The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-10-16
Dobbs and his Difficulties.

| to be- but CLAIM to be something OF q poll
tician.
If there is loyal man believe I am one
I made great sacrifices during the war for m,
country. I did not go to the war because
could not My private affairs would not per
NIT. But if one person in the United State
Of America kept up a more gallingf fire in thu
rear than any other one, I am the man.
have been the mark of the Copperheads.
And beside it has cost me much domestic
| trouble.
George Washington Harrison Socrate.
Clay Dobb, CHATS meg unfortunately mar
! ried one Amy Amanda Louisa Scraggs, and
as old Scraggs was Democrat, my Amy was
follower of the old rebel sympathizing Cop
perhead Butternut, and at times the climate
at "Dobbs Cottage" became somewhat tropi
cal. But [ have borne it all like Christian
Old Scraggs has always been too fast fol
me in argument, but when he came visiting
and held family prayer and got the old re-
probate upon his kneess, had all the say
and you better believe [ poured grape and
canister into Fort Sumter. Amy wasa beau
tiful girl, and I married her because loved
her. Some said married her for "Dobbs'
Cottage" but that is Copperhead lie. It
is true her father made us present of the
farm and cottage, but what Of that? 1t was
his daughter, and she had a right to it.
was master Of the situation until recently
This suffrage question involved me in a very
serious difficulty. [ had taken special pains
to tantalize Amy about copperheads, butter
nuts, and sympathizers, but when this suf-
frage question came up she gave me bark up
on the negro equality question.
I defended the best I could, but found the
position was getting untenable, and so l de-
clared straight for equality and went at it
upon general equality principles.
went my whole length and declared for
outright equality.
Our people had got patriotic and had ad-
mitted the negroes into the public schools,
and I had the honor Of moving first in that
important step.
One evening few weeks ago, I came
home and Amy and I had set-to on the
equality question. The children had been
at school that day, and each had negro next
to them. saw Amy was working her wits,
the result of which was an announcement that
if the children had to associate with negroes,
I should, too.
regarded the threat as an idle boast, and
thought no more Of it.
A few days after this [ notified her that
General -- and his wife would dine with
u.s. Her eyes sparkled. I knew there was
mischief brewing, but could not foresee it
And Amy was prepared for us. She had
prepared an excellent dinner, and met us at
the door to welcome us, announcing at the
same time that dinner was ready.
So soon as we were prepared she led the
way to the dining-room. and to my surprise
had spread large table, and had saucy old
negro by the name of Grow, with his wife
and two children that were seated next to
our children at school, already at the table.
She apologized for her haste in seating her
first guests, assuming that she had concluded
we were not coming, and then proceeded to
formally introduce old Grow and the Crow
family generally to the General and wife as
brother Grow, sister Grow, master Grow, and
little miss Grow.
felt a little like Growing some myself.
My legs began to show unmistakable signs
of elasticity / felt as if could heave out
any six negroes in the neighborhood. But |
fully comprehended the nature Of the sltua-
ton. The General, although an earnest Rad
ical, could not suppress his olfactory from be-
coming slightly elevated. Ny Amy was ex-
tremely polite and chatted away apparently
in ono of her happiest moods. Old Grow sat
back with his thumbs in the armholes Of his
dilapidated old vest, whilst his wife, with
folded arms, was assuming an air OF maiden
innocence
Amy handed the General seat by the
wench, which filled up that side of the table,
and hurriedly seated the Generals wife by
old gums and ivory. Then gathering up the
children seated them beside their school-fel-
lows, after which she took her seat at the
head of the table, and requested me to be
seated at the further end to wait upon the
guests.
Up to this time had managed we'll But
the Generals wife arose and remarked that
she did not intend to bear the insult further.
At this the General flew into passion, and
accused me Of purposely arranging an insult.
I protested and accused Amy, andas I did so,
old Scraggs stepped in. The General remark
ed, 'you old butternut, you are at the bottom
of this" My Amy reminded him that it
was her home and no one should insult her
father there, and ordered him to leave.
The General called her dirty huzzy for
insulting his wife, and at this old Scraggs
hit him with the knot end Of b,tternut
limb-I sprang between them to protect my
guest, when old Crow placed the General and
/ upon an equality. In the melee the wench
assailed the Generals wife and the fight be-
came general, Amy in the meantime expos
tulating peace. sa8 $3.50 -ai1tsss
Finally we succeeded in resuming our per-
pendicular position, but Grow, who was just
then The special object Of charge from the
General.
Amy was playing Pocahontas, by leaning
over the carcass, and succeeded in causing the
General to retreat.
She then placed her arms around him and
attempted to raise him. I blew up. Max
ing Charge upon old Manhood, I ruined a
calfskin. go s,S
Mrs. Grow pattcd me on the back with a
char, while the young Grows set up a regu-
lar down South Jubilee. - : - IT..
- But cleaned them out I did indeed