Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-12
M tsrEIIanp.
SIMON sUGGs, THE sHIFTY MAN
BY JOHNSON ]. HOOPER, ESQ.

IA series of sketches of one Capt. Suggs,
late captain of the Tallapoosa Volunteers,
are being published in the East .Aiaban,ian.
In the first number, Simon, then boy, was
caught by his father" hard-shel! Baptist
preacher"-in the act of playing "old
sledge" (seven-up) with negro boy NAM
ed Bill, for which the old man, with hand
full of hickory sticks, threatens to take the
off to "the mulberry tree," the scene of all
formal punishment administered during
work hours in tho fold. Il ia at ''the null
berry" the present sketch opens.]
1t must not be supposed that, during the
walk to the place of punishment. Simon's
mind was either inactive, or engaged in
suggesting the grimaces and contortions
wherewith he was pantominically express
sing his irreverent sentiments towards his
father. Far from it. The movement of
his limbs and features were the mere work
ings Of habit--the selfgrinding of the cor
poreal machine-for which his reasoning
half was only remotely responsible. For
while Simon's person was thus, on its
own account, "making game" of old Jed
ediah, his wits, in view of the anticipated
flogging, were dashing, springing, bound
ing, darting about, in hot chase Of some
expedient suitable to the necessities of the
case-much after the manner in which
puss, when Betty, armed with the broom,
and holly seeking vengeance for the pam
try robbed, has closed upon her the gar
ret doors and windows, attempts all sorts
of impossible exits, to come down at last
IN the corner, with painting side and glar-
ing eye, exhausted and defenceIess.--Our
unfortunate hero could devise nothing by
which he could reasonably expect to es.
cape the heavy blows of his father. Ha.
wing arrived at this conclusion and at ''the
mulberry" about the same time, he stood
with logged look, awaiting the issue.
The old man Suggs made no remark to
any one while he was seizing up Bile
process which, though by no means novel
to Simon, seemed to excite in him sorl
of painful interest. He watched it closely
as if to learn the precise fashion of his
fathers knot; and when, at last, Bill was
strung up a-tiptoe to limb, and the whip.
ping commenced, Simon's eye followed
every movement: of his fathers arm; anC
as each blow descended upon the bare
shoulders of his sable friend, his own bo
dy writhed and wriggled" in involuntary
sympathy.
81 It's the devil, it's he'll" said Simon tc
himself, "to take such wallopin' as that
Why, the old man looks as if he wanted tc
get to the boiler, if he could-rot his picter
It's with, at least, fifty cents-ie-e.miny
how that hurt Yes, it's with three-quar
tiers Of dollar to take that ere lickln'
Wonder if Pm "predestinated," as ole
Jed'diah says, to git the Teller to it? Lord
how daddy blows! do wish to God he'C
Dust right open, the burned old deer-face
II twa'nt for Ben helpin' him, / b'Iievt
Ia give the old Teller tussle when it comes
to my turn. 1t couldnt make the thing nc
wusS II 1t didn't make it no better. ID rot
It! what do boys have daddies for, any how
>Taint for nuthin' but just to beat 'em anC
work 'em. There's some use in manmie.
Il kin poke my finger right in the OLE
'oman's eye, and keep il thar, and if say
it amt thar, she'll say faint thar TOO.
wish she was here TO hold daddy off.
'twa'n't so fur, I'd holler for her, any how
How she'd cling to the old fellows Goa
tail ~
Mr.. Jedediah Suggs let down Bill, anc