Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-10-06

HAPPY Daysl
We were sitting in our Office door a day or
two since, enjoying a r~egalia-no, let MS tell
the truth, smoking one of five, for fire cents.--
The shadows Of the afternoon were lengthcn~
ing their dark lines along the lonely and de-
tserted streets. There seemed an epidemical
look about every thing--an apparent sadness
in the very air--and it didn't take much with
anything like life about it to attract our atten-
ton, where all was SO still and sorrowfully 81.
lent.
While cogitating, in a mood which such sur
roundings might be thought naturally to pro.
duce-among other things, thinking of the
hardness of the times, the shallowness of our
purse, the price Of bacon, and the still harder
fortune of having our house turned. into the
appearance of a hospital through sickness, and
our few remaining dimes going to tue drug
pist instead of the butcher and the grocery
store-ws say, while we were thus giving vent
in thought to the gloominess which outward
things engendered, we heard the merry laugh
Of a squad Of boys across the street. At the
new building which our friend McF. is erect
ing for the amusement and enjoyment of the
"fast 'uns." The youngsters were in great
| gIee. The sickness and sorrow which prevail.
ed in our town, affected not them. They were
happy in the sports which youth and innocence
delight 10. Each one had provided himself
with u stick from the lumber within the build
ing. and was astraddle of it a. if be was on .
horse. One Cittle Sam, the son of McF.) was
the keeper of The Livery Stable. Another
called himself "Henry Moore" who had a large
lot of horses and mules which he wished to /
dispose Of, and no was telling Of the good quail.
tiles Of his cattle 10 q manner that would have
bsen creditable to Moore himself, and which
would have made that gentleman laugh. had
he been present like ourself; he, the fancied
horse-trader, was mounted on a splendid nag"
according to his description. which he called
Joe Er,cin, and which he said cost four hun
dred and fifty dollars in Miesouri-he was an
iron grey with star in his forehead. A Ger.
tain young gentleman who lives near town
Represented by boy No. 81 was bargaining for
this $3.50 Missouri horse, bat wouldn't give
the sum asked for him ($s0o) because his legs
we're too short, and he didn'nt think him a fast
nag. To prove 10 the contrary. Moore oanter-
ed of 10 4 circle Of . hundred yards at 4 pace
which proved satisfactory, and a bargain was
when the trader dismounted and the
took his place. Youth No. 4, who
called himself aMcCombs," now brought for
. splendid animal. = blooded mare from
Kentucky Il. e. 3 hickory pole from = coopers
for which was asked the moderate sum
one hundred and thiry.6ve dollars. No. s
name forward TO purchase-they called him BY
hs appeilstion Of q knoUing one about town
but trade couldn't be made, ~ he, No. I. :
wanted to swop, and didn't want anything un- q
$40 nag. no how. H. B.. Represented
y boy No. g. : noted judge Of mares, then .
anne forward and examined her mouth /; said .
he was ten years old and wasn't worth half =
hs money; moreover, that she was spayinsd, q
nd (as B. generally ends when he wantsto =
how how low : thing is in his estimationA
~ . DID Locofoeo. any hoU. That set /
ed the mares hash. and Mac. (Sam) stabbed
ss Ut once.
A race was now proposed. Each boy wss ].
the Missouri grey was prancisg s
round. kicking up his heels, and seemed 10 .
No spirits. Directly they al got their horses i
breast, after much difficulty, and then away A
~ dashed down the street towards the Court g
|ouse-ths grey nag Joe Ersoin, entering q
% gate about forty-iys feet aheldl Il
Alb! boys, these are your happy days!- q
zhsa age has wrinklsd your browa and trou- ID
., and suffering and sorrow, have made you
quainted with the realities Of life, your minds !.
recur to these boyish sports, and maybe
will drop from mournful remembrances :"
hich Time has associated with thoss joyous
nes. y
The 1eslling sSsaseD. ~
We hear that q widow lady of the parish, d