The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-05
Written for the Sunday Crescent
COUNTRY PLEASURES.

1t was during one of my trips into Dixie that
came in contact with phase in country life
that was really worth an introduction 20, and, il
you like, I'll introduce you, though | can't say
care for any further acquaintance myself.
That country life is indeed charming, in good
weather no one will for a moment dispute, /
fancy. Our Southern floral kingdom is so bril-.
liantly and sweetly populated, that for three
months-April, May and June-the country is
lovely from the quantity and beauty of its fair
earth-stars and the air redolent Of the rich per.
fume of wild jasmine, haw and houeysuckle.
The black haw, with its pesrly clusters, and
the stately magnolia lifting its snowy perfumed
chalce to catch the nectar dew from heaven,
have but two equals in the wild floral world-they
are the egantne or sweet braE h0Se are OF Of
the happy days Of youth those woods recall
Memory lifts the misty curtain of the past, and
on her mirror ] see depicted bue-eyed, fair
haired boy lover offering great clusters of the
sweet briar and lily Of the valley sought after and
culled for me. Oh John, why were you takeo
and left?
There is something inexpressibly solemn in the
everlasting chaunt that rises to heaven from q
pine forest-a mournful and yet sweet sound
and the tall trees, as you walk through them,
seem like the aTching aisles of some vast cathe-
dral; and so, in truth, they the great csthe-
dral nature has erected to her God, and the sough
ing winds are never ceasing hymn Of praise.
After the floral three months of beauty, Pomona
comes in, lsdend with her luscious treasures, and
for three months more it is truly pleasant place
| for a mans appetite TO be INDUCED in.
But, TO go back TO our muttons, did you ever
| help TO fight fire, or see pine woods on fire
Did you ever have some malicious person, or care
re- oil rr
you notice Of the fact; and while sitting in bliss
tul security, enjoying the cool shade OF your
gourd vine and persimmOn tree, be suddenly
startled with q roar like Heavens artillery min
ged with the popping Of light musketry, and
looking Up see steadily advancing upon your
field and orchard fences that element which, like
the genii evoked by unskillful necrOmancers,
proves so terrible monster, when you lose your
power 10 hold and control it as a useful slave
If you never did, you have very slight conception
of how hdeOusly the sublime and the ridiculous
can be mingled.
As mentioned above, il was during one OF my
1" trips into Dixie " that il was my fate to witness
this sight, and as my curiosity on the subject Was
fully satisfied that time, can't say care % par
ticDate ii the amusement again, save -
distance-some one else doing the work. 10; ].
1t was enc hot summer day while We gsrs a.
dinner that the little negroes came tsar,s n hk9
mad colts, screaming az every l1a12s 1fs
rouChs on fire. misScs, ard c0c1ecs 1eEl "a t18
fences.n This was no hSes ness u Vas va
time sId men were swsy. a-3 Ne oaiy nal On
the place was miles Away ~ NH. all sAsre
no one bat women and chi.drse 70 tEai saas ban
gerous ravenous enemy. FOrtnaa,sy. .Ases ~ -
a real country woman there. who Was e0s A.
vice in the matter sud calling all haais % Ae,p
and taking rakes, hoes and shoyaS, she rallied
forth followed by her troop Of. as feared. yegy
inefficient fire fighters. Scattering as along the
narrow neghhorhood road that separated the
"rough" on fire from the trough" surrounding
the fences nearest the fields, orchards and build.
~.
straw and litter from the path aud 10 "work
lively at that Then, with q Ratchet. she cut
down pine ssplings and taking the tops for brush
TO beat the fire out in case il started 10 spread
the wrong way she gathered up bunch OF straw
lighted il with q match, and fired the grass along
the edge of the path on the side that the fire was
coming dOwn-snd sent the fire TO fight the IRE
closely watching that 1t should net creep over the
road on 10 our side.
Ii was a beautiful sight, grand, though awful 10
watch the FIRE creeping slowly along. then catch
ing some combustible material, blaze and sparkle
feroey, as though eager for the fray, towards the
steadily advancing column Of flame now rapidly
approaching through the forest. Ever and anon
the whole scene would be enveloped in dense
clouds Of smoke, with here and there tongue Of
fire OF spiral wreath of white, feecy smoke darling
to the tops of the tall pines around Us, many Of
which being blsZed and the gum oozing FORTH would
catch, and far and near we could see the giants
of the forest slowly yielding up their lives to the
fiery monster.
With hands and faces begrimed with dust,
smoke and Precipitation, the little negroes chat
tering around us only degree blacker than
ourselves, we were sights 10 look at (; and 70 my
fancy, looked like the attendant imps and tor
mented spirits of some vast Hsdes. ! never saw
snytbing more grand and terrific than the meet
ing of those fires. The tops Of the tallest pines
on the line Of the meeting were wrapped In
flames, and IL would take pen far more elo
qtent than mine to give you even slight idea
OF the terrible beauty OF the scene.
II you care for a closer introduction, and will
take the cars with me tomorrow, / will 60 back
to the same place with you, and you can have it,
only bargain that you do my share Of the fight.
ing. What do you say! Your friend, JUDITH.