The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-06-03


ers. 1t must have been specimen Northcr,
tho fair bully of the race. The story runs
| thus
A tean,ster who drove oxen was once
caught out on the western prarics of Texas,
far from any settlement or place of shelter, in
Norther. The in cnsc cold and violence Of
the Northcr-for the wind blows unabatingly
and with the utmost fury, while the storm
lasts, without an object, or obstacle on those
wide prairies to break or check its Violence
soon compelled the driver to unyokc and turn
loose his cattle, and give them an opportuni-
| ty providing for their own safety, while he
attended to his This he did by overturning
| his wagon bed in such manner as to make
| shelter for himsclfagainst the wind. Hcncxt
chopped up the different parts of his wagon
not used in the screen and kindled fire over
which he lowered, continuing to feed the
flame with the pieces, while the Norhcr last
cd, and by this sacrifice of property saved his
own life. After the blow was over, he went
| in search of his cattle, all of which he found
dead, having persisted by the cold and violence
of the storm.
And this is what the old Texan, spoken of
in former sketch, meant, when he said Tex
as was the coolest and hottest, State in the
Union. The sudden and violent changes of
that country, produce in man those sensations
which are excited by the most intense heat
| ID, r ~
in the course of this days travel, the rrair.e
having been so parchcd by the continued
drought, that no green blade was to bc seen
save in the bottoms and canchrakes, where
those graminivorous animals had gone in
search of food. Within forty miles of Austin
city, to the tight of the old Austin road is
beautiful and romantic view of woodland and
high rolling prairics, between the st. Gabriel
and Brushy, about ten miles in extent. Long
dark belts of timber running east and west,
loom up in the distance, in alternate lines,
contrasting beautifully with the buff colorc,l
prairie, which is seen far beyond. rolling up,
as it were, behind each sable belt of timber,
till the rising prairie at length, seems to kiss
the sky.
In the spring, when those far reaching
praircs are decked with the many colored
flowers of that southern, sunny cline, and
those dark belts of woodland, clothed in the
green, tender foliage of the virgin year, the
scene must be of the most exquisite lovclil c's,
while distance is lending enchantment to the
view. But It's not unlike the courtesan seen
in all of bcauty's blaze by gas light; it daz-
zles to deceive. Those dark lines of ma iestic
looking timber, prove, on a near approach to
be composed of gnarled black-jacks and as
you ride EDWARDS, mile after mile, over the
apparent intcrminable prairie, beneath burn
ing sun. you begin to 'long for cooling
spring, for you must drink or die" But a
spring, cool spring of sparkling water,
would be phenomenon here, indeed; and you
ride on, and on, till at length you come to
hole of stagnant water; your horse plungcs
his nose in and drinks from this silent pool,
which has been left here by the last rain: or
perhaps it is the bottom of some dry creek,
with an indcnturc here little beneath the
common bed of the stream, which has retain
cd water sufficient to form an ordinary frog
pond. Ii is the best, however, that you can
hope to meet with, and you must initiate
your horse, forsooth, and drink OF do with
OUT and when the subject is narrowed down
to these two points, it is wonderful with what
facility you can decide which course to pursue.
If you ride up to cabin and ask for water
which is here in Texas, very common thing,
a fever and ague looking woman, will hand
you gourd full of blue looking fluid, which
you takes sup of, thank her, enquire the road
and ride on. Gourds are all the 90 in Texas.
1fyou halt for drink at a lonely cabin on the
prairies, it is handed to you in gourd. You
ride up to the public house, in some settle
ment, and order your horse to be taken care
offor the night; get through the wicket if you
can, or climb over the worm fence" if you
cannot, into the yard, mount the porch, and
there stands blue bucket, with gourd in
it, and tin wash basin beside it-go into
the towns and you will see the same blue
wooden bucket, thaty you met with in Calves
ton, or when you crost the Sabine, or that you
left hanging on the pump spout at home or
suspended on hooks, or piled in stacks in ev-
| ny country store. Those same blue, wooden
buckets are great Yankee invention. They
are like the wild geese. Ills said these fowls
are found wherever man has been, from the
torrid zone to the polar seas: these veritabc
blue buckets appear to be posscst of the same
migratory spirit.
In default of gourd, you will frequently
meet with kind of dipper composed ola CO.
coanut shell, with turned handle fixed to it.
This species ofdrinking cup, Or ladle, is very
common in the south and appears to be quite
a merchantable article. The cocoanut dipper
is as black as the ace of spades and, perhaps,
has grown into favor in Texas, OIL the same
principle that have known some house
wives to choose dark dress, because it hides
the dirt.
In this part of Texas crost over some of
the roupheSt thopwallow nroirie - that NV