The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-04-29
CHI CrourIlcr.
For The Cecil Whigl
SKETCHES OF TEXAS,

S;ar" State under the honorable cognomn of
Squire Brattcn His LOCATION is few niles
east Of the river Ncchcs, and is in the midst
Of, what may be styled ''Iiuntcrs Para
disc" Game, such as deer, bears, and fur
key, are met with in the woods. thckcts and
clnc-blakcs, in abundance, while among the
beasts of prey that arc found in this region
arc numbered the panther, catamount, Wild
a, leopard cat and wolves. The lcopar,l-cat
derives its name from its resemblance to
leopard, being a very beautifully spotted ami
NAL
The Oh! Squire has been resident ,f Texas
during her darkest hour, and has become
thoroughly imbued with tl"t adventurous
spirit, which imparts to its po,scssor taste
for danger and the stirring scenes OLA frontier
life. lie had lately been through Mexico 10
California, and pronounced the folmcr dc
most beautiful, and the finest country in the
| world
have never met with onc-no, not even
| opc--of these old pioneers, who lived in thc
f,afspot tia. clrth can afford, and no.with-
Sanding they arc constantly shifting quartc's
| that mundane paradise, we so often read Of
is alwaTS Il little further on: and in truth it is
a ttlcfurltcr forward or Il little further back
! from Mcjr location, foryou will generally find
th,m, like bear situated on the toughest
and widest, and not unusually the poorest
spot to he found in the country. But the old
pioneers Of the wilderness prefer health to
wealth, and while their followers from the
hcar.hS of civilization arc shivcling with cllls
and burning with ftvcrs, in the rich bottoms
and fertile valleys, you will generally find hc
cabins Of thc io,nn situated in some airy
spot near . living Gun., their families the
picture of health, while they are perfect
models Of hale old men.
Bat to ny tale" Ny travelling compan-
ion was a Young lawyer from \, Caroii}.a
whom I rick,dup, Or rather, who picked ne
up ut Nacoglochcs. | was taking mine case
in mine inn, as tal5a;' cxpTcsscth it--whcn a
party rode up, dSlnountcd and entered thc
hottl. This 'crowd' happened to contain
my future travelling companion for many
days, who, to use a very common cXp?C SS;on,
WAS 'prctty tolii;,llc drunk" at tie time
| His destination wa; Austin, and asccr,aining
| that | Travelled tie same road, he declared his
purpose Of joining company. The young at
torrey, howcvcr, l,dycmtl his character sono
what the mex. day. While we stepped i'll Il
creek below the town to let our horses drink,
| he threw his flask in the water. declaring his
intention to drink no more, (Which covenant
he faithfully kept while was in his compa-
ny-)pna"king that it was Il pretty bold
piece of business for him to come into Il
Strange country and fence tie to~a lie first
H.M.
found Mr.. y. to lie quite an a-;c;aI!,
companion, possessing" coed DIAL Of talent,
and vast fnd Of enthusiasm he was also, q
college mae of my Oil friend, Il. l.. Foar,l
Esq, formerly Of Elkton, but Mt tic present
time a resident Of the mean little town Of
Columbus, on The west bank of the Colorado.
| NacoGloches is one Of the handS0mcSt towns
in Texas, bat it has antiquity On its side
being one Of the oldcst-and was formerly
settled by Mcyicans, numbers Of them still
residing in that part Of The country. II was
at this town, if his rc,mt,l Journal be true,
that Col. Crockct. fell III with his travelling
companion and guide, the bee hunter, when
on his way TO join tie Texan army, G: rather,
that moicty oft, commanded by francs
which was stationed in the Alamo at San
Antonia. There stood the old pump under
whose spout the bcc.huntcr held the blustcr-
ing bully, and pumped on MIN ill lie brought
his fever Lcatod ire down to Zero. And there
too, rose the swelling hill on the cast sic Of
the ancient town, with its beautiful landscape
glttcring in the first rays of the morning
sun, Oh which the bcc-huntcr fixed his eyes
while he sang the pathetic love ditty:
"oh what is the time of The merry round yer
| That is iites and sweetest for love!
| Ere sucks the bee ere buds the tree.
| and primrofcs by two by three,
Shine unity in the p1th Of the lonely deer.
| Like the few stars in the twilight above
| When the black bird and thrush at c,rIy dawn.
Prelude from the lc fly spray.
| Amid dcwy scents. and Establishments.
Like choir nrtuning their Instruments
Ire the curtain of Nature aside be drawn
For the concert the !iyc-lung day.
In tho green spring i'lc all gentle and bright,
When the sun she Is kindcr glenn
Der velvet bank, where sweet flowers prank.
That We fresh dews and s,nbeams drank;
When softer and sweetcr : the enchanted light,
Than the vision in maidcns lrcams,''
But | wander from my tilcinc-yet, what
cold FLOODED critic will complain, if we stoop
to Gull the golden sands of history-real or
fabled--tllat sliston on our lonesome way: re-
minisccnces of the past, and insignia of the
mighty dead
My travelling friend being the very essence
Of volubility, and as vnquisitive as olive
yankee" soon had our host rccountng some
of his most thrilling adventures with the rcd
men. Those hardy sons of Che frontier, class
an Indian skirmsh first in the routine ofhunt-
ing, and preferit decidedly to all othc,amu
mcllts of the chase. "A bear hunt is thcir next