Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-16
For the Southern Standard.
Passages from a Curious History.

Passages from a Curious History.
A Bureau, which occupied neat little room
upstairs, thus addressed small Table that was
standing near Il should like very much to hear
those passages from your history which you prom
ised me the other day. Hereupon the table thus
began.
Down in the swamp, by the silent waters of the
Bgbee grew, stately poplar tree. My youth
was spent amid the hooting of owls, the bowling OF
wolves and all the appurtenances of backwoods,
swamp life. Until had reached the meridian OF
tree-hood, no whiteman's foot ever pressed the
messy sod, at my roots, or awakened by the sound
of his axe, the repose of the surrounding forest
But alas one gay morning in September, / saw
on the eastern side of the river, volume of blue
smoke curling in graceful wreaths above the hill
tops. 1t arose from the camp of the 'settler" l
saw his white covered wagon-white head headed
children peeped from beneath its white cover
! Soon heard the sound of his axe and saw one af-
ter another, the tall sons of the forest tumbling
down beneath its repeated strokes. l became APP
prehensive for my own safety, but still stood e.
rect and lifted my towering branches to the bright
blue sky.
In few years, thrifty hamlet smiled on the
hillside, the song of the milk maid cheered me in
the morning, and at twilight, listened to the
thinking OF the distant sheep fold" The village
was one day thrown quite astir and was much a.
amazed, by prodigy that appeared on the water
A FIRE breathing, water-ileshing, snorting monster,
of gigantic size, made its way Up the river A
dense column of white smoke ros, to the sky and
the waves laved my feet as it passed along. That
was steam boat It's arrival constituted quite
an epoch in the history of the hamlet, which vas
a hamlet no longer. Daily and vsibly it grew to
be place of Importance, the old tavern keeper
bought bell, the "settler" that came in the white
covered wagon, rode about in gig, the little
white heads that peeped from under the white CO.
yer had grown to be chunks of boys, and went a
bout the streets smoking cigars. Hitherto, when
had seen the pigs of my native swamp, carry
ing sticks in their mouths, 1 had been accustomed
to expect rain and rise in the river: SO when
saw the children of white men with tobacco sticks
in their mouths, Ia fortior) looked for an over
whelming food in the river, but it didn't come
Some years more, and with the lovely hamlet,
had departed also. the simple manners and Gus
toms of the early settlers. The inhabitants be-
gan to assume aristocratic air, and called their
town Columbus. Among other things, though
you may not believe it, they became too proud to
use pine tables, and must needs have this article
of furniture made of finer wood as of walnut or
poplar; and now comes sad part of my history
To me at least, it was a memorable day when a
couple of inky looking figures set upon me with
their axes. yielded to inevitable destiny and
soon the majestic Liriodendron Tulpifera wallow-
ed in the dust-cut down by ignoble negroes. 1t
would have been somewhat paliating to my PRIDE
had been felled by white man, but he had
grownt too proud to labor.
You may wish to hear how learned that was
possessor of such an aristocratc name, 1t was
thus. Accompany of young gentlemen and ladies
were assembled one day, for q pic mic party, be-
meath my wide spreading shades. Among them
was young man who wore silver-headed cane,
ponderous fob chain, and slick hat under his
chin was a bunch Of hair and he was called Doctor
Ever and anon he spouted some enormously big
words, much to the admiration of the ladies, with
one thumb under the arm hole of his vest, he
stood looking upon the rich canopy of gawdy flow
1T
ers and glossy leaves above him. Tapping me
lightly with his silver headed cane he said Lirio-
derdrOn 7alip9erd. Just then gust of wind
hurled his slick hat into the river. Whsreupon
the young ladies applauded vocferously. ~
Having been cut down by the negroes, I was
converted into plank, which plank underwent sun
dry operations, and the next form I assumed, was
that Of the neat looking table which you see.
b have served for variety fipurposes, but will
not detain You by recital of them an. At one
time was 50 unfortunate as to occupy stand, in
the ''saloon" of drinking house. Here Iswit-I
nessedmany row by daylight. and midnight rev
els, which would horrify you by the recital, Night
after night was surrounded by the bloOds-
Bloods z What are Bloods 2 asked the sBnreau.
The Table resumed RlOodsars young men, and
men Of uncertain age. who may usually be known
BY the signs that hang out upon their front Il.
ltoofasiacess fery blobdshot eye, and nose lamiuu