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It TURNER, EDITOR. |
VOLUME I.
€§c lniitjifnicttt |)r«ss>
Published every Tuesday Morning.
rr:i2 es*.:nm*»s»
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OF THE
INDEPENDENT PRESS.
rp H E INDEPENDENT PRESS is published week.
1 }y in Eaton ton, Ga., at the price of §2,00 per
annum, invariably in advance; except where the
subscriber resides in the county.
As its name indicates, it is designed to be entire!}
independent, being governed alone by such roles as
decency, gentlemanliness and good morals impose
v-> o n even' press. It hopes not, however, to mistake
licentiousness for liberty, nor scurrillousness for in
dependence.. Afs?#'
Its polities arc Democratic —of the school of
Jefferson, Madison and Jackson. It, however, is
subject to no party discipline which would compel
its Editor to sacrifice truth and honor in behalf of
Lie political associates, lie will speak what he
thinks.
One distinctive feature of this press is that it al
lows and invites a discussion in its columns of all
subjects whatever, proper to form reading matter foi
the popular mind. Communications from politics 1
opponents are admitted upon the same terms as
,■ enmunieations from political friends. It is lequired
of both, that they make their articles brief, to the
ixiint, and free from personality and all illiberal feel
iim. Religious questions, as well as political, and
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Much of the attention of this press is devoted to
Literature and Miscellany. It is not entirely filled
-.vita political wrangling and party strife. In addi
tion to its literary and miscellaneous matter, it con
rains articles on Agriculture, Jo. And as Georgians
and Southern people generally are fond of field
snorts, this subject also aids in filling the columns of
:ais paper
Whatever can add to the prosperity of Georgia
). ;h 1 aid in developing her resources, moral, mental
aid physical, is considered peculiarly adapted to
these columns, The cause of common school edu
cation, especially, will be urged updh the people of
Georgia with all the ability we can command.
All communications must be addressed, postpaid,
to the Editor of The Independent Press, Eatonton,
1 i eorgia.
April 18, 1554. J. A. TURNER.
professional k business Carte.
J. A. TURNER,
,tTTOIt.VE\‘ .IT L,.i ll*.
Eatonton, Ga.
RICHARD T. DAVIS,
&®®®awrjrS A®
eatonton, ga.
OFFICE OVER. VAN MATER’S STORE.
teSiL WmM*
RESIDENT DENTIST.
eatonton, ga.
Sptljolcxilc auir |lctail Crocrr:
pfSells Country Produce on Commission:
East comer Jefferson St., Eatonton, Ga.
J (ITT. CARTER, ~
IFANCY CONFECTIONER,
No. 4, Carter & HarveyJfcßange,
H April 23,1854. Eatonton, Ga.
S. €. DUSEN BERRY,
waaaiacDUiiujUiji
warrant to please all who wish the latest
X V style of dress. Shop up stairs, adjoining the
’riming’Office.
April 18,1864.
"Tong & dorr,
A®®<MBS*Sr<23 A®
BRUNSWICK, GA.
eive their attention to the practice of law
in the counties of Chatham, Liberty, Mclntosh,
t fiiynn Wayne and Camden, of the Eastern circuit ;■
Lowndes, Clinch, Ware, Charlton and Appling of the
I Southern circuit: and also, Nassau, Duval, and St.
John’s counties, Florida.
Thus. T. Long. | Tnos. M. Cobb.
May 9,1354 3 11
HUDSON, FLEMING & CO.,
AhAdiiS 6s uuihhboibh MERCHANTS,
No. 94, Bay Street, Savannah, Ga.
END Eli their services to Elanters, Merchants, and
1 dealers in the sale of Cotton and all other wun
try produce. ISeing connected in busincHH with Hop
kins Hudson & Cos., of Charleston, the establishment
of an officii in tins city vail afford our friends choice
of markets Strict attcnti% will be given to business,
«nd the usual facilities afforded customers.
J. It. Hudson, j ( Lambeth llopkins,
W. R. Fleming, r Augusta.
Savannah. ' (J. J. Cohen, Charleston.
mm &
21 Kj
AND iM
COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
SAVANNAH,GA.
