The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-28
From Porter's Spirit.
Screaming Billy.
Br DIR. $. 8. PEACOCK.

|
ing among green banks and silent forests
and waving cane brakes, GwOy up in the
State of"Arkansas-w has been, until
within few years past, terra fAs!c:o3ynita. -
This stream emp,ies into White River,
which is the principal channel of cJmuuni
cation with the interior and the world. The
mnln stream was navigateH good many
years, before they vshtured to ascend any
OF Its tributaries by steam. But as the
country settled up, commerce turned its
Prov in the direction of the Black; and now
there are regular steamers, fitted up with all
the appointments Of luxury and taste, upon
those waters. But at the time of which we
write, the settlements were yet in their in.
fancy, the inhabitants were simple and their
tastes primitive. Their wants were few,
their luxuries were necessaries; and some
hardy OK teamster made the trip to town
on the main rivor, for all which was needed,
when their own little town was exhausted,
and 'chiskey not to be obtained. The wo.
men robed themselves in home nude earbs,
and performed all the Offices of seryility.-
The men mostly lived in the woods, and by
the use OF the rife, supplied their families
with food. ~, .....~ ...., ... s.a-.
Upon the banks of the Black, beneath the
spreading branches OF the forest trees, lived
one of those peculiar characters who are
( the pioneers of more civilized ciaes--old
"scseaming Billy" He was one of those
rough, uncouth beings, often met with on
the frontier, partOking more of the charac-
ter of an Indian than white man-he was
real backwoodsman. Billy's residence
was on the banks OF the stream, and he was
the contented holder of pre-empton of
one hundred and sixty acres. A rude square
OF logs, with ridge pole and covering Of
cypress boards, was his home. A COW and
few PIgs, half dozen dogs, and long
black rifle; sharp.voiced and visaged wife,
and a red'heOded lass of seventeen, innocent
ot comb or pair Of shoes, constituted his
earthly possessions. No; their was another
piece Of property which claimed Billy for
master, and that was OH old white mule; and
this animal he set far mbre store by than all
else besides-,he companion of his lonely
forest rambes and the shurer of his tu.lA.-
Here, then, he lived. He cultivated Just
eLough of his land to raise corn for meal,
which corn was converted into meal Hv the
girl power aforesaid, on an old steel mill,
nailed up under the shed. In the use of the
| rifle, Billy was an adept and its clear tones
was the knell Of the fall of many lordly
buck or snarling bear.
Billy had head of his own; and if his wife
had her way, he had his. Billy was fond Of
the bottle, and when he visited the little
town near by for his usual supply Of sugar,
coffee and whskey, he would always be-
come intoxicated, and then furnish an inek.
haustible fund of amusement for the BOYS,
who used every means to taunt and excite
Him.
Billy Vas vain. vain OF his personal ap.
pesrunce! No; sorfsl hair, sandy eye btows,
pea green eyes, ltng, wsInked and skinny
red neck, are not things to be very vain Of.
But still, he vas vrin=-vah Of his fine
marksmanshjp-for he boasted OF never hav.
ing missed shot. Billy also possessed an ac-
complishment which would make Canaan.
CHEFS hair stand on end with admiration. He
could ouIscreGn anything in the settlement;
and in town, during Court, would often, when
the spirit was upon him, give proof that his
vocal powers wefe not Impaired. This he
did to the great annoyance of the Bench,
who more than once put him where his sup
ply of liquor was cut off and his complaints
were made to four walls. Well, screaming
was hts gfeut boast, and he was the &C.
knowledged hero of the yslpng school.
AT length, to BiIIy's sorrow, his wife, one
cold morning, took notion to give up the
ghost, which she did most efiectually. He
saw; with few rhedmy tears, the body laid
out upon cypress table, and decently
stretched, then drew hil hands across his
eyes, and leaving his daughter Polly to
watch the sad remnant of her parent, he cut
cane measure for coffin, and set out to
to the little town, some ten miles away; to
obtain shell to hide away all that was left
Of poor Nance. AS Billy passed by the corn
crib, he remembered that his jug required
replenishing; and So as to perform two duties
at once, he stopped and drew it from it's hid.
ing place.
He entered the little town, late III the
day, in detected mood, and at once pro.
cceded to the grocery to obtain a diam to
revive bis dropping spirits; for this was the
only resort he had in town. AS he sat in
the grocery, every now and then renewing
his libations, his ideas expanded, his heart
grew lighter, and in short time he forgot
all about his ertand Of sorrow. As the mo-
mehts few on, the liquor grew lower in his
| jug, and Billy was evidently mellow. 70
"6h, Uncle Billy!" exclaimed q tallow
faced clerk. all the wsy from Cincinnati,
"yOur day is over; your glory departed"
Billy raised his head, he tried to sigh; for
he had an ideag faint though it wss, that he
had received, somehow, terrib1s tnisfot.
tune; but be could not. for the life OF bin,
L .t. 4 ssleH - p. = .l =