Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-07-09
fine is as promising as outside appearances


ifhe isas promising as outside appearances
Indicate"
Observing us from the only light Of glass
remaining in the window. Mex lifted the
door, and laying it aside, emerged from
kitchen parlor and smoke house, to recon.
noitre. He was tall. well built athletic
man, of great personal strength, and sur
prising activity, who looked like careless
good natured fellow, fond of talking, and
from the appearance of the little old black
pipe which stuck in one corner ofhis mouh,
equally so of smoking; and as he appear
ed to fancy US to be candidates; no doubt
he was already enjoying in prospective the
comforts of neighborlng tap.room. JisI
look at 'em--Happy critter---his hat crown
has lost the top out, and the rim hangs like
the bail of bucket. His trowsers and
jacket show clearly that he has had clothes
of other colors in other days. The untan'd
mocasin on one foot, which contrasts with
the old shoe on the other, shows him
friend to domestic manufacturers; and
his beard is no bad match for the woolly
horse yonder. See the waggish indepen-
dent sort of look the critter has, with his
hat one side and hands in his brooches
rockets, contemplating the beauties of his
farm. You may talk about patience and
fortitude, philosophy and christian resigna.
ton, and all that sort of thing till your
tired, but-ah, here he comes. Morning
Mr.. Bradshaw--how's all home to day !?
Right comfortable, (mark that-comfort
in such a place. | give thanks-come,
light and come in. Pm sorry can't feed
your hoss-but the fact is, tan't bin no use
to try to raise no crops, late years, for body
don't git halt paid for their labor, these
hard times. raised Mise bunch of Pc,
tatoes last year, and as | couldn't get no.
thing worth while for 'em in the fall, tho't
I'de keep 'em till spring. But as frost set
in, while was down town lection time
the boys didn't fix up the old cellar door,
and this infarnal cold winter froze 'em all.
lis them wha: you smell now, and I've
| list been telin the old woman that we must
turn too and carry them out of the cellar,
fore long they'll make some of US sick
like enough-lor there's no telling what
may happen to body late years. And
if the next legislature don't do something
for us, the Lord knows but the whole coun-
try will starve, for it seems as tho the land
now a days won't raise nothing. 1t is
actually run out. Why, | should think by
the look of things round your neighbOr
Horizons that his land produced pretty
well. Why, yes-and it's miracle too,
how he gets it-for every body round here
said, when he took up that tract, 1t was the
poorest in the town. There are some
folks that thinks he was dealing with the
"black art" fort does seem as tho the
more he work d his land, the better it got.
Nov, here was mystery-but an easy
exl lanation of Mr.. Slick soon solved the
matter, at least to my mind. The fact is
says Mr.. Slick, a great deal ofthis country
is run out. And if II warnt for the lime
marsh mud, sea weed, salt sand, and whaI
not, they've got here in such quantities
aud few Horizons 10 apply it, the whole
country would run out and dwindle away
/ to Just such great, good natured, good-for.
nothing, do-nothing fellows as this Nick
. Bradshaw and his woolly horse, and wool
less sheep, and hopeless farm, and com
fortress house, if indeed such great WING
rack of loose lumber, is worthy the name
of house.
$ Now by way of contrast to all this, do
YOU see that neat little cottage looking
5. house on yonder hummock away to tn
s. right there, where you see those beautiful
shade trees. The house is small, but it j
a tchoIe house. That's what call abou
right-hanked on both sides by an orchar
of the best grated fruit-a tidy fowe
IS garden in front, that the gals see to, and
,e most grand SARGE garden jist over there
q where il takes the wash of the building;
n nicely sheltered by that branch of shrub
le berry. Then see them everlasting bi
re barns-and by gosh, there goes tn rice
l. dairy cows-as slick as moles. Their
IS flowers, honeysuckles and rose bushel!
N shows what sort of family lives there
ne list as plain as straw show which way tn
wind blows.
at Them gals, ant 'tarnally racing roun
ne to quiltin and husking frolicks, their fee
n exposed in thin shoes to the mud, and the
r. honor TO a thinner protection. No, no
We take my word fort when You see gal
as busy about such things to home, they al
e. what our minister used to call ''right mine
Il. ed" Such things keeps them busy, an
n. when folks are busy about their own bus
ne ness, they've no time to get into mischie
i'd 1t keeps them healthy, too, and cheerf
at as larks. I've a mind VII light here, an
70 view this citizens Improvements, and "
ne shall be welcomed In a neat substantl
at breakfast, that would be worthy to be t.
e. ken as pattern by any farmers wife
ii. America.
* We were met at the door by Mr.. Ho
re ton, who greeted my friend Slick with
ey warm salulation of an old acquaintanc
no and expressed the satisfaction naturally
as one habitually hospitable, for the honor
in my visit. lie was plain, healthy, intel
IS gent looking man, about fifty; dressed
I'M a farmer should be, with the stamp
m ''HoMESPUN," legible upon every garner
he not forgetting very handsome silk han
- kerch;ef, the work throughout of his eide
bit daughter. The room into which we we
Mt ushered, bore the same stamp OF neatne
ID. and comfort that the outside appearan'
NO indicated. A substantial homemade ca
Ia pet covered the floor, and well til'
on bookcase and writing desk were IN Il
ny right place, among the contents OF who
an observed several Agricultural periodical
to | was particularly struck with the scrup
&C. lousy neat and appropriate attire OF
he wife and two intelligent interesting daug
RS ;;sys, that were husily engaged in the me
raj ming operations of the dairy. Atler pa