese and Japan
ese place their words, not side by side, but un
der each other, and arrange the perpendicular
columns from tho right to the left; Greek, Eas
tern Indian, and Runic writing is horizontal, but
begins also at the right.' Tho oldest writing is
“Boustrephedon,” combining both directions, and
so called from its resemblance to the movements
of a plough.
Mrs. Smith, did yeu say, in the hearing of my
little girl, that I was a great rusty rat t" “ No,
my dear Mrs. Jones, I said you was a great
aristocrat,”
XBS mVTM&XM SMttffl SBII VXRSBXSB.
[Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.]
THE EARLY SETTLERS OF GEORGIA-A CON
TRAST.
It is well, in more respects than one, not to
despise the day of small things. In seasons of
prosperity we forget the humble condition in
which wo began our struggle. The people of
Georgia, though not vain above the average of
humanity, may take a lesson which will bring
with it sobriety of judgment, and, perchance, wis
dom in action.
Within less than two lives of three score and
ten, the colony of Georgia was planted as a re
fuge for the poor. Then, in 1732, as now, in
1859, Great Britain was burthened with a pop
ulation for whose absolute wants she found it
difficult to provide. Her lands belonged to the
crown and aristocracy, and labor was compelled
into a starving, tread-mill routine, from one gen
eration to another, without the possibility of a
change for the better. Society was laid off into
distinct classes, each revolving within its orbit,
like the planetary system, and any deviation from
the established order was deemed as strange a
perturbation, and produced as much alarm as
woidd the crossing tho Earth’s orbit by Mars, Ju
piter, Herschell, or any other of the planetary
bodies of our solar system.
As a prudential measure, it became necessary
to draw public attention to another hemisphere
of fabulous capacities for social prosperity and
happiness.
To this end, King George 11. was pleased, in the
following royal phraseology, to set forth the ne
cessity of emigration, and the advantages, partic
ular and general, of American colonization.
“Whereas, we are credibly informed, that many
of our poor subjects are, through misfortunes and’
want of employment, reduced to great necessity,
insomuch as by their labor they are not able to
provide a maintenance for themselves and fami
lies; and if they had means to defray their charges
of passage, and other expenses incident to new
settlements, they would be glad to settle in any
of our provinces in America; where by cultivat
ing the lands, at present waste and desolate, they
might not only gain a comfortable subsistence
for themselves and families, but, also, strength
en our colonies, and increase the trade, naviga
tion, and wealth of these, our realms.”
And therefore, His Majesty proceeded to name
twenty of “his truly and well beloved subjects,”
among whom were John Lord Viscount Purci
val, and James Oglethorpe, whom he incorpo
rated as a body politic by the style of “ the Trus
tees for establish ing the Colony of Georgia in Ameri
ca.” This charter bears date, June 9, 1732.
Funds having been collected to defray the ear
ly expenses of the-enterprise, the first emigrants,
consisting of one hundred and fourteen persons,
(men, women, and children), were shipped on the
16th of November, 1732, accompanied by Gen.
Oglethorpe. On the 13th of January, 1733, Gen.
O. wrote from Georgia, to the'Trustees in Eng
land,. notifying them of his safe arrival, with the
loss of only two children among his people, dur
ing the voyage. His next letter is dated, “From
the Camp near Savannah, the 10th of February,
1733,” giving an account of the locality lie had
selected for a town, ten miles from the sea, ac
cessible to ships drawing twelve feet of water.—
He says:
“ The landscape is very agreeable, the stream
being wide, and bordered with high woods on
both sides. The whole people arrived here on
the Ist of February; at night their tents were
got up. Till the 10th, we were taken up in un
loading, and making a crane, which I then could
not get finished; so I took off the hands and set
some to the fortification, and began to fell tho
woods. I have marked out the town and com
mon ; half of the former is already cleared, and
the first house was begun yesterday afternoon.
A little Indian nation, the only one within fifty
miles, is not only in amity, but desirous to be sub-
His Majesty, King George, to have lands
given them among us, and to breed their children
at our schools. -Their chief, and his beloved
man, who is the second man in the nation, de
sire to be instructed in the Christian religion.”
During the first year, the private donations in
England, to assist the colony, amounted to about
eighteen thousand dollars; and, in the succeed
ing year, Parliament voted fifty thousand dollars,
out of the sale of lands at St Christopher. This
was the extent of pecuniary aid. The Indians
made a formal cession of the country to the King.