J , rri promptness and pcraonal attention to all bnsi-
I ) ness entrusted to our charge, having met with
nm-ival. we beg leave respectfully to say, our office
' InHuufd rt the old Stand. Plantation and Family
‘ . ,• ruArJed at the lowest market prices, aud
suppiH. 1 A u produce in Store, or upon
, *.aupL. JOHN FOSTER.
, u , 4 ly
% lltclilt) |oiu*nal:—tn ifiteratra, fblitus, Religion anil Hgrintltaw.
COURT CALENDAR FOR 185 L
REVISED BY CHE SOUTHERN RECORDER.
sn*E RIOR €OURTS.
4th Monday, Richmond
Muscogee
AUG USE
2d Monday, Clark
3d Monday, Campbell
W altou
4th Monday,
Monroe
Taliaferro
Marion
Baldwin
Jackson
Meriwether
Sumter.
SEPTEMBER
Ist Monday, Pauiding
Coweta
Madison
Chatvooga
Morgan
2d Monday, Polk
Cass
Crawiford
Butts;
Elbei t
Greene
Gwinnett
Harris
3d Monday, Cobb
Twiggs
Fayette
Hall
Putnam
Talbot
Columbia
Hart
JANUARY.
2d Monday, Chatham
4th Mondav, Richmond
FEBRUARY.
Ist Monday, Clark
3rd Monday, Campbell
Walton
4th Monday, Baldwin
Jackson
Monroe
Marion
Meriwether
Sumter
Taliaferro
MARCH
Ist Monday. Coweta
Chattooga
Madison
Morgan
Paulding
2d Monday, Butts
Cass
Crawford
Elbert
Greene
Gwinnett
Harris
Polk
3d Monday, Cobb
Fayette
Hull
Putnam
Twiggs
Talbot
Columbia
Hart
3d Thursday, Bulloch
Monday after, Effingham
4th Monday, Gordon
Macon
Newton
Washington
Wilkes
Clay
APRIL
Ist Monday, Cherokee
Fulton
Randolph
Murray
Pike
Warren
Wilkinson
Camden
Taylor
Thursday after, Rabun-
Friday after, Wayne
2d Monday* Forsyth
Whitfield
Dooly
Glynn
Habersham
Hancock
Montgomery
Laurens
Thursday after, Mclntosh
and Tattnall
3d Monday, Lumpkin
Worth
* Franklin
Stewart
Early
Henry
Jones
Liberty
Oglethropo
Pulaski
Emanuel
Thursday after, Brvan
4th Monday, Union
Decatur
Dekalb
Houston
Jasper
Lincoln
Scriven
Telfair
Catoosa
Thursday after, Irwin
MAY
Ist Monday,
kinchafooneo
Fannin
Heard
Walker
Upson
2d Monday, Bibb
Gilmer
Ohatalioochee
Baker
Chatham
Dado
3d Monday. Spalding
Pickens
Burke
Calhoun
Troup
4th Monday Thomas
Dougherty
Floyd
Monday after Lowndes,
Monday af Lowndes,
Clinch
Thursday after Clinch,
Ware.
Monday after Ware,
Appling.
Wednesday after,
Charlton.
Friday after,
Coffee.
JUNE.
Ist Monday, Jefferson
2d Monday.
Leo
Carroll
♦On the Ist and 2d Mondays in October next
(for one term only.)
f Fall Term, 1854.
X After Fall Term 1854.
Who is runny Fern ?
N. P. Willis settles this vexed ques
tion. He states in the Home Journal
that his father had three children, Rich
ard Storrs Willis, Fanny Fern and him
self. She, however", has exhibited no
disposition to claim relationship' with
two men, who, since the Fores divorce
case, have been in imch bad odour with
respectable people, and ambiguously an
nounces that by a .sudden reverse of
fortune she was deprived of all her rela
tions and is now alone in the world.
BulWer Lytton’s Failures. — Per
haps it may encourage younger writers
if I remind them that I was not success
ful in any one line that I attempted.—
My first attempts at prose composition
were refused admittance into a magazine.
My first novel vyas very little read, and
it is not included M the general collec
lion of my works. My first poetry was
thought detestable—-and my first play
very narrowly escaped being damned.
