The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-06-19

sail so taut, that in less than four months
after I got under weigh | had scattered
about all the thirty thousand, when !
was obliged to heave to, as my mother
held the plantation and niggers, so that
I couldn't squander them, and | was
jam on a lee shore, hard up for funds.
"Pd been standing on this reform
tack about ten days, when I received a
letter one morning from young lady
about my own age, to whom had been
rather partial for seven months past,
and who wrote to inform NE that it was
absolutely necessary that | should fulfill
a certain promise which | had made
her some seven months previously, oil
the consequences of further postpone
ment might prove annoying to US both
II recollected that promise, and
remembered too that its fulfillmeni
would involve the purchase of sundry
articles of keeping gear, besides
the expenses OF chintz, calico, cradles.
new dresses, nurses, and innumerable
other ct ceteras, of which I knew as
much as cow does about navigation.
".Lucy Ivers-that was the girPs
name-lived about two miles away
and after | had studied the matter over
for about an hour, vainly endeavoring
to work some kind of traverse, finally
sat down and wrote her a letter, pro-
missing to come over in the course Of a
week and settle the matter up with her
all ship-shape.
ri had just sent darkie off with the
letter, when a confounded niger came
in from another plantation on the other
side, bringing a note from his mistress,
a young widow, in which she told me
that unless | married her within three
days there would be, she didn't
say what. but I knew well enough what
that blank meant
Thunder! There was a pretty fix to
be in. Two of 'em, and one perfect
fre-cat of widow, both dunning me
at once. And that wasn't the worst of
it, for about four miles down the river
lived beautiful girl named Fanny
Parker, who knew must have hus-
band before many days, or become a
scandal to herself and friends: and
knew equally we'll that Fanny had as
good a claim on me for husband as
either of the others had What in
blazes to do | didn't know. l couldn't
marry 'em all, that was certain, and
for two days backed and filled, like a
ninety barrel sperm lathering about
among the shoals of Bahama banks
First | thought of Lucy, then of the
widow, and then of Fanny. till | got
tangled up in my thinking gear, and
| didn't go to see any of 'em.
"At last, on the third morning, |
made up my mind to take Fanny. go TO
get married, and hold on
there among my relations till the heavi-
est of the squall was over, and then re-
turn and weather it out the best way
could.
Fanny was poor, but she was a real
little beauty, and liked her ten thou
sand times better than | did either of
the others.
at was about noon when | got TO |
Fanny's fathers, and | found her there
alone, her parents having gone to Nor
folk that morning on visit, with the
intention of remaining till the next |
lay. This was most fortunate for US,
as we coul,t get down 10 Norfolk that
night, and off aboard the Baltimore
steamer early in the morning without
being questioned.
"Fanny had just got dinner ready,
md we were about to sit down to the
able, when | happened to look out at
he window, and there, not twenty rods
rom the house, | discovered the con-
ounded widow and her father, with
JIG giant of man, that [ knew in a
minute was the sheriff of Nansemond
county, and three men who were total
trangers.
81 had told Fanny what a fix ! was
n, and we both knew what the widow
md her escort were after the moment
We saw them.
Hide! hide, Fred! For Gods sake
Iidep said little Fan, bending into my
rm and towing me into back room.
But where the devil shall hide,
Tau @ | asked, as went pitching about
he room like Guernsey lugger in the
hops of the channel. Where in
hunder shall I hide q
Cup there. Quick, Fred, quick =
here they are in the yard. Don't wait
second! Go up there And she
ointed to little scuttle about two feet
quare in the low ceiling right over the
ed.
"I heard the tramping of their feet
n the steps, and awayI went, flying up
trough the hole, just as the Internal
tile widow and her crew burst into the
ont room.
asWhere is heg almost screamed
lie widow.
dyes, where is the whelpp inquired
er father
':s Ay, where is the young scape-
racep asked a rough voice, which | |
new belonged to the sheriff and all |
lie while | lay up there, not three feet {
ON the scnttle, on pile of loose /
Imber, not daring to move for fear of $
leir finding me out
e Come, where is he, miss q again t
,ked the impatient widow We have |
flowed him to this house, and he is
ere now somewhere' t
tsk M he IL crona-indpad ha iS , and '