Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-12-06
For the Spectator.
Arkan,a. Correspondence. No. 4.

M6SUS. 1UttOTSs-iu iut ioob tho Piohiio'
was made that would give You few items o
travel and personal incident in this communica
ton. Not long since set out alone on horse
back, to visit few families in remote part O
the State. After pleasant ride of q few miles
left the settlement and found myself surround
ed by real Arkansas forest in all its unpro-
famed grandeur and dreary solitude. My Deal
Spectator, should you meet with any one OF ro-
mantle temperament and hear him long for the
pleasure of hiding from the world in vast con-
tiguity of shade, advise him to travel this way
and he will be grati6ed to his hearts desire.
After riding long and weary miles through
this forest, | at length saw somebody raising 6
cloud of dust In the distance, which at once
supposed to be q little whirlwind and felt re-
lieved to see something in motion even If it wa'
dust. The road over which | was travelling
being straight as an air line, could see long
distance ahead, and suppose the moving dust
must have been two or three miles away when
first observed it, and what was surprising 1t die
not seem to advance or recede but kept passipe
from one side of the road to the other at short
intervals. Upon coming near enough, however
found that it was not whirlwind, but little
Tow-headed ArkaDsion, almost in state OF Du-
dity that was raising the dust for his own amuse
ment He quit his fun, soon as he saw me, an6
ran irto cabirfnear the road. 1t being neal
noon, and seeing we'll, and some corn for sale
dismounted to rest and feed my tired ano
hungry horse.
Upon entering the cabin scene to be remem'
bered by me as long as live presented ITSELF
Upon a miserable bed, was young mother, ev-
ideptly in the last stage of rapid consumption,
in O sitting posture, with her face buried in her
hands, and apparently suffering intense pain
Our conversation soon assumed serious turn 10
the course of which she informed me that she
was professor of religion. The last sermon
she had heard since her sickness was few
months ago. Said she: 81 wanted to go to
meetin so bad, that they hauled me in wagon
to the meetin-house, one night. They drawed
the wagon up closeter to the winder, aud
laid there and looked through the winder at the
Parson, and heard the sarmint, and that was the
last time I've been to meetin."
Seeinq>a Bible on o rude shelf near her, re-
marked that hoped she could pass some OF her
fine in reading that book. With her eyes suf-
fused with tears she replied: "Oh, no, I'm no
scholar. I can't read, I've often wished l could,
il would be so much company to me-" :.
could not help moralizing little to myself
upon the scene before me, and upon what had
lust heard, and wish that some OF her more
favored brethren and sisters could be there TO
learn what privation it is to be unable TO read
the Bible in affliction, or to attend preaching.
But we were interrupted by the chickens, and
had to get up and drive them away from the
trough where my horse was feeding. Havlng
done so and re.seated myself in the cabin, my at
tention was arrested by the movements OF the
little boy / had seen in the road. be was ner
Oldest child, about FIVE years OF age. During
our conversation he took down his pipe, delib-
erately filed it with tobacco, lighted it in the
hot ashes, and began to smoke and spit after the
regular fashion. I was astonshed at this ex-
traordinary precocity, and observed: "ls itpos,,
sible he smokes" "Oh, yes, he smokes and
chaws BOTH" she replied with evident pleasure;
When the pipe was in proper blast, he climbed
a chair. and with his feet scarcely reaching half
way to the floor, he sat cross-legged and quietly
finished his smoke, treating my kind inquiries
as to the benefits be expected to derive from
smoking, with provoking nonchalance, as If II
we're none of my business. Alter smoking he
concluded to dress himself. Upon looking around
awhile. he found his inexpressibles, which he
broupht to me to arrange in their proper place.
After that he gathered up his shoes and stock
ipgs. which he put on himself, having nothing
to do in the latter process but to tie the shoe
strings. 1t was not long after this that ! wal
on the road again, and what l saw, heard an(
thought, or at least 80 much as wish you Il
know. must be reserved for another letter.
rs l. ANGUILLE.,