, 1860-05-18
HAM RACHEL, OF ALABAMA.
From Fishers River Scenes and Characters"
just published by Harper & Brothers.

tiiul city on the banks Of the deep-channeled ana
rapid Chattahocche, and in ls45, the time Of the
incidents Of my story, was the mart Of commerce
far Barbour, Pike, Coffee, Dale and Henry coun-
ties in Alabama, and Of several counties eontig-
uous in Georgia.
These Alabama counties were mostly settled by
Q poor, plain, hardy, robust, and honest people,
m,ny OF tn m wholly uneducated All they cared
for was "t0 make buckle and tongue meet" by
raising stock, few hales Of cotton, and little
corn for bread. Stock-cOw stoek-being the
ch,f commodity, they were denominated "eow
Counties"
Now, mind, these were the .frat settlers Eu-
faula was great city with them, like Paris Lon
don and New York to most folks. When
"squatter," as some naughtily called them, car
ried his one two, or three bales to market in Eu-
Eaula, the "ole oman" must needs go, and may
be one or two Of the "childvring," to sce the
"biv town" Hence you could see the Ox-carts
coming in, the "oe man t" driving, and the
"olc oman" sitting on the top Of one, two. or
three bales, and the "childrring" walking The
"oe oman" has brought with her several extra
matters for sale-buiter, eggs, socks, &c. Then
for shopping after the cotton was sold Hun
drcds Of little notions must be bought, not for
getting jug, at least, Of the good critter, for
ailments and sich things"
OF course, Eufaula cxerted q grCat influence
over these counties In MI things particularly in
politics. As the town went in politics, 30 did the
/ country.
To- illustrate: II was in 1913, shortly after the
candidates for the Presidency, Cas- aud TAYLOR,
were nominated. was in the storehouse OF MI.
C.. Whig when there came in one Of the
"sOvrreigns," Democrat. a tall, sto0r-shOulder.
oil, sallow.faced, meek, quiet, misunderstanding
man, with copperas "britches" (no mistakc) and
q HON, .mNde cotton shirt, constituting his entire
dress. His copperas was ''galluscd" up as high
as his fork would admit, whirh nearly lifted him
off the ground. HIS rustic looks and movements
would hive attrncted the attention Of the most
unObsrrving man on earth. Mr.. g. gave him q
sat. which he accepted, and sat down character
istirally. When STATED. he looked to Mr. q.
with loOks indicating. "Spcak. for thy servant
hearcth. avn hs young bird; cram anything
down me you choose"
Aftrr drawing a long breath or two in Pc,
culiar wnv, he said:
"whnt do the people say about here in regard
of nomination for Presdent. Mr. G.i"
Mr.. GIVE are all fr TaVlnr; We know him;
he has fought our battles: he u me Of the people;
if he were to come IN vOur cabin. he would be at
home, drink butter milk, eat bread and butter and
yam potatnes with yraI. AsiO Gen. Cass, he's
been doing nothing AL his lie but scooting canoes
m and down the western watrrs. and knowa M
/ thing about statcsmanRhip TAYLOR Is the man
for the people; he'll he elected sure.
CoppNras I've hearn Of Ginral Taylor;
he has fmt the Mexirans. and licked 'um all up.
Ike COW licks M sat, and has kiVered the ma
tinn with glory, ike n bed-quilt covers he'd
hut as IN this man CaSs, ruver hearn ov him
aGnrc. didn't know thar was sich man treadn'
Solc-l"ather
II Mr.. Copreras did not see a merchant who
vas Democrat before he leff, he certainly voted
for Taylor.
These things promised, II was my "manifrst
drstinv" to spend night in Barbour county in
| 1S45, brlievc-a night never IN he forgotten.
Il was on the main road between Clayton, the
countv seat and Eulaula, the mart of commerce.
A little while before sundown, called at vcrv
Il good looking house, anil requested to stay all
night ~ traveller. Permission was granted hy
the lady of the house. ! saw no man. soon
learned that John M'n-- resided thprc. WIN
had gone that day n Euhula, and would som
return. congratulated myself on my good for
tune in getting to quiet good house. where ]
could take refreshing nights rest But, alas
to moralize little. how soon are olr best, most
sanVuine homes blasted! man knoweth not
what night NAV bring firth as well a. day.
seated myself in the portico facing the pub
lie road, got hold Of an old newspaper, almanac,
or something Of the kind. with which :" amuse
myself little; hut It was not long before ! saw
snme half dozen wagons coming from towards
EmthuM. Ihey matted at the gate, came IN with
great freedom and badness. drew water from the
well, and watered their horses rs though It be-
'onged to them, intersnerSing their labors with
wAgeish remarks and hlasphemy, not even res
necting the presence Of the lady. Mrs.. MD
They then commenced popping their whins
about in the yard, loud enough to shock the
nerves Of nervous people, and then asked the
lady u she mont have snme chickens Tor sale.
we haInt hln eatn no'hln but dTled neei :"
long, We wore our corn grinders down to the
gums, and We want suthln' else oy way Of