Five thousand acres of land were granted by the
Trustees to three of the colonists, at the time of
embarkation, in trust, “to make grants, from
time to time, to every man of twenty-one years
of ago, and upwards, (who should arrive in Geor
gia, and desire tho same), fifty acres of land, to
hold to him, and his heirs male.” Many appli
cations were made to the Trustees in England,
by persons who proposed to go over and settle
in the colony, at their own expense, to whom
particular grants of land were made, under the
same tenure, and on these conditions:
“ That they should, within twelve months
from the date of their grants, go to, and arrive in
Georgia, with one man servant for every fifty
acres granted them; and should, with such ser
vants, abide, settle, inhabit, and continue there
for three years; that they should, within ten
years, clear and cultivate one-fifth part of the
land granted them; and within the next ten
years, clear and cultivate three-fifth parts more
of the said lands, and plant one thousand white
mulberry trees upon every one hundred acres
thereof, when cleared. And that they should not,
at any time, hire, keep, lodge, board, or employ,
any negroes within Georgia, on any account what
soever, without special leave.”
From an official report, made up to 1740, it
appears that fifteen hundred and twenty-one per
sons had been sent over, of whom nine hundred
and fifteen were British, six hundred and six
were foreign Protestants; and of all the number,
six hundred and eighty-seven wero men, being
an average of about two hundred a year. Such
was the beginning of Georgia.
In the meantime, much discontent prevailed
among the colonists. The Trustees appointed
sundry Bailiffs and “Wardens, in whom the judicial
authority was vested. Some of these were
accused of being tyrannical and corrupt. Tho
grand jury at Savannah, in 1737, made a strong
representation, specifying many acts of the kind,
to the Trustees. One of these Bailiffs was mag
azine" keeper, having the custody of the provi
sions and supplies brought over, and otherwise
collected, for the subsistence of the colonists. —
He was charged with gross partiality, and of
alluring weak minds to his support by the
power he had of feeding, or starving them. Some
of the magistrates were said to have purchased
New York cargoes, and other commodities, with
trust funds, and then retailing at exorbitant rates,
as tho necessities of the people permitted. The
list of grievances is of formidable extent.—
Among other hardships complained of, was the
refusal of the Trustees to allow rum or other
ardent spirits to be used in tho colony. This
restriction cut off a main source of income, by de
stroying the lumber trade with the West india
Islands; for when the latter could not dispose
of their rum, they were unable to purchase
return cargoes of lumber. For the want of ne
groes, it was contended, the lumber trade in
Georgia could never compete with that in South
Carolina where negro labor was employed; hence,
the colonists applied to the Trustees for permis
sion to introduce slaves. On the 9th of December,
1738, a petition to this effect was signed at
Savannah by one hundred and seventeen land
holders.
In the meantime, settlements were made at
Frederica, Darien, and other points near the sea
board, all of which experienced embarrassment
and trouble—sometimes of a very distressing
character, from the diseases of the climate, the
oppression of rulers, and the rapacity of
the vicious among the colonists themselves.—
The details may be read in the records published
by the Georgia Historical Society, in 1842.
They cannot be given at greater length in this
article. The Trustees, finding that they could
not manage the affairs of the colony so as to
give general satisfaction, surrendered their
charter to the crown in 1752.
The twenty years administration under the
Trustees resulted in failure. Os exports, there
was nothing of any value—not a bale of cotton,
and but very little rice, indigo, or other produce.
In 1742, the Board at London appointed a com
mittee to “consider how far it may be convenient
or proper to admit the introduction, and use of
negroes, in the . Province of Georgia, and under
what limitations and restrictions.” The result
of the inquiry has not been ascertained, nor at
what period negroes were first imported into
Georgia. The Europeans who attempted field
labor under the hot sun, and debilitating climate
of Southern Georgia, soon became exhausted,
from their inability to endure it, and gave up
in despair. One chest of raw silk, weighing
forty-jive pounds and two ounces, prepared by
Mrs. Mary Camuse, wile of Lewis Oaniuse, was
shipped at Savannah, in 1741, and created quite
a sensation in England, where, in 1742, the
Trustees
“ Resolved, That it is recommended to the Com
mon Council to give Mrs. Camuse a gratuity for
every person who shall be certified to be properly
instructed by her in the art of winding silk.”