The Printing-* Office.— Mr. Win
throp, in his recent lecture before the
Charitable Mechanic’s Association, made
this remark in regard to printing offices
as a good school;
“ There is an atmosphere in a printer’s
office, which, Uomehow or other, puts
notions into bly’s heads, too*—an atmos
phere which id apt to make quick blood
quiver, and impulsive hearts beat high
er, and active!Wins work harder,, until
those people’.) thoughts, are suddenly
found insistiuj on having other people
4th Monday, Gordon
Newton
Macon
Washington
Wilkes
Clay
Last Thursday, Rabun
OCTOBER.
Ist Monday, Cherokee
Fulton
Murray
Randolph
Warren
Wilkinson
Taylor
Tuesday after, Pike
2d Monday, Forsyth
Whitfield
Dooly
♦Habersham
Hancock
Montgomery
Laurens
Thrsttday after, Tattnall
3d Monday, Lumpkin
Worth
Franklin.
Early
Henry
ji Stewart
Emanuel
Jones
Oglethropo
Pulaski |
4th Monday, Union
Decatur
DeKalb
Houston
Jasper
Lincoln
Scriven
Telfair
Catoosa
Thursday after, Irwin
Bulloch f
Monday after, Effingham
NOVEMBER.
Ist Monday,
Kincliafoonce
Fannin
Heard
Walker
Upson
Ist Tuesday, Bulloch +
2d Monday, Bibb
Gilmer
Chattahoochee
Baker
Jefferson
Dade
Oh Monday, Spalding
Pickens
Burke
Camden
Calhoun
Troup
Friday after, Wayne
4th Monday, Glynn
Thomas
Doughtery
Floyd
Thursday after,
Mclntosh
Monday after, Lowndes
and LiVjerty
Thursday after, Bryan
Monday after Lowndes,
Clinch.
Thursday after Clinch,
Ware.
Monday after Ware,
Appling
Thursday after
Charlton
Friday after, Coffee
DECEMBER.
2d Monday, Lee
Carroll
4th Monday, Muscoogee
EATONTON, TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1854.
(Original.
FOR THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
THE BIBLE.
On blessed Book ! —with leaves sublime,
Which points to distant, happy clime,
How much we love thy heav'nly truth,
That’s guided us aright in Youth.
While in Life’s meridian rays,
It warns us of all erring ways—
A certain weapon, while in strife
’Gainst-the Arch-fiend, to give us life.
Unerrihg Chart! our time is ending,
To the grave wo all : arc wending;
By faith in God, wo rest assured,
That everlasting Life’s secured.
ORLANDO
Eatonton, Ga,, May 23, 1854.
Ifktlkucmts.
FOlt TIIK INDEPENDENT PRESS,
•Were Sketches .
BY AN ERRATIC.
NUMBER 111.
“ Caro to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt,
And every grin so merry draws one out.”
‘Tt is a kind of idleness I know:
And I am said to be an idle man—
And it is very true.”
In the year eighteen hundred and
month of April, the little village of
A , in Southwestern Georgia, pre
sented a scerie of laz} r , sleepy indolence,
perfectly in keeping with the general
habits of the peor/lc who inhabit very
Warm climates. Ic was the season of the
year when men who have nothing to
do, just begin to lose the temporary
feeling of energy and vivacity induced
by the bracing winds of winter, and to
feel the languor and lassitude incident to
our warm, southern summer. The vil
lage of A did not dream of a rail
road at that day, but she is now fast
building one, and soon the shriek of
the steam* engine will startle its quiet in
habitants from their dreamy apathy,
and waken into existence a spirit and
energy, hitherto unknown in that re
gion. Indeed, the spell is even now at
work—it began a year ago. The mere
prospect of a railroad was sufficient to
breathe a spirit of life and activity into
the little village altogether at variance
with what i=» generally understood to
be the chareyfer of the inhabitants of the
piney-woods region.
Atthe time that I speak of, and on that
particular afternoon, the town might
have been mistaken for a fief appertain
ing to the Castle of Indolence. The
loafers from the piney-woods round
about who hadhieglected their business,
(if they had any,) to come to town, saun
tered idly along the square, puffing im
mense clouds of smoke from marvelous
ly black-looking cigars, and occasionally
popping into a grog shop to take a lazy
drink. The grog* shops were silent and
quiet, and, for a wonder, peaceable—for
the drinkers were too lazy to fight. The
doctors balanced themselves lazily in
split-bottomed chairs, before their shop
doors, enjoying cigars and the cool shade
of their China trees, glad that they had
no “call,” on that lazy afternoon. The
store-keepers were equally idle, and
were assisting the loafers before their
doors, to smoke cigars and spin yarns.
