Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-11-09
For the Fayetteville 95serser.
The History Of a Dime,
BIT W. II. sAL1sMoRF.

mint in New Orleans, from which
place | was carried to the bank, and
from thence | passed into the hands
Of a Mississippi planter, who carried
me home. l vas not long destined
to remain arrest; and being new and
without blemish, soon fell into the
hands Of the planters little slaughter,
who, from the first time she say me,
cried for me, until became her prop
erty. Need ! tell you happy / felt,
as | found myself ia her delicate little
hand, the apparent subject of great
alteration, who tossing me about for
at least an hour in childish glee, at
length sat down to look with rapture
upon my bright shining extericr Or, and
wonder what | should be exchanged
for? Bright visions Of a pretty doll,
with black curly hair, dark eyes, and
a flashy silk robe, were at length set
tied upon as the pleasing property
that would bring. Just as ibis de-
cision was made, the sound'of d small
cannon announced to my fairy pos
SCISSOR that a trading boat was on the
point Of landing somewhere ID that
vieinity;5 and away she bounded, fol.
lowed by al Urge Newfoundland dog,
her constant rambling companion, to
the river bank, to ascertain where the
boat would touch shore. Imagine
her joy when she saw it gradually
nearing the land just below her ia.
theirs wood-boat, where it was soon
made fast. AS she ran down towards
the bank, broad stout plank was
pushed out from the boat for her te
walk on, which she Immediately trav-
ersed, apparently without fear, closely
followed by her pet dog. On enter
ing the boat she at once inquired fol
a doll, and on being shown some soor
made a selection, and | was thought
lessly tossed over to the man behint
the counter in exchange, who a:
unconcerned'y dropped me- into hi.
capacious pocket among several 9th
ers. ! soon made the acquaintance
of those around me-, and began t
feel once more at rest. when | WAS
suddenly drawn out, and with severu
Of my companions passed over il
change to great ugly negro man
who placed us in greasy old wallet
which found a resting place in his
boot. Reader! think you my situa.
ton was desirable oue9 But the
ills Of life are rendt red less painful
from the recollection that they arc Of
short duration. So lit vas with me-
That night | was se!e tted from among
all the rest, as the one doomed tC
purchase a dram. This time ] was
thrown into shot-bag nearly hal
full Of coins Of various value, and
then placed in an iron safe in Il le back
part of the boat, where as good luck
would have it, | remained until my
arrival at Natchez. Here | wis again
passed off to a druggist for fishing
line. ! had hardly become Iamiliar
to the odoriferous perfumes Of the
apothocary's shop, ere was trans.
ferred to the vest pocket of a dash.
ing ) orng blood, who was thoughtless
enough TO let me remain at rest until
his arrival home. 1t is an old say
ing, woman's wants never end;" and
| believe it is true one, for / had
not been in the house five minutes,
ere ] heard some one say, "brother,
give me dime" and away | went
to the fir tapering fingers of a reign
ing belle who laid me down upon the
dressing case and commenced her toi-
let, preparatory to an outdoor cxcur-
sion. ! now began to study whether
/ must go to sleep, or be impudent
enough to watch lady perform her
toilet However, as | had never seen
one do this, and always having a de-
sire to witness the performance, con-
cluded at length | would go to sleep
with one eye open. l can't begin to
allshe did, NOR wouldn't if |
could; but the way that rouge and lin
mhite suffered was sin. And then a
vision of an old bale Of cotton lying
behind the bed, portion of which
was handled some way or other, / for-
get exactly bow, now; aud then, too,
! closet door was opened, and | saw
/ barrel with an old riding skirt
thrown over it, which she threw aside,
ind up came a pan of meal, which
vas brought to the place where ] lay.
Thinks !, good heavensl what's in the
Wind now? ] might have said it; ex-
'ect l did, although | didn't intend
o-but the next thing | knew was
hat open eye of mine was full OF +
neal, and heard a mumbling sound