Tho idea of raising silk in Georgia induced the
Privy Council to adopt a new seal for the Gov
ernment, on one side of which was to be repre
sented the Genius of the Colony offering a skein of
silk to His Majesty. By command, the Lords Com
missioners for Trade and Plantations laid before
the Council, a plan for the government of the
Colony of Georgia, which was adopted in 1754,
when the King appointed John Reynolds, Esq.,
“Captain-General and Govemor-in-cliief of His
Majesty's Province of Georgia, and Vice-Admi
ral of the same.”
At this time, the population of the Colony did
not, perhaps, exceed five thousand souls, judg
ing from the ratio of increase before noticed.—
But it was the germ of an Empire, as the pres
- ent will show. For convenient reference, the cen
sus of Georgia is given from 1790, the first year
it was taken after the Government of the United
States was organized under the Constitution:
Year. Whites. Slates. Total.
1790 52.556 29,261 82,548
184)0 101,678 59,404 162,101
1810 145,414 105,218 252,433
1820 1 ■'9,556 149,654 840.987
1880 296,806 217,531 616,823
1840 407,695 280,944 691,392
iB6O 521,572 881,662 906,185
, During sixty years, embraced in the above ta
ble, the white population of Georgia has multi
plied itself by ten. The slave population has in
creased in a still greater ratio, having multiplied
itself by thirteen. The taxable property of the
State is shown by the Comptroller General’s Re
port for 1858:
83,780,805 acres of land valued at $138,859,970
482,124 Slaves 227,468,927
Money and solvent debts 89,762,797
City or Town property ..80,110,244
Foreign Bank Capitla! 778,413
Merchandise 10,462,511
Capital employed in shipping and tonnage 763,235
Manufactories, &c., 8,868,786
Household and Kitchen furniture over S3OO, 2,051,505
Other property not enumerated 34,928,856
Aggregate value of whole property $539,055,114
Valuation in 1857, i 527,828,963
Increase in 1858, $11,226,151
The Comptroller General states the number of
polls to be 97,048; professions, 2,978; and free
persons of color, 1,093. The average value of
land per acre is $4 II; the average value of
slaves, per head, $52 639. Number of voters
in 1857, 104,394; general tax in 1858, $441,-
965.
This view will suffice as to the permanent re
sources of Georgia, from which the State Gov
ernment is supported. Estimating the white
population at 700,000 in 1859, there would be
an average of $770 in property to each individ
ual.
Another exhibit of the strength of Georgia
has yet to be made, in her works of internal im
provement. These have attained for her, by
general consent, the title of “ Empire State of
the South." A list of railroads, with the length
and cost of each, is here given: *
Miles. Cost
Atlanta and LaGrauge 86>£ $1,171,716
Augusta and Savannah 58 1,030,100
BarnesvilleandThomaston 16 320,000
Brunswick and Florida SI 800,000
Central 192 3,750,000
Etowah ... S 120,000
Geonria 171'
Warrenton branch 4
Athens branch 39 4,174,492
Washington branch 17,
Macon and Western 101 l,so<MftP
Main Trunk 8)$ ftUrut
Milledgeville and Gordon 17 200,000
“ “ Eatonton 22 300,000
Muscogee 50 1,216,518
Rome 20 300,000
Savannah, Albany, & Gulf 68 1,151,751
South-Western 106)
Butler branch 22 v 2,269,323
Cuthbert branch 9)
Western and Atlantic 188 5,901,497
Total 1,174 $24,268,163
Before the day of* railroads, a trip from Macon
to Savannah, in sulkies, or on horse-back, could
usually be made in five days, hard traveling.
When a line of stages was established, the time
was not less than two days and a half. Now,
the same distance is run by the cars in eight
hours—sometimes less—passengers taking sup
per in Savannah and breakfast in Macon. There
is similar dispatch from the seaboard to the
mountains. It once required as much time to
perform a journey, by private conveyance, from
Columbus to Savannah, as it now does from New
York to Liverpool. For these, and other advan
tages, common in our day, far beyond what has
fallen to any preceding age, let us manifest our
gratitude, by increasing the means of intelli
gence, that our successors may be as far in ad
vance of us, as we excel in social, civil, and po
litical privileges, and material prosperity, the
little band of Europeans who first scarred the
forest on the banks of the Savannah. M.
“ Will you give me that ring ?” said a village
dandy to a lady; “ for it resembles my love for
you; it has no end.” “ Excuse me sir,” was the
reply, “ I choose to keep it, as being emblema
tical of mine for you; it has no beginning.”
