American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-03-20
For the Citzen
A Clear Creek Mother and Chlld.

Reader, young woman don't understand
baby talk. Il requires the infantile edaca-
ton of dozen or so, before woman can
soft-soap child TO sleep.
was once sojourner in the northern
portion of Mississippi, and, with fellow
student, had been on a ramble ont between
Clear Greek and Cold Water. Here were
then found some untarnished American jew
els in the rough, and through many crack
and crevice cleaned the genuine gem of first
water. Those Immediately under eonsidera
ton were woman. her husband and fourteen
hearty children The woman was about
forty-6ve years old, having broad, open fea-
lures, expressive of credulity. perfectly natu-
raj in those persons who have lived apart
from the intricacies and schemes of more
civilized life. Her husband was a hard
working farmer, favorite in the neighbour
hood, and generally called Squire Roddy.
The pet of the whole concern was baby
about sixteen months old But however
much the little Cyrinthy Liza Pop Roddy
was petted and caressed by her boating sis
tiers, she would go to the old lady in face Of
it all.
The dwelling of the Squire consisted of a
double log cabin, and an Office in the yard to
which the boys were sent when there was
strangers, and roosting. in the old folks
room on such occasions. When Jerry c.
and l retired, the whole family had collected
in the other room, and as our bed was near
the partition, and the chinks out between
the logs, it was impossible not to peer
through upon the company in the other
room. As their conversation waxed louder
and funnier, we had taken very serious po-
sitions upon our knees, watching operations
in the other room. " Jerry said /, tive
will something rich pretty soon" He
swelIed up like porpoise, and leaning up to
me whispered with evident suppression of
his risibles. tIf you are not in n rich po-
sition right now, I'll go to sleepp 1t was
truly ridiculous. Jerry was in his shirt,
alone, kneeling against the wall with his
head bent little to one side peeping
through an open ehink. l was on my all
tours, resting upon my elbows, while my
knees supported me higher part Of the
bed, so that my head was a foot lower than
my back. ] had to take this position in or
der to see anything. The opening of the
family converse, after we began to caves
drop, nearly overset Jerry he was obliged
to choke himself with a sheet to suppress his
laughter it commenced about thus
"Mauma, I b'lieve a booger's in my head
big as your thumb nail. Fur Gods sake
ketch him fore lie eats hole in my brains"
This was spoken by a small boy about four
teen, with long nose which spraddled at
The end and gave nasal twang to his words.
" Gin ne the wool kerds, Marthy, lem
me scrub Zach's head he's the liciest boy in
the county, said nanny.
Sally got the cards before Marthy, and as
Zach kneeled on his mothers lap, she raised
his coat tail and gave him stout bang just
above his thighs.
Kithat Sal, ur I'll tell all about how Bill
Pretterd Rugged you yistidy."
sBilI Pretterd hug Sal you hug that
dirty, gawky gozlin? I'd as leaf hug pole
cat any day." said the mother. q Yes, aud
so he'd L. spoke up rough, tangle haired
boy about sixteen; q he amt got sense 'nuf
to toat CUTS to bear, an liver sense he fout
little Johnny Randle, come nigh Dustin
his belly wi'them mule hufs of his'n, amt
had no use fur him.
q La, sakes !" CALCULATED the mother, {" eff
I do ketch you and Bill huggin', I lay I'll
lam you tel you'll never hug another boy,
"thout bein' too sore 70 set down.
At this thought Jerry and would have
to cease examinations and cover up our
heads, but the curious was ascendant and we
trembled and shook with oar hands against
the logs. BY this time the "booger" was
ousted and general laugh and teaze went
against Sallie, who brushed around by the
with the toes of her shoes. just then Zach
opened in this wise:
well, eff Bill did hug Sal, while he was
doin' NV it / Rugged his sister and kissed
her, too, dod drot eff | did'n, and she sunk up
so close to me | jest did git loose quick
enuf to keep Bill from ketchin' nv US; an,
mauma, b'lieves yit she give me that boog-
err, fur / found three nits on that piece hair
she gun me-
Lord bless me, Zach, hush your lynn.
You alters did hey boogers in your head, /" re-
torted mother.
EFF I does, faint my fault, fur Harry
Crowder's Jest got hat full and shakes EN-
out on my desk to crack EN-, an I've seed
him string EN- and pen en- in holes he's got
in his bench
Great Scott Jeems, did you ever hear
such lousy talk 2 said jerry.
Hush-h-h 2, said |, the old lady
speaks" Bring me Pop TO saokle and put
her to sleep"
Several girls grabbed for the baby being
too rough; the child began TO initiate It's lungs
and squeeze the wind from It's mouth in long
and continued squalls.
:. Dab, dsn-sis dun cuoed it-dnn dubbed
Pops yittle belly and buss yittle mont.