Daily Mississippi clarion and standard. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1866, 1866-08-04

Editors Clarion and Standard:
While poking through the dusty corners of
tho Capitol, few days ago, came TO the
State Library, and there, listlessly, turned
over the leaves of sundry volumes of miscel-
laneous works, which, by the courtesy Of
Gen. Ewing, of the Federal army, had been
preserved aud lately returned 10 the Library
OF the State.
was just leaving the Hall my mind filed
with solemn thoughts of the past great strug-
gle, and wondering much. as TO what next
would be meeted out to this unhappy South,
from the great store house of the future.
Suddenly my eye rested upon q Eun-a
strange and notwithstanding gUn--covered
with rust and dulled with age. l approach
ed ii; eyed it closely; it was musket-barrel,
clasped by broad iron band TO stock of
hickory woOd-the stock was evidently made
with iack-knife--and all about that gun,
betOkened that it had been fashioned, Ger
tainly in no polished age. 1t had the look of
some old veteran, whom war and toll and
time, had brought unto the verge of tremu-
lous old age My heart softened at the sight,
This, said, is some old relic of the by-gone
days some sturdy Continental, burning with
patriotic FIRE, fashioned this, after hours of
toll, as his own handiwork, and welded it
>
else it's Rip Van Wrinkles ancient gun sud
denly brought to light by some sturdy poll
ticran, for further use in some terrible strug-
gle for our Constitutional rights. And al
the thought, l bowed my head in, reverence
to that old gun, then raised it IL my hand,
and at the spot where hickory wood and
rusty barrel close were bound in iron clasp,
that old gun, bent and meek, returned my
bow, and thus addressed me:
This gun acos stocked by Andreuo Jackson in
1911, snd presented to the State Of Mississippi.
soon thereafter"
he who this gun shall eer displace
Must meet it's owner face to face"
What, said |, did that venerable Hero
fashion this old stock with his sacred hands?
Well was he named Hickory, who, from such
tough wood, could fashion such a work of
art! Well may the State of Mississippi be
proud of thee, Old Gun-and place thee in
this Hall,-a guardian OF her rights and
liberties Istopped and wondered. The Old
Gun burst into laugh-loud, prolonged,
and echoing through the heightened corri-
doris.
Stranger" said that Gun, "are YOU I'M TO
snutf2 That'sa right good joke, that Jack
son trick, and stood me in good service.
Why, Andrew jackson never dreamed of me.
I'm thing of later growth than that. NV
hlstorys of this war. Don't you remember
when Gov. Pettus called for all the squirrel
rifles and bird guns to aid our Southern
movement At that time a cow-county far
mer fixed me up, and threw me in the pile of
Pettus' rusty arms, as his contribution to
the sacred cause Fortunately my good looks
saved me from the untimely fate that befell
the rest of those old arms"
How was thafP" said |.
bill Johns-yoU know him9"
Yes" replied.
well, Bill was Librarian of this State.
and was a candidate before the Legislature
for reflections the battle of Manassas had
been fought while before, and as Bill hadn't
at that time figured in the war, he naturally
had opposition"
"WhO ran against hirnq" said L.
"Muffsrtr-he lived down here some where
near Clinton. Mofett, you know, had non
ped into the war, early, and had figured quite
conspicuously at the first battle Of Manassas
and was crowding Johns heavy, and no mis-
take"
what was the result 2"
Why Rank Dixon-this here Dixon
House Rank--he was an ALFRED Democrat
and stuck to all the kidney, tooth and toe
nail He stood up for Johns-and stems ont
to the pile where Pettus' old guns were, and
having an eye to beauty, selects your humble
servant for the occasion, and ornaments
him with the glorious inscriptions YOU have
just read--and proclaiming it to the Legisla-
ture. that Bill Johns would have killed
seventeen Yankees, at Bulls Run, provided
he had been there. He rather turned the
tables on Moffett, and Johns came through
like hot-kEife through butter"
What was then your fate9"
Johns brought me in the Library. and
there staid unnoticed and unknown, until
Gen. Grant came to this little village. Blue
coats rummaged all over this town then,
with an eye peculiarly single to knicknacks,
sentimental literature and relics. They Irff
all these old musty volumes of law, Won see
around here. But down thew came on the
light literature and your humble servant.
like the Assyrian, &c Gen Ewing stoned
them, though. Quite gentleman, is that
Gen. Ewing. This idea of Old Hickory turn.
ing guD-stOcker, rather touched him on the
patriotic chords-and 30 he carefully pre.
served me, and few weeks ago, returned me
to the State. Stranger, I'll tell you, it was
shaky times with me. when looked ont
the window of this Hall, and saw them Blna-
coats throwing all of these secession gnns of
old Pettns in the FIRE. Every minute I tRouyht
my turn would come next. And when 4as
saved, you may put it down, that I foreswore
secesslon-took the oath in good faith. and
swore to stand by every Andrew raised in |
tennessee, henceforth and forever. Hand
US over little of your rosin, stranger. and
,et your humble servant chaw awhile. He
las rather falnty feelings, when he thinks Of |
Yours, JEEMs JOHNSON.
CRAMP.-A common cause is indi- |
gestion and the use Of sour LIQUIDS. These /