— i■ i
A Yankee who had seen the statue of the
“ Greek Slave,” and was asked if he was not in
raptures with it, answered, “ Well, to tell the
truth, I don’t care much about them stone gals.”
[Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.]
THE LITTLE FOLKS.
Oh! tho bad little ones! oh! the dear little ones!
That darter around almost every hearthstone;
They're all that is wayward, they're all that is loving;
How sad our homes would be, if they were gone!
With their wee restless Angers, and tireless feet.
They are, all the day long, spying some mischief out; i
They tear up the books, and they litter the room,
And scatter the basket of spools all about;
Til mama, with a sigh, says she wishes they all
Were big girls and boys, and well out of her way:
But the words are scarce uttered, e'er quickly recalled— 1
For what would she do, without Willie and May?
Should a visitor call, they're sure to detect
Red hair, and cross eyes, wry mouth, or bald head;
And despite mother’s whispers, and frowns, and aught else, I
Some unsavory truth is most sure to be said.
Then, again, they will suddenly spring from their play.
And with countenance lifted to yours, very grave,
Some question will be put you, you cannot reply to,
Unless you've more wisdom than most mothers have.
They're wicked, they’re wilful, but deeeil. we thank God,
In the bosom of childhood not oflen|hath place;
While the world tries to cover the heart with a veil,
The thoughts of our children arc writ in the face.
When the friends that surround us, in friendshl p bestow
Thetr words of affection, we list with a fear,
That the lips, only speak; but when the child tells ns,
“I love you a million,” we know he's sincere.
Oh ! the dear little, sweet little, worrying pets,
That cluster around almost every hearthstone;
With their soft clinging arms, and their loving caress,
They're twined round our hearts, and we would not
spare one I • c. e. g.
—
[Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.!
STRAY LEAVES FROM THE DIARY OF A
COUNTRY LADY.
BY. M. M., OF WALNUT GROVE.
Christmas Eve.
This has been a busy day with me; and, were
it not for the iron chain of habit, I should un
doubtedly lie asleep just now, instead of scrib
bling over the ordinary incidents of the day. But
the custom of reviewing, in some way or other,
tho good and evil of daily life, is too strong to
be laid aside, for a temporary fit of fatigue.
Owing to sundry mishaps, a little tardiness,
and the blessing of an abundant crop, we have just
managed, while the last rays of the setting sun
were gilding the revolving levers of the screw,
to pack the last snowy fibre of our cotton; and as
I take a liberal share in all the troubles and per
plexities of the plantation, as well as its pleas
ures and profits, I felt as though an incubus
were lifted off my shoulders, when I saw Jack
and John, with a grin of satisfaction peculiar to
themselves, roll, by their united strength, the
last ponderous bag from under the screw.—
John gave it a hearty thump with tho sledgo
hammer, byway of a parting salutation, I sup
pose, and then, majestically setting his arms
akimbo, he ordered his dusky satellites, “to pick
up them baskets, and ropes, and baggin’,” put
’em up in the gin ’ouse, lock the pick-room door,
and give him the key.” No prouder, happier
darkies walked the earth, than did John and his
crew from the gin house, this evening, where I
could not resist the temptation of going myself,
to witness the winding up of the agricultural
drama for tho year. The packing of the last
bag is always one of proud triumph, to black and
white, and a general jubilee ensues accordingly;
but when it happens on Christmas eve, when
all hands are sure “ that last bit of scatterin’,
cotton in tho new groin’ cut” is safely stowed
away in the last bag, and there will be no more
“botherin’” about it, ■ who can tell what visions
of roast pig, turkey, and ham, the substantials of
the coming feast to-morrow, and the “ Christmas”
that is to be given out the smoke house, for
their own private management and possession,
are floating in floury splendor before these dus
ky sons and daughters oftoil? Well, they have
fairly earned it, and with an unsparing hand it
shall be dealt out to them; for truly it is here,
that I, at least, exquisitely realize, that “ it is
more blessed to give than to receive." This
morning, aunt Betty and I put our wits and
hands together to make our Christmas cake; the
batter was uncommonly light and fine, but some
how, a vision of a “raw streak in the middle"
has been haunting me ever since I felt its weight;
but aunt Betty says, “it’s all right,” and of course
she knows. Our Christmas box of fruits, nuts,
and candies, which Bill brought home from town,
in the; wagon last night, I with Eve-like curiosity,
had to peep into to-day, and, thanks to G.’s care,
they are, to use his own favorite terms, “ truly
splendid." Joe cried for a stick of candy, and as
I had petted him up to this stage of naughtiness,
I had, of course, to continue the process, and give
it to him, though I had promised myself that
nothing should be touched till to-morrow. Black
as he is, I see he is not lacking in developing
the same traits of character, common to all other
young Americans.