I had, unexpectedly, met an old acquain
tance in those parts, and he and I were
sitting on a goods box, smoking and
whittling the box on which we sat.: —
We hadi been' talking over old times,
but gradually yielded to the influence
of the weather'and the prevailing spirit
of the place and now sat, listless and si
lent, occupied as aforesaid. Hot far from
us, on another pile of boxes, was- a
group which formed rather a contrast to
other groups on the boxes around; for
there seemed to be something of life and
gayety prevailing amongst its members,
as evinced by the frequent bursts of'
merriment proceeding from it. Most of
this group were also smoking, and'
working for dear fife with their jack
knives at the boxes-on which they sat.-
They had another occupation too —that
of listening to one of their number who
seemed to command their attention and
who contrived to impart to them, some
thing of his own spirit and vivacity, in
spite of the drowsy the atmos
phere. This individual, by his plain
careless dress, easy, familiar manners
and good-humored and amusing, but in
telligent, conversation, seemed to be an
honest, plain, intelligent farmer, in good,
easy circumstances, who took the world
as it wagged, and who, devoid'of am
bition, enjoyed, in an unaffected unos
tentatious manner, the pleasures within
.a WITHOUT M'U.lMl, FMT'OR OR *IFFKCTIO*Y.”
he would make. A close and careful
observer, though, would have seen, in a
brow of ample width, a clear expressive
eye, and an easy flow of conversation
which had nothing of dullness or com
mon-place in it, indications which be
tokened more of genius than he might,
at first, be prepared to'look for in one ;3o
careless and familiar in his bearing. la
fact, this was W. H. C., jr., son of the
elder W. 11. 0., who once so narrowly
missed the Presidential chair, at a time
when more of talent and less of availabil
ity was required in the candidates for
that proud position, than is now requir
ed of them. The latter was one of-
Georgia’s sons, of whom she is proud—
one of whom I have heard my hither
say T “he was an intellectual giant.”—
And the son, who, from his manner,
and from his course of life, seems, to
those who know him, to have little oth
er ambition than to be considered a good
huntsman, or a good trout fisherman, is
said to inherit siuch of his father’s ge
nius and talent. Be this as it may, it is
sufficient, for our present purpose, that
he was a whole-souled and generous
man, a pleasant companion, witty and
full of fun and rollicking good humor—
the very man for a camp-hunt, or a camp
flsh.
Soon after my attention was directed
to this group, a camp-fish was proposed
by C., and the proposition received with
universal acclamation. They made short j
work of it—the preliminaries were soon
settled and I- was invited by an acquain
tance of a few days standing, to join the
party. Os course I did not wait for a
second invitation, as I am always ready
for anything of the sort. A short con
sultation resulted in the following plan :
We were to meet very early next morn
ing before Smith’s store —all who could
muster conveyances, to come in them,
the rest to be accommodated with seats
in the baggage wagon, which C. agreed
to furnish —each one to come provided
with a certain quantity of provisions,
M., a lawyer boarding at the house of
my worthy host, and myself, immediate
ly proceeded homeward, I thoroughly
roused by the prospect of an excursion
which promised to afford amusement for
a few days. We spent the remainder of
the afternoon, and some part of the night,
in busy assisted by J. 11.,
son of our host, who was to-be one of'
the party.-
At an hour surprisingly early, next
morning, M., IT., and myself proceeded
to our place of rendezvous, where, out
of the dozen who promised to be of the
party? we found just two; these two
being C. and W. ; the latter, a merry,
and mirth-provoking devil as any I had
met with for many a day, and who
proved to be invaluable as a good, com
panionable fellow. Greetings exchang
ed-, we quickly enquired for the rest of
the party.
“You see all that have come out,-’ was
the answer.
“Well, shall we wait for the rest ?”
“No, they either don’t intend to come,
or are asleep, the sluggards! and we
won’t waste time on such fellows.”
Now let it be known by the way, we
had to come at least a mile after break
fast to the place of rendezvous, while
the others lived immediately in the vil
lage ; this will account for our not be
ing left because we were a little tardy,
as we now proposed that the others
should be left.
