Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-08
8 V & 9 V s i.
From the Advocate.
The Two Dozen Chickens.
A MISSISSIPPI ANEcDoTE.

- A99AD5AA Il |
When the Temperance organization, known
rs the "Sons," was first introduced into the
State Of Mississippi, considerable astonish-
ment and curiosity were everywhere felt, and
in some parts Of the State no small degree
Of alarm was manifested.
One of the first Divisions in the State
was organized at B, in one ofthe Back
woods counties, known generally as the Free
State q man applied to it, not because It's
citizens disregarded all lar, but because
there were some Legislative enactments which
they considered not only o%nerous, but anti
republican. They obstinately refused to do
military duty 'musters' they declared were
only gotten up for officers to- show large;'
and as to road working, that they could not
stand-it was too digging'-it was just pav-
ing the 0ay for rich folks to get through the
world easy, and, therefore, viewing the whole
matter rs incompatible with the genius of our
free institutions, they chose 10 follow the il
lustrious example laid before them by the
State and r~epudiate hence the name Free
State But to the story. Speculation was
rife among the country people as tothe ends
aimed at by this new tangled denomination
as it was usually termed. Some of the SOW
ereigns who happened in town, had seen
them ont in full uniform, attending the fune-
r~alofone of their members. Diligentinquiries
were made by all the country folks who came
movements, and dark lnslnuations were made
by some waggish clerks and tradesmen about
the new Order
Tho nravoilin0 op;pion sanD,od IN no tbat
the association was made up of Free MasonS
and Odd Fellows, who had been expelled
from their respective Societies for treasona
bic designs upon the short haired Nation,
or, in plain English, they had been expellet
for wishing to free 'niggers,' and had re-u
nited to carry out their dark designs under
n new name.
To disabuse the public mind of these er
roneous impressions, and set the unenlight
ened all right in relation to the objects con
templated by the Sons, your correspondent
was solicited to make a special appointment
for the dark east corner of the County t
defend the Order from the slanderous insin
uations uttered in jest,-but which hat
been rtceiyedand fully accredited By many
Accordingly, notice was given and widel
circulated, that on the fourth Saturday j
the month"; ut Granberry's Meeting House
speech would be made on the subject
Temperance, and a full history given of tn
rise and progress and designs of the Sons
The fourth Saturday inthe month atlengt
cam as was expected. Long before tn
hour for speaking arrived the meeting hous
was crowded to soffocation, and the grow
around the house thronged with an anxior
multitude Of men and women. Mixing wit
the crowd before the hour for speaking cam,
l could not fail to learn that the p%revailir
feeling was that of bitter hostility to tt
Denomination and many hard things W
said Of those who had jined' at the Cou
House. Prejudice, however, gave way ra
idly, as the mystery of the Order was e
piained, and the objects contemplated by
stated. Many who had most bitterly d
Eounced the whole affair as a Yankee trit
to catch dimes, OF something worse, allo1
cd their antiquities to give way before {
light Of truth, and at the close of the spec
quite a number came forward and gave tht
names for membership. As l descend
from the stand, | saw a little peaked ia
woman, with a nose almost sharp enough
split a brier, approach a short legged, pr
ehy, red faced, radish nose man, and lay /
hand upon his shoulder, and looking h
full in the face, said with marked empha
on every word, tAlen, you've got tojine th'
hingsP Allen drew back, shrugged
shoulders, and shook his head. 4 tell 81
Allen you're got TO jine THEM THINGS = S
repeated, in frmer, louder tone. / al
got no money said Allen I don't care
that said she, IRE got the chickens a
the stranger says it costs Jst two dollars
Tne, and then FIVE cents u week afterward
and I'll give you two dozen chickens to
you in, and a chicken n week to Ike
you thar Allen gave in, and l thou,
him decidedly the most chicken-hearted, h,
pocked looking mortal | had ever behcld.
Mister said he my names Allen Bake
jist put my name down on your paper, a
III come to own next Sat'day week a
jinO.' lie did come to town next Sat'C
week and jine.' He is still a faithful m,
Der Of the New Denomination and
since become a good member of our old
nomination, called tho Methodist. Cert,
is the best sale his wife ever made Of
dozen chickens.