This afternoon, I sent Dinah to hunt hollies and
evergreens, to decorate the rooms. She came back
loaded with water oaks, cedars, and mistletoes,
but reported no hollies to be found; so I had just
despaired of carrying out my old childish practice
of
“Decking our houses, on Christinas day.
With holly and ivy, so green and so gay,”
When I saw big Jack coming with an armful
which he had found, while hauling a load of
wood. I appreciated them all the more, that I
had not sent him for them; but he knew of old
my fancies for “sich nonsense,” as I understand
he terms it, in the kitchen —and ministered to
them accordingly. I busied myself very pleas
antly in arranging festoons and flower-pots, and
was so fortunate as to find a few faithful roses
on the never fading monthlies, and just an ounce
more of sunshine would have brought out the
hyacinths and jonquils; but, never mind, they
will be here by and by. So I contented my
self with delicate pearls of the mistletoe, which
contrasted charmingly with the rich scarlet
berries of the holly. I remembered the beauti
ful running cedars and ground pines, we used to
get at home, long ago, but these, I knew, did not
grow in this latitude, so I twined them around
the halls of memory, and left them there, green
and fresh, as they hung in days of yore.
I have had only one drawback to my pleas
ure to-day, one tiny spot on the kaleidoscope of
home life, and that is in itself so silly lam half
ashamed to pen it. Aunt Betty with the pertina
city of long-standing and undisputed authority in
all culinary matters, insisted I should point out
which turkey she must kill for to-morrow. I half
suspect this to be a species of refined cruelty,
which she practices towards me, for she knows
how much 1 dislike to do it; yet, I had to go w*h
her to the turkey house, where she had diem
all safely imprisoned, and point out the ris* 1 one i
but I felt all the while like a judge, to
pronounce sentence of death upon an innocent
victim of fate instead of crime, -ts we must eat
turkeys, and pigs, and chicken*) I had rather
not see them till they are stalled and browned,
and brought to the table, (hough I must admit
this is rather an odd sort of fastidiousness.
One more item, and I have done for to-night,
or “Santa Claus” wdl be startled to see me sit-
ting up, ready to receive his elfish majesty when
he tumbles down the chimney. Having been
most successful with turkeys, this year, it oc
curred to me, if I knew a family whose necessi
ties were such that they had not a turkey, and
could not procure one for a Christmas dinner, I
would supply the want; but strange, yet pleasant
to record, I have taxed my memory in vain to
dispose of a single gobbler upon these terms. I
can think of no family in our neighborhood that
cannot afford a Christmas turkey, if they wish it
And thereupon, I caught myself indulging for
a moment in what some would deem the un
womanly habit of philosophizing a little and re
flecting. “ What can be the cause of this?” said
Ito myself; “ why are we of the South dis
tinguished so favorably from some other sections
of our country ? Can slavery have anything to
to do with it? Is it owing to this institution
tliat all, among us, who practice a reasonable
degree of industry and economy, are so well to do
in the world, that charity, in one of its most com
mon and important forms, is likely to become ex
tinct, just Irom the lack of opportunity for its
exercise ? This cannot be averred as strictly true
in all parts of the South. In cities, no doubt, to
a certain extent, unavoidable poverty and desti
tution, do and must exist; but in the country,
at least in this section of the South where I
reside, necessary want is almost unknown. A
generous soil always rewards honest industry,
with competence and comfort.
Christmas Night.
At last, the day is over, with its cares, its plea
sures, and I must add, its trials, too. If it be
true, that trifles, light as air, make up the sum
of human happiness, (and I am fain to believe they
do,) I suppose it is equally true that trifles, of
the same specific gravity, make up the sum of
human misery. Christmas day belongs here al
most exclusively to negroes. The whole house
hold of them is invariably astir long before day,
and one’s precious morning nap is sadly inter
rupted by cries of “Christmas gi/J’ missis!”