“Enough said,” was the rejoinder to
C’s last observation.- “Then C,, we will
only want your two-horse wagon —that
will carry us five and the baggage, very
conveniently.” '
Accordingly, every other conveyance
was dispensed with, and we all.climbed
into the wagon, C. grasping the strings.
“Have we got everything we need ?”
“Yes—l believe so—tent cloth, hooks,
poles, frying pan, kettle, corn for horses
to eat.”
“Ami what have we got for men to
eat ?”
“Oh quite a variety—some raw ba
con, nice boiled ham, boiled beef, bis
cuit, corn bread, corn meal, &e.”
“Any coffee and sugar?”
To this question the response was a
general silence.
We all looked into each other’s faces,
and read the answer in the blank and
lengthened countenances displayed on
every hand. We had all certainly for
gotten coffee, and some one would have to
go back after the article, so indispensa
ble to camp-life ; and this would cause
a delay of a quarter or half an hour,
which would be exceedingly unpleasant
to men why, like ourselves, were eager,
and thought themselves, ready to start.
wish us good luck. Seeing us in some
what of a commotion, lie enquired the
cause. “Is that all ?” he said—“l have
some coffee, ready ground, and a coffee
pot and sugar, whicli is at your ser
vice.’-’ And he immediately disappeared
through his store, going to his dwelling
in the rear, and soon returned with the
articles needed.
“Thank you ST—-exclaimed our Je
hu ; “we are vastly obliged to you,
and will bring you some fish.”. And
with a shake of the reins and a chirup to
the horses, we were off with a whoop
and a clatter sufficient to attract the at
tention of all the idlers around.
For some distance, the road was plain,
and smooth, and even, as the roads nat
urally are in the piney-woods of Geor
gia ; but we soon came to where we had
to forsake the “big road,” and take one
of many uncertain, devious, and scarce
ly perceptible tracks, which radiated in
different directions through the pines.
“Ho you know which road to take
here, C. ?”
“Oh yes. I have a map of the road
in my pocket, which I procured' yester
day, from one who knows- every foot
of it,”
And therewith lie drew from his pock
et, a scrap of dingy looking paper, on
which was traced a long, zig-zag line,
with various abrupt turnings and wind
ings and innumerable forks and branch
es. After consulting this a moment, he
selected one of the branches, turned
the horses’ heads into it, and we were
soon, once more, bowling along at a rapid
pace, while mirth and merriment reign
ed supreme. C and W ,
between them, contrived to keep us in
a continual roar; the former, varying
from strokes of the broadest humor, to
a more polished satire, the latter, with
an incessant flow of the oddest sayings
and anecdotes.
In the mean time, we were pressing
through a scene, which, viewed for the
first time by the traveller, wears, to him,
an aspect totally unlike all his precon
ceived notions of beauty of landscape—
and to one accustomed to lightness and
variety, it would, perhaps, at first, pre
sent no point of beauty but he would
soon perceive a grandeur m the scene,
despite its unvarying monotony. The
| country was exceedingly flat and level;
and the eye could wander over an im
mense space, such as one, accustomed to
broken and hilly countries, could not con
ceive of. The trees, which, in any oth
er than a pine forest, would obstruct
the vision and narrow its range—here,
with their stems shooting up to a great
height, before putting out branches, left
ample room for the eye to penetrate, and
seemed but to add to the apparent
boundlessness of the view—hiding away
into long, interminable- vistas—like the
pillars of a great cathedral—and that
cathedral, nature’s own. The thick and
heavy foliage over head, while it casts
over the whole a dark and sombre shad
dow, but adds to the solemnity and
grandeur of the whole.. Here no differ
ence in the color of the foliage —no thin
nings bv the hand of man, lent lightness
and variety to-the view. All lay wrapp
ed in nature’s deep and undisturbed re
pose, unmutilated, and grand, and per
fect.
It is customary to laugh at the piney
woods and at pine-trees. Common minds
can perceive no beauty in them. Why
it is so, is somewhat of a question. At
the first glance, it seems to be because
they are so very common ; but the oak
is equally as common, and every one
confesses to the beauty displayed by it—
every one perceives and appreciates it..
