Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1846-01-31
(From the New Weekly Times.)
A FEARFUL TALE or A TREE
By THADDECs w. MEIsAN.

The tale Of the "grOaning tree" with
with which every body who reads at all is
perfectly familiar is not more remarkable
than the one we are about to relate.
Near the village Of White PIaits and with
in a mile Of the battle ground, stands a pacu :
liar looking remnant OF what vas, at one time
a very singular oak tee. 1t stood like a q
ant, alone, in a clear enclosure used for pas
turage, and was spared by the ak, as it is said,
because Of its uncouth and unmatchless
shape. A branch had, when the oak was
young, been bent IN the form of a circle so
that the end rested in what is elegantly and
expressively termed ia crotch"
In this manner it grew, the "crntch" c!o-
sing up as the trunk expanded, and 8 curing
the intruder. The other branches grew
straight and strong-four of them indicating
the points of the compass, and bearing foliage,
which, unusually plentiful, formed a beautifsl
shelter. The "oak ring" grew, as we have
already intinated, below these branches or
arms, and consequently was completely Cano-
pied. II was a secure and comfortable resting
place, of which the young people residing in
the vicinity made good use. Lovers met
there. Public meetings were held there.
May-day festivities and other sports were
celebrated at this delightful spot to be brief,
the residence of the Squire and the little
frame schoolhonse we're objects Of secondary
| consideration compared with this oak. Per
haps until this day, that tree would have been
associated with pleasure, had it not been for a
mou nfui occurrence which Swallowed it's
! memory with the idea If death, and connect
ed with its name terrible thoughts Of the at
tributes of another world. This mournfal
occurrence may be briefly related {:
A shurt time previous to the battle of w.
Plains, the British soldlery we're accustomed
10 scour the country daily for whatever good
fortune might cast in their way. They plur.
dered the houses of all the wales they con-
| tanned, stripped the leaders, desolated the
hen rnosts, drove of the tenants Of the stables,
and left the country thereabouts as hare as il
must have been shortly after the deluge, in
all things save human beings. Hunger com
PEELED by the want OF food wrorgfully with
held, will make any man irrasribic and des.
t~ruGtive. The natural consequence Of the
foragiug was a feeling of hatred, as wild and
ungovernable as the northern tempest, a
gai6st every man who wore a red coat. III
were possible, there were others Sho we're
hated more cordially than the British sol-
diery-and these were the story" iuhabitants
many of whom also formed themselves into
marauding bands, and followed The occupation
of "robbing in the kings name," al The ex-
pense of those who were ~neighbors, and had
been friends. The chief leader of the tory
bands was a young man of much talent and
great personal beauty, named Br0wRson; who
owned the Oak Tree, the land upon which it
grew, and a neat little house about fly rods
distant. By foraging, he amassed in a few
weeks a large sum of money, and the fact be-
came as notorious as the scriptures. EEe had
a young and pretty wife, who,e amiability and
patriotism shielded him for a long time from
any extreme demonstration Of hatred but the
ravages his band made at length, were car
ried to such an extrsvagant pitch, that a meet.
ing of his wronged and oppressed neighbors
was at last called to consider measures for The !
prevention of further inposition-the prompt
punishment of the leaders of the tories. A
blacksmith named Lent headed the meeting,
He advocated immediate action, and called for
the appointment of a committee to select sub.
iects for punishment, and TO originate the
of it's administration
The committee reported that Brownson F.;
should be frat taken IN hand. His life was
be spared-but they decided that be
should be stripped of all bis earthly posses
lions, and that his dwelling should be given
o the flames. Twenty strong men immedi-
Itely armed themss Ives, and bent their steps
owards Brownson's house. They halted be-
leath the oak Tree and reconnoitered.
"Now." said Lent, who had gone to the |
of the dwelling and inspected eve =
y part around, advance every man.-There :
5 no one there but Brownson himself. We =
will call him ont and demand his money!
All assented. With noiseIess steps they
the house and posted themselves at o
he door. Lent advanced, AMI, in = loud