“Chrismus gif, master!” shouted at you, from
every cabin door you pass, and by grinning
elf. that can pronounce the words.
Popping bladders, and guns touched off with
a coal of fire, arc fitting accompaniments to such
chorus.
This matter of “gifts" or presents is often a
serious tax upon one’s resources of imagina
tion, and material supply. Innumerable collars,
and caps, and ribbons, and coats, and pants,
and cravats, are to be forth-coming, for each
must have something. Half the morning,
too, is to be spent in the smoke house, sharing
out “Christmas” in the shape of flour, lard, su
gar, coffee, and molasses. This, however, the
negroes claim as no gift, but their right. It is
theirs, by prescriptive, traditionary title. Then,
there were passes to write, and aunt Betty’s do
mains to visit, and there was the distribution of
prizes, for cotton-picking, which we postponed for
to-day, to be presided over. I had kept a faith
ful register of weights, for my own satisfaction,
as well as theirs, and we managed it so that
each should get something, a dimo only, some
times, for the small ones; but some carried off,
in prizes, as much as five dollars. Mr. 8., the
overseer, says they have picked uncommonly
well during the fall, and the weights bear out his
assertion. I scanned the countenances of all, as
they received their money; the men, cap in
hand, with a grin, a bow, and the inevitable
scrape of the foot; and the women, with their
own peculiar, short bobbing curtsey. There was
not a shadow of discontent; for jealousy among
themselves (thanks to the simplicity of their na
tures.) is a feeling almost unknown.
About twelve, our guests arrived, and my
toilette waa-barely made to receive them, so
many and various had been my occupations
of the morning. In the evening, some one pro
posed to solemnize the “Yule Log,” an enormous
one of oak. (F. insisted that it should be put on,
though it was almost warm enough to liave dis
pensed with fire.) So we gathered up the scat
tered “chunks,” and placed them carefully away.
For myself, I confess a momentary feeling of
superstitious awe came over me as the thought
occurred, should we all, of that social group, be
spared to gather around the ample hearth, and
kindle again the flame of friendship, with the
cheerful blaze of another Christmas fire? But all
things must end. It is now late at night Our
guests have departed; and lam alone, making
up my day’s account. The gifts have been dis
tributed to the grateful and grinning recipients;
the bladders are all popped, ammunition is ex
hausted, and the guns are still. The hub-bub
of Christmas day is over. For servants and
children at the South Christmas is the happiest
day of the year. And to us old folks—the masters
and the mistresses—the fathers and mothers—is
it not the happiest for us too ? If it is not, ought
it not to be? On what other day of the three
hundred and sixty-five do we make so many
hearts glad ? so many hearts of those depend
ent upon us for support and happiness, to leap
for joy?
m -
Growth of Animals. —Man grows for twenty
years, and lives ninety or one hundred.
The camel grows for eight years, and lives
forty years.
The horse grows for five years, and lives twen
ty-five years.
The ox grows for four years, and lives fifteen
or twenty yeais.
The lion grows for four years, and lives twen
ty years.
’ The dog grows for two years, and lives twelve
or fifteen years.
The cat grows for one and a half years, and
lives nine or ten years.
The hare grows for one year, and lives about
eight years.
The guinea pig grows for seven months, anil
lives for six or seven years.
The rule by which the above taMe bas been
made out, is one which French philosophers pro
fess to have discovered, viz.: that animal life is
extended to a term about -"qual to five times that
which it requires to a/rri-e a,t maturity from btrth.
A Goon Wife *ho Found “ Good in Eveby
tiiino.” A faraier was once blessed with a good
natured, contented wife; but it not being in the
nature of mm to be satisfied, he one day said to
a neighb<"’» he really wished he could hear his
wife sold once, for the novelty of the thing.
Whereupon, his sympathising neighbor advised
hi.ii to go to the woods and get a load of crooked
sticks, which would certainly make her as cross
as he could desire. Accordingly, the farmer col
lected a load of the most ill-shaped, crooked,
crotchety materials that were ever known under
the name of fuel. This he deposited in its place,
taking care that his spouse should have access to
no other wood. Day after day passed without
a complaint. At length the pile was consumed.
“ Well, wife,” said the farmer, “ I am going after
more wood; I’ll get another load just such as I
got last time.” “ Oh, yes, Jacob,” she replied,
“it will be so nice, if you will; for such crooked,
crotchety wood, as you brought before, does lie
around the pot so nicely.”
35