Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-10-26

would have slept in duck pond, or under
the spout of still, which / have no doubt
he often had.
put my shivering frame in new pos
ture-like the Dutchman's hen, "settin' al
standin'" and alternately laughed and
nodded till the first streak of day shot up
from the East. | then walked forth from
my smoking nest to find out the mystery
of this place of wretchedness-for | had
not yet found out that was in land Of
stills.
Taking a position on red hill not far
from the cabin, surveyed the premies and
regions round about. At the first look /
thought tho fields were fenceless, but look
ing more narrowly, found that briars and
shrubs had taken possession, and moved
the fence outside. There were few patch
es of corn Of stunted growth, though I
did not know but the Squire was in the
habit of planting small kind. 1t was fod
der pulling time; but could see that the
Squire would not pull any-he might get
some by the pushing process.
looked next to the stable; the roof
was off one side. I looked in, and the
Squire's horse opened his eyes like he had
just awakened from pleasant dream of
corn crib and fodder stacks, that he had
never smelt at home, and, as his bony ap-
pearance testified, he had never tasted.
started in search for water, wishing to
rinse after the pouring ablution of the
night; and 10 ! after rounding little hill,
that which before was a mystery was no
longer so-there sat long tail pot in a
smoky den This was the evil genius that
presided over the Squire's affairs. Being
loyal subject Of his satanic majesty, and
in his zeal to serve him, the Squire brought
poverty to his own door and made wreck
of his famiIys happiness.
Although the children seemed to be al
most idiots, and though the stormy clouds
of passion around their mothers brow,
gave signs of frequent household orations,
poured out in demoniac eloquence, | had
seen many less intelligent men than the
Squire in better circumstances. Shall we
not shed tear of pity over all who are
thus tortured by the devil before their time?
Yes; yet say there are some ladies-I
beg pardon, women-who, for their hatred,
or their opposition to the Sons of Temper
ance, ought to be confined for long time
in this dark corner to do penance for their
sins.
Ihad just finished my observations, when
| was summoned to breakfast. Would it
be ungreased beans and hoe cake again
No; "chunk" of bread laid round at the
"pIaces"-no table cloth-no plates-and
\ a rusty TIN cup Of butterrnilk at each place.
l took my place, the Squire opposite again
and half score of hungry creatures look
ed on and each seemed to say, stranger,
I'd hide it faster'n that" The old woman
was at her accustomed place in the chin.
ney corner, with the pipe stem between hel
l teeth, and the tobacco and fire in close
3 proximity to the "hanGle" of her face
4 and the shadow of dog under the table
Breakfast being dispatched, we saddlec
our horses-or l saddled, and the Squir'
t sheepskinned. My horse, Tyler, Jared a
e badly as myself. "Poor fellow !" though
n as l led him from the muddy stall, "yo1
If never met with such fare when belonging
G to Mr.. S, the circuit rider-you al
i ways met good cheer among the class-lea
IS ders but now you are creeping half starve
d from the stall of the deviPs clusS-leader."
a would as soon have been astride of
&c fence rail as the bundle of bones under th
le Squire and less resolute boy than i
1T such company, might have feared an attac
m from the carlion crow. When mounted,
| gave farewell bow to those to be left b.
ID hind, hoping that it would never fall
&c my lot to spend another night there; an
re each member of the family looked his far
well from the corners of the house, or fro
rt cracks, and the "dog's shadow" leanin
I'd against post, grinned his farewell addres
nc Wishing to get through with my bu:
n, ness in that whiskey cursed land, so tn
rt. ] would not have to spend another mig
at there | urged the Squire to try to raj
he the trot, but in order to effect it, he had
ny take the advantage of down hill and
on "running 60" Astride of his steed, he P
i'd nc in mind of Ichabod Crane, the M
ey England school master, described by lrvir
ad He wore the old "blue coat of forty yes
ago, all "buttoned up before )" the one,
Tor doubt, he was married in-and the butto
e." where the tail terminating in sharp poi
tn Joined the body, were in close proxim
le- to the shoulder blades.
ere 1t is true, that every place am acqua
er- ted with, where the people are ruled
: ! bad spirits, is at least one hundred ye
up behind the news. 1t is so as regards
en-, public improvements, as we'll as in dom
try tic affairs. And the county, whose Ma:
ges trstes work under spiritual influence, is
lief ways in debt, while the court house lo
left like barn, and the jail hardly sutficien
hold SOW and pigs.
wn, The roads in the 'Dark corner" "
he'd but little better than those of the skulk
but Indians of two hundred years ago; and
ind dwellings in this bcnighted region, no
the comfortable as their wigwams.
Boys In my ro1nd with the Squire, saw |
but erty, wretchedness and vice in all t
can forms. / found a still set up at nearly
soul ry house, and the men who had no S
were at their neighbor's, while their W
best and children were wasting away at the
wore cradle places called home, on dirt floor
bed At one place where there was still fc
soon several gathered with whom | had
was ness-all having the internal sign pal
lring upon their faces. At this place the ia
roof were at dinner, and | was invited to
and take, and took seat where a soldier Q
nged jug had eaten. The plate had not
.Lon oloonoJ brt fivnd tt snrnad n Law