Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-05-16
MISCELLANEOUS
From the New York Spirit of the Times.
ORIGINAL LETTER FROM THE GEOR
''R7Nt n 4 VI
GA MAJOR.

HOW MISS KESiAH ApRIL-FooLFD HIM.
To Mr. Porter- Dear Sir: Ever sence
redd that piece in your paper, whar
yon sed YOU would walk hundred miles
to shake bands with me, I've been mon
strous anxious 10 git acquainted will.
you. But IFS such terrible long ways
TO New York q, Cotten's down So low
don't much think IN ever have the
pleasure of sein YOU in this world But
there's one consolation we literary mems
got over common people, and that is, we
can form 'quaintanct and friendships b,
our writins without ever seem one anoth
er. and bein as some OF US amt no great
beauties, chaps it's as good way as
emmy I'm tod your q monstrous CRATE
long, gander-Ie2sed teller. and yeu may
be domination ugly Tor all know
lut this one thing Pm certain CT
YOU must be smart man. ami man
OF fr>trAte taste, or you wouldn't like
my ritus so much. would rit You a
letter before. but the FACT is. sense las
February, haint had much time for
nothing. The baby's been cross as the
mischief with the hives. an,i Mary. she's
been alien Il COED deal, and then YOU
know this ti,ne Of year we planters is
all bis'y hxln for the crop.
Nothing uncommon haint tuck place
down here lately only to,her day ca,
tasterfy happened in our family that come
monstrous nigh putin eend to the
whole generation of us. never was so
hear skeered out of nv senses afcre in
nv born DAYS. and don't blieve old
Miss Stations ever will git over it, if she
was to live thousand years. But III
tell you all about it.
Last Monday m0rnin ak Of US got up
we'll aud hearty as could be, and | sol
in our room with Mary. and played with
the baby till breakfast time, little thinkin
what was gNine to happen SO soon. The
little Teller WAS jumpin and CROWN so
couldn't hardly hold him in my arms,
and spreatlir his little mouth and laugh
in just like he know'd every thing we
ssd to him. Bimety out come Prissy
10 tell us breakfast was reddy, and we
all went into tother room to eat, 'cept
sister kes al. who said she would STAY
and take care of little Henry Clay. til
we was done. Mays SO careful she
won't trust the baby with none of the
nigasers a single mint, and she's always
dreadf I'll uneasy when Kesiah's got it.
she's so wild ard so careless.
We'll, we all set down to breakfast, |
and Kesiah. she scampered up stairs to
her room with the baby, jumpin it up, !
and kisseu it, and taken to it as hard az
she could.
'Now sis; do be careful of my precious
little darlin,' ses Mary, loud as she
could to her, when she was gwine up
stairs.
'Oh eat your breakfast, child, and !
don't be so fairfield bout the baby ses
old Miss Stalions-'you don't 'low your
self minit's peace when it's out of your
sight
that's fact. ses sister Calline. she
WON'T let nobody do nothing for little
Henry but herself. / know | would be
SO crazy bout no child of mine.'
We'll, but you know sister Kiz. is so
careless, Pm always so traid she'll let it
swaIIer something, or git fall, some
way
Tut. tut ses the old woman, 'they
amt no sense in bein all the time scared
70 de,h bout moth n. Peoples got e
nough to do in this world to bear the
trouble WHEN it comes, 'lhout studdylu
it up. Take some Of them good hot
corn mullins ses she, 'they's mighty
nice.'
We was all eaten along-the old wo
man was talkin bout her gardin and the
frost, and was Jest raisln the coffee cup
TO my mouth when | heard Kesah
scream ou,-'Oh my Lord. the baby! the
baby!' and whap it come rite down
stairs onto the floor. Tighten couldn't
knocked me off my seat quicker-down
went the coffee. and over went the table
with all the vittles-- Mary screamed and
Old Miss Stations tainted rite away in her
eheer--I was so blind ! couldn't hardly
see, but never breathed breath til
grabbed it up in my arms and run round
the house two or three times, fore had
hart TO look at TIE poor little thing to see
il it was ded.
BY this tirne the gals was bolt Of me
hollerin April Fool! April Foo!' as hard
MS they could, and when come to look.
| had nothin in my arms bat bundle of
rags with little Henry Gays clothes on.
| shuck all over like had the ager.
and felt monstrous sight more like Gus
sin than laughing. April Fool, ding
nationn ses fans fun;byt I'm dad
blamed if there's any fan in any SIGH do
ins;' and was jest swine to blow ont
A little, when heard Mary screamln for
me to come 10 her mother.
When we got into the cInin room. thar
the old woman was keeled over her cheer
with her eyes sot in her lead and coru
muffin sticken in Ter mouth. Mary was
takin on at terrible rate, and all she
could do was Jest to clap her hands aud
boller-.Oh mothers dyin! mothers dy-
in! whar's the babss Oh, my poor
mother! Oh, my darlin baby'
tuck Mary and 'spla'ned it all to
her and tried to quiet the poor gall, and