The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-06-16


daughter forming any alliance save
with one Mr. Jugg, who was at that
time paying her very assiduous atten-
tions. This gentleman was rich land
ed proprietor in the the next county
He was not young-perhaps torty-or
thereabouts, and Mr. Piggins said he
had always wished his daughter TO
marry man whose character had had
time to form. He did not therefore
look with favorable eye upon the ad-
vances of enamored youths who offered
oaiy full hearts as an equivalent for
empty pockets.
The house was resplendent with
light as we drove up to il on that event
ful evening-we could see it while yet
a long way of, with misty halo around
ii, as the light streamed through the
open windows and glowed upon the
trees. Music" celestial harmony"
was produced by the exertions Of two
negro performers, who were placed
with admirable judgment on a piazza
in the open air, one torturing some eX-
cruciatlng notes into what he might
have called tame, while the other,
accom- panied him on a short fife, which
shrieked like pertubed spirit, making
night hideous.o Like the witty Bob
Fudge, | thought
This must be the music, said he, " Of the
spears
For i'm cursed if each note of it doesn't
run through one"
Such sweet compulsion doth in music
Iie,n thai we pressed hastily into the
reception room. where the shrill notes
of that d--n fife were partially : abb
sorbedn Here a number of enthuSI-
astic dancers were shaking the whole
house with their efforts. At one end Of
the room sat our entertainers, hedged
in with dignity, and towards them
we made our way as fast as circum-
stances would permit. Mr.. Plggins
acknowledged our civility, with dis
tant statelineSs: his lady assured US of
her delight at seeing Us, and bestowed
on Jake an acrimonious smile of in
tense significance She had heard of
him, and he did not exactly come up
10 her idea of . nice young man."-
Lora gave Jake warmer welcome
than his indifference entitled him to,
and me cooler one, thought than my
earnestness deserved. By her side
stood Mr.. Jugg, whom then saw for
the first time. He was rather corpu-
lent man, and prematurely bald, for
the only remnant of his hair was a
black fringe which brlstled around his
head like rail fence about barren
field His cheeks were forid (very:l
and his nose was one Of large proper
tions, on the end of which. and IA little
to one side. grew luxuriant tuft-a
solitary oasis in the blank desert Of his
face. This face Of his was perfect
index to his mind-for such rapid tran-
sition from an expression of roaring
mirth to one of scowling anger-from
shrewd intelligence to stupid amaze
ment-I have never seen III any other
countenance He smiled benignantly
upon me, when introduced, and malig
nantly on Jake, seeing the favor with
which he was received.
Mr.. Jugg," | commenced.
Yes, sir-yesm he broke in. Jugg
is my name, sir, and Alfred is the ham
die TO my Jug"
1t was impossible for me not to laugh
when he said this, for he shouted in an
ecstasy of enjoyment at this joke,
(which, as afterwards found out, he
had never failed 10 perpetrate under
similar circumstances for the last ten
years or sol, and Immediately after
frowned tremendously npon Jake, as he
led Lora away for dance. He broke
off from his hearty laugh so suddenly
that | asked him what was the matter,
with undisguised astonishment.
"Fll tell You what" he said in a
coarse whisper, "that is the most i'm
pudent young man have ever met,
and Eve great mind to tell him so,
by-H
Just at that moment described Mrs.
Piggins sailing down the room, like a
man-of-war in ten-knot breeze who,
seizing hold Of me. carried me off to a
strong-minded woman, with whom she
left me. This woman-very starch and
prim-although on the shady side of
thirty, had never found man with SO
little sense as 10 wish for it in wife.
Our conversation was edifying in the
extreme. | hazarded an observation,
You are stranger among US, Miss
Animuscle one of the family of that
name in the next county perhaps"
Miss Animuscle deliberately spread
herself" for speech, before she be-
gan
"They are, | believe, distant connec-
tions of ours, but-much as | honor
your State-I esteem it one of the
greatest boons which nature has con-
ferred upon me, that | can call myself
native of that State which claims the
honor of having given birth to the
greatest statesmen our country has ever
produced, and one of those very few,
who, in the discharge of their political
duties never suffer themselves to be
influenced by motives other than those
of pure disinterested patriotism.,'
Whewn thought |, but I only said,
"Ohm
And here Miss Animuscle, who had
insf laid down crn1nd-work to build