Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-01-29
DICK NASH's COURTsHIP.

= OeuCFdlly hlCnaTu NaSD, ESQ
\ inclined to the jocular way in rela
ting his adventures. One evenins
n during our trip from Natcbez to Nel
Orleans, on the steamer Magnolia
e whereof Leathers. was master, ant
e Dick was bar-keeper, he seemed pen
e siye. His songs were sad, and thC
ever faithful banjo twanged in tht
most distressed manner as the per
folmer stuck the minor chords.
i never was in love but once
gentlemen, said Dick, and seeing a
general smile greet the assertion, he
repeated, That be bad never been in
love but once. His first love was
the daughter of a wealthy OLD plant
er, whom we viii call Major Beal, to
avoid personalities, and for the same
reason locate the Major near Hunts
vile, Alabama.
i had been in the village sometime
and become very we'll acquainted
with Miss Lucy, who was really a
fine girl. ! played the banjo for her,
and sung some of my best songs,
and wore my best clothes all the time.
| was might goody looking in those
days, gentlemen, and more girls than
Miss Lucy fancied me. ] at last
made my declaration of love, and
was accepted. Now, Dick, said l
to myself, be prudent and you are
a made man. Lucy was everything
| could desire. We met frequently
and | continued to be attentive,
played the banjo and sung for her
until her little head was full of moth.
ing else but Dick Nash and getting
married.
Il asked her if | could visit her
home? She consented, and promis-
ed to use her influence, of course,
and, being an only child, you may
be sure it amounted to something.
| recOllect the day perfectly well that
| rode out to her fathers place
Everybody knew the Majors plan
tation, and ! tell you my heart beat
high as | rode for nearly a mile be.
tween two high fences with cotton
fields on both sides, and ovOr fifty
hands at work. Lucy was in the
front porch waiting for me. The
moment she saw me, she called her
father, who came down to the front
gate to meet me. He gave me a i
cordial welcome and telling negro
man named Uncle Ben to take charge
of my horse, walked me off by the
arm to the house Lucy was ell
smiles, The old lady after surveying
me with her grey eyes through a
pair Of magnifying spectacles, seemed
to make up her mind that would do.
4 will not tire you with minute
description of all that happened.
The Major showed me over the place
and counted his darkies; the old lady
made me look at her chickens and
cows. I was the accepted lover of
an only child, and the match ap-
proved by the parents. The Major
was worth about eighty thousand |
dollar8l (Tbis hast remark was ad-
dressed to an inquisitive Yankee,
who seemed to be satisfied with the I
explanatory / kept going and
coming aud laying and cOurting for
sometime. One day Lucy asked me
to bring out ny banjo and play for
the old folks. | had a preseniiment
that | had better not and hesitated.
But Lucy had set her heart on it
and ! could not refuse. So the next
time l went out / took the banjo
with me, and after supper in the
evening turned 1t up. 1he sonn0
soon brought the plantation round
the house. | noticed the lady looked
little shy, but the niggers, and the
Major. and Lucy we're on my side,
and I pitched into the banjo, and l
tell you what | made music. The
Major could hardly keep in his bools;
Lucy fairly cried With gratiiied pride
and the niggers, unable to obtain
themselves, paired off in the yard
and had regular Congo reel.
The old lady sat speeehless with
astonishmcnt, her mouth and eyes
open, aud her arms hanging down by
her side. Next morning / left very
early, having some important busi-
ness in town. The Major saw me to
the gate, and made me promise to
come back soon and spend a week.
So getting through my business in
town Iwent out to the place prepared