Then this can hardly be the reason why
the pine is proscribed- What, then, is
the reason ? I think it is just this. Eve
ry one, whether he has or has not visited
the pine region, has, at least,, heard of
pine barrens, and thus the poverty of
soil which- pervades some parts of the
piney-woods has become proverbial.—
Os course, where the soil is- poor, the
inhabitants must be poor also. The
comforts of life in such sections are
scarce—its luxuries unheard of.
Thus, the mention of piney-woods al
ways brings up in our minds,.,ideas of
poverty, barrenness, worthlessness, &c.,
and the noble pine is despised, ridiculed
and proscribed, merely because it sees
fit to grow and flourish on soils where
other trees can scarcely support even
the most stunted existence.
Men of true and correct taste, how
ever, see in the pine a beauty which
causes them to admire and cherish it;
and I hope to see the day, when it will
bo transplanted with success, and will
| form the chief ornament of opr avenues
when pointed out by a judicious ob
server. I can give a strong allustration
on this point. I know a friend who has
transplanted some and I have
several times been present when sofne
one, imbued with the vulgar prejudice
against pine-trees would ask, “ why on
earth did you set outjthose pines ?” The
answer would l.e “bLnaso I eonaider
them a beautiful and ornamental tree.
“Beautiful! Pine-trees beautiful ? How
can you associate the idea of beauty with
that of pine-trees ?” On such occasions,
my friend would quietly point to a group
of pines which had sprung up in a part
of his enclosures. There they stood
with their straight and column-like
trunks, their regular pyramidal tops, and
their thick dark foliage —a group so
beautiful, that no one, with any idea of
the beautiful in nature, could look at
without perceiving its beauties. Very
rarely did my friend point.out or specify
the different-features which constituted
its-beauties.. It was sufficient to call the
attention —to fix it once, and the effect
was complete. In no instance have I
known the doubter to remain long in
doubt—one steady look was sufficient
to make him acknowledge that the pine
was a beautiful-tree.
As for myself, I glory in the pine.
It is peculiarly southern. It is emble
matical.. The noble shaft, shooting
proudly up, tall, straight and erect, is
like the native-born Southron, who
stands boldly erect, with the port and
bearing of a man, and a gentleman by
nature.
But'how I am wandering from the
fishing party. Hear reader, if you fol
low me, it will be through many an ep
isode and wandering. These are “mere
sketches*” and by “an erratic.”
We trotted.' merrily and at a brisk
brisk pace along the level, but not very
distinctly marked road, C , hand
ling the strings quite scientifically, and
getting good work out of the faithful
old roan and sorrel, which constituted
our team. About this time, we met an
old woman, carrying eggs to town, and
purchased her whole stock, thereby
making a very considerable addition
to our stock of provisions. This ac
quisition to our larder, turned the con
versation to that point, when: some one
suddenly recollected that we had no
salt wherewith to season our trout. —
Here was a nice fix ! By this time we
were eight or nine miles from town —out
of reach of a store, and out of sight of
any house which, seemed likely to af
ford the much desired and altogether in
dispensable chemical. To be sure, there
was, on the road-side,, just before us, a
shanty,.built apparently, entirely of pine
boards ; but it was hardly likely the
inhabitants had any superfluous salt or
any thing else to dispose of. Nothing
like trying, however; and we drew up
opposite the cabin, while J. H. went up
to it on a forlorn hope, to try and pur
chase some salt. As was to be expect
ed, there was but little salt in the house,
but of this little, the man, with true
Southern hospitality, gave us half.. Yes,
actually gave it to us—steadily refusing
to be paid for it, although he seemed
smitten with poverty. We were fortu
nate that day in meeting two such men
as the donor of the coffee and the donor
of the salt, and we began to /eel quite
elated and confidant—not at earning the
paltry price of the two articles, but at
finding that we were in a streak of luck.
We had by this time gotten rather
tired of our drive, and we began to
guess, very shrewdly, that we were
likely to lose our way, when we saw
our Jehu pulling out his road map very
frequently, consulting it very carefully,
and hesitating longer and longer at
every fork and cross-road. At last lie
relieved us of our suspense by pulling
up very suddenly, and exclaiming:
“Gentlemen, I believe we are lost!”
To be lost in the piney-woods, where
there are so many roads r and they so
much alike, was anything but pleasant,
unless some one in the party knew some
thing of the direction in which we ought
to travel to reach our destination.
