Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-14

VIC WcEe So fortunate dS 10 HIeet Will
two more ehe "living lights" of this
unfavora home ofany thing but com
fort, Or hope one, a short thick
set al whiskered man, Of foreign air,
disg BED in a clean and snowy cravat,
wit The collar Of the next most inter-
est g evidence ofattempted gentility,
extending its snowy peaks half way
over his peagre Ianthorn jaws, Andes
like, lifA its snowy top high up
against the> rk sky, leaving exposed
pair Of pier ssfgn-loving eyes and
sharp cad nose; his whole
thin visage his entire form, "a
blighted vast thing" gave evidence
not only of Fant of the comforts, but
even the nee gsaries fife. He stood
before US Shkkspeare's apothecary re-
animate, e. he, too, was one by trade,
couple that ofphysician; he adj
d elf TO US, and tinged as
earance and every move
mem with desolation, we were
not SD q vixen he commenced de-
scantin ION the departed glories of
the vill3 "They are gone, said he
gone, I left almost alone; they
have be b scattered by these disastrous
times, as were the builders Of Babel;
most however have left for Texas
they say it is fine country-they all
otCe ~ and so like to dO-that they
- lie to follow and settle there.
they left, and for the last two
have not made single charge,
are too tard! People are too
pushed to get sick-Pll settle
d quit, but then / 'aint got the
to take me away" "Puf
bills and you need not fear, doc
ou can travel. This observation
RS afforded him consolalion--it
red him--and like some magic
m, he seemed inspired with the
thought. His form dilated-his little
eye flashed-and his voice broke out
in loud determined tones, ~ UiW and
shall succeed" We left him in his
fit of enthusiasm, and sought the door
sill Of one Of the dilapidated homes Of
the place. A softened melancholy
stole over US as we pictured to fancy's
eye, the busy scenes Of life and ANNA
ton which once enlivened the now un-
Iodden streets-the suns last linger-
ing ray rested for a moment DER the
scene, ere it sank amidst the scene of
guided clouds with which his bright
ness had called around his dying hour,
fit type this of the lingering and dim
med RIGHTEOUSNESS which hangs around
this romantic spot, once the happy
home of the wild "Choccbumas," the
unfearing tribe, whose last resting
place is marked by this village since
the home Of civilized man, and wild
speculation, the busy mart Of trade, but
mo'O the dwelling place Of the destitute
dreariness, direct desolation. We
gazed for a time with interest upon
the mad doctor, who strobe along fhe
street, giving his loud thoughts to the
air and building the castles Of beauty.
He seemed thing oflife once more,
and as we wendell our way from the
village and down the valley, the dim
woods echoed back his loud exulting
tone. He was already in Texas and
a cresus; had thrown pills TO the dogs,
physic TO the wind. Our route chan
ged, and the last sound that caught
our ear, was one long loud exulting
laugh. almost demon.like, ringing out
upon the stiiled air, like thunder-'twas
the last we heard Of "Chocchuma's
Doctor"
There is residing near this interes-
ting spot, AN aged Indian. of some eigh.
ty years, still possessed other senses
! in a remarkable degree. She repre-
sents herself as the sole living repre-
sentative Of her tribe, which numbered
once its thousand warriors, whose wal
tcry pealed over the wide valley which
extends from the Yallobusha to the
Mississippi, and who during the pas
sage Of "De SOto''' through that region
in 1541, stayed his progress and com
tpelfed him to take more northerly
course through the country Of the
Chickasaws.. The queen. ofthe C6Oc'
cEumas was taken prisoner by De Soto
about the commencement of their diff
GcuIties; she succeeded in making heI
escape, and roused the nation TO yen
geance. K
Natchez, May 10Th, 1s42.