Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-10-12
THE PIC MIC.

A correspondent Of the New Orleans
Picayune, who subscribes himself Pardon
JONES' and dates from Shady Grove, Bay
Statc,' gives the following account of pic
mic party:
On Wednesday we had great pic mic
party down in what father calls the hollo
medder, close to the Palmer rocks. The
neighbors they wanted I'n Jerushy to fix
the party up jest as they du down IN Lu-
zyannv. Wall, we'd never neithur on us
been to grove party down there, but we
didn't tell them SO; and sot our heads to-
gether to see If we couldn't du suthin to
'stonish them. So went down to the vii
lage and hired three niggers that knew
how TO play OH the fiddle and fife and drum
and told 'em not to tell nobody that they
was going to play for US, and TO come to
Shady Grove, sly, the night afore.
Then | went to the holIo medder grove,
and picked out the best shade, and built a
place away up in the top of big tree tina,
bent over, and kivered the under side on
it with limbs, sos't nobody could see up
Right under that little platform. on the
ground, made big round table, sos't peo-
pie could get inside and outside of the ring
and eat. When the day come, had
long ladder carried down and set agin the
tree, and made the niggers git up afore en-
ny body come. Old Caesar, the fiddler, is
a real fat old Teller, and it took him good
while to get up.
Now says |, 'do you set still as mice
up there, and don't make bit of noise till
| holler Music has charms and then du
you begin to play Hail Columbia, just as
soft as you can. Make it sound sweet and
heavenly.
Wall, the neighbors got together-the
gals all set inside on the ring, and the men
and old women on the outside. Parson
Miller asked blessing, and we all begun
to eat. Every thing went on nice, and
every body was jokin and latin in great
style.
'Oh,' SAYS |, 'if the heavenly muses.
would only play US Hail Columbia how
nice it would be! sMusic hath charms!'
Caesar struck up, and they played away
most beautiful for some time. Every bo-
dy was 'mazed, and they looked all round
for the music, couldn't see nobody nor no.
thin. Caesar growed warmer and warmer.
slipped away from the table and went
round behind bunch Of bushes, and peep
ed up through the leaves at the niggers.-
Caesar he made his elbow 60 as if he had
the cramp in it. AT last he wanted TO see
how the folks liked it down below, and he
leaned over the platform near half his
length, rockin all the time to keep time
with his fiddle. Putty soon heard suthin
crack, and when looked up, the platform
had broke loose, and was tumblin niggers
and all, down through the limbs and leaves.
Caesar was the heaviest, and he come down
tust, breakin every thing before him. He
fell right on the middle of the table between
Parson Miller and Jerushy, rand squashed
it down fiat to the grandchildren pie,
glasses. cold dumplIngs and all! The Mig
ger with the drum fell on Uncle Hezekiah
Spaldin's head. The niger fell on top of
the drum, and as Uncle Hezekiah sot on
the ground, one drum head bust when it
hit him, and it kivered him up, clean out
of sight, like turnin an empty barrel over
him! Tother niger fell straddle ola gals
neck, and eenamost killed her!
| never see SIGH skeered set Of folks in
my life; and b'leeve was about as much
skeered as any on 'em. The niggers they
up and run like whiteheads, and fore the
confusion was cleared up, there warn't
marry one on 'em TO be seen. never felt
so cheap bout any thing in my life; but
after I'd explained the thing tu 'em all; and
some on 'em found out that it warn't the
devil that como down 'mong 'em, they
LATED it off as well as they could and we
all went home.
Give my love TO my Luzyanny friends
make some inquiries how my prospects
is for congress; and, after takin Jerushy's |
wishes, b'Ieeve me, Your friend,
PARDON JONES.