A council of war was called, and we
all concluded that as C professed
to know something of the geography of
the country, he should throw away the
map which his friend had given him,
and strike out in the direction in which
he thought the mill lay. The woods
were so # open, that a wagon could get
along pretty comfortably anw where,
barring the roots and fallen logs—of
■
] TERMS, $2,00 A YEAR.
NUMBER 5.
and bumping in a manner which made
it difficult for us to keep our seats, but
which only added to the general hilari
ty ; especially, as we soon came in sight
of a road which those who knew, de
clared to be the right one.
The road was now comparatively plain,
and after a rapid drive of four or five
; ;i>t of the
mil 1, anopwlrat was more interesting to
us, the pond, where we supposed innu
merable trout were swimming and wait
ing to be caught.
We rattled down a long, sandy slope,
and as we drove down, I looked careful
ly at the scene before me. There was a
roughly built mill-house, a broad dam
stretching across just above it—broad
enough to constitute a good road or
bridge, over which wagons and carts
could pass —and above the dam a broad
expanse of dark looking water, stretch
ing away to a great distance. This pond
was made by building the aforemention
ed dam across a rather small stream of
beautifully clear water. This water,
however, had spread out into the forest
on either side, —no clearing having been
made for the purpose—and, of course,
all the trees among which it spread had
died; and many of them having decay
ed and fallen, they gave the water the
dark hue already spoken of; though on
dipping up a small quantity, it was found
to be perfectly clear. Just where the
road went down to the pond, was a con
siderable clearing; and on either hand of
this open space Avas the dark, pine forest,
with a thick undergrowth of black-jack,
running quite down to the water’s edge.
Before us, on the opposite side of the
pond, rose a wood, which was said to con
tain many a magnificent gobbler and
many a noble deer—objects which, at
any other time, would have proved irre
sistably attractive, but now—we wero
“a trouting.”
We selected a nice, soft bank of sand
on the right of the road, close to tlio
edge of the pond, to pitch our camp—
and soon the tent-cloth was stretched,
the horses unharnessed, haltered and
fed, when we proceeded to feed our
selves on the cold provisions Ave had
brought with us; our hunger being too
great to alloAV us to think of catching*
trout for dinner. We consoled ourselves
for our cold cheer by talking over the
treat avc should have at supper. A hear
ty repast was speedily finished, and we
got our fishing tackle and proceeded to
business.
First Ave baited some small hooks Avith
Avorms or crickets, and caught some
small roaches to serve as bait for the
trout, for be it knoAvn they fish for trout
in “those parts” altogether Avith live
bait—fly-fishing being altogether un
knoAvn. Indeed, I think fly-fishing is
never attempted in Georgia—at least I
never saAV it here—or any Avhere else,
for that matter.
Having caught a sufficient quantity of
roaches, we embarked Avith them in
some old bateaux Avhich Ave got from
the old Miller, and steered out into the
pond. Go Avith us, reader, and sec the
sport. Our manner of proceeding is
thus— Ave stick one of the roaches on a
good stout hook, at the end of a strong
and elastic cane-pole. This hook being
dropped into the Avater, the struggles of
the little innocent impaled upon it, soon
attract the notice of the trout. The
latter gentleman approaches greedily and
incautiously, and, if Ave only give him
time, gobbles down the bait, book and
all. Then a strong, steady, rather slow,
jerk , brings up a trout, such as Avould
make a city gourmand’s mouth Avater.—
No “reeling off,” or “reeling up,” or
“playing the fish”—no gaffs, or landing
netts, and all the fuss and trouble attend*
ant on scientific fishing, but a strong pull,
and nearly as -quick as you please, after
the fish, is hooked , and the Avork is done.
No fear of breaking the tackle, for avc
take care to have that strong enough to
bear any kind of a jerk avc may see fit
to give it; and there is no fear of fright
ening the fish by the size of the line—
neither is there any danger of frighten
ing them with noise.
In fact, as Ave floated about among
the stumps and logs, in our old, rickety
batteaux, avc made the Avoods on either
side of us, ring Av ith our shouts and mer
ry laughter. And never, I Aveen, did
Izaak Walton, or the pretensions Frank
Forrester enjoy them silent, ticklish bus
iness of fly-fishing, as we did our noisy
sport: and if the fish were- not “killed’
Avith the same display of science, they
were killed, and they Avere just, as de- .
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