The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-23

the children capering and dancing around
him in noisy glee. Miss Jeanne Mcneil,
the old Scotch house keeper, never averse
to taking "a wee drap for. the stimach's
sake" when she was ''doon in the more, y
was easily persuaded by the little boys
that they were large enough to ''see how
egg-nogg tasted, land was busily engaged
in Inducing them into the mysteries OF
that wonderful drink. The negroes when
they were negroes and not particularly
'cullud pussuns," had Illuminated their
quarter with immense pine fires Georgia
Lamps that sent forth such flood OF
light you could see after daylight the
smallest object far around. They usually
began their merriment on such OCCASIONS,
at sunset, and their peals of laughter,
made the welkin ring. Old Abram the
banjo player and preacher, for he did not
deem the two incompatible, had already
married two couples, and was twanging
his banjo accompanied by a tamborine, in
compliment to the sable brides. You
would have thought Pandemonium was
let loose while countless voices were sing
ing
De suns gone down, de works all ober
Christmas is come den we lib in clober:
Oh, massa, he gihs us de bread an de meat
Plenty OBJ cider, and good things to eat.
The chorus was terrific:
oh, nigger stuff de 'tatoe pie
Eat It'll you laf, den laf It'll you cry.
Often they would wind up the night
with a prayer meeting, when old uncle
Abram would lay aside his banjo, and
sing the songs of zion, f"Jews screws de-
fed i'm" The picaninnies were in the
yard of the 'sgreat house" around bla-
zing fire frantic in their fun; each one
had long cane on which were tied blown
up bladders which they sported with in
lieu of popping crackers. BY holding
them to the fire they expand, and laying
them on the ground, and jumping on
them quickly will explode, making a
noise like small gun. Some had col
lected all the cats on the plantation in
sacks, and tying bladders to their. tails,
would shout and laugh, which so fright
ened the poor felines, they would dart off
with the cpned of a locomotive for the
nearest tree. None were anticipating any
occurrence to mar their fun; but in the
midst of all there suddenly arose the most
terrible and unearthly of bowls, causing
cessation of laughter, and filling us with
awe it approached rapidly, and then
would grow fainter, and come again, final
lv there was a whining and scratching of
the dog at the front door Miss Jeanne
went to open it muttering the while "see-
thing is wrong, dinna ken what makes
old Neptune hool at SIGH a rate tonight,
the days distract, unless the miseheevous
little niggers ha bin tying some of their
bladders to his tail, if they ha I'll gle EN-
bunch of tweegs well laid on for their
Christmas presents, the black scamps.
Old Neptune was large, shaggy dog of
amazing sagacity, a conspicuous and I'M
portant member of the family, and had
been fed and educated almost exclusively
by Miss JEANNE, and was an object oil
her especial care in fact Launce had not
| more ardent love for Crab than she had
for Neptune. Here must digress lit
| tie to make a few remarks on the reason
or instinct if you will, (for the wisest are
unable to tell satisfactorily, where one
ends and the other begins, tho many
have written learnedly on the subject) OF
many breeds of dogs. Some are gifted
with the noblest attributes that character
| ize the human race, and if educated,
would do many things to excite our sur
prise and admiration. You have all read
DIR. Goldsmith's nursery story of Mother
Hubbard and her wonderful dog, and
doubtless, you believed it a fabrication.
Now, am credulous enough to believe il
| a veritable, unexaggerated story, since
seeing Donnetti's dancing dogs, and the
renowned ''Pip" now lying at my feet,
| who performs astonishing acts, and man
ifests perfect devotion to those who reared
| him. Their memories are often more te
nacious than those of men In regard tC
| individuals, for they often recognize per
sons long after they pass from our mem
cries. Well, while all was hushed anC
| still as death in the house, the bowling Of
the dog still continued, sometimes afar off
| then near the house; when the door was
opened, he was lying down whining, with
brown fur cap between his paws, but
Immediately sprang to his feet, taking the
cap in his mouth, rubbing first against
uncle William, and then Miss Jeanne,
then running to the gate and returning, a
| if he were entreating some one to follow
him, he would not let 90 the cap or be
Guieted. Miss Jeanne who had a long
Scotch head, and much of the supersti
| ton peculiar to her country, said, ''the
cap dinna belang to ony of the younkers
and Gamma We tell when the dag hools lood
there's death abrood." Col Preston let:
gang wild the poor beast an see what's the
matter; it's sac dark, I'll git the lantern.
81 thought some mischief war COON in
the stars ar blinkin sideways, and av
hanging wrang in the heavens" While
they were wrapping themselves up com
fortablv to go out aunt Mabel was having
a bed prepared, there was tramping o
feet on the piazza like people bearing 1
heaven burden, and a black face wa
thrust in the door looking ashy with col,
and fright. Master, here is a dyins
man we found at the gate, l think he i
frozen. Old Neptune kept such clamol
| went to see what was the matter, wheI
| saw horse at the gate, the man lyine
on the ground, and the dog pulling ant
Juggling at him, i thought he had 'tackeC
him, and was trying to tear him to pieces
but bless the Lord, he was trying to brins
him to the house, jest look how satisfied
and quiet he is now" Hes a smar
dog, that's sartain." By this time tn
men who bore the stranger entered tn
house, the old dog in advance. Hi
clothes were thoroughly wet. ssThe river
said uncle, s'get torches and see if Their
is any one else who can tell you abou
him, for he has evidently been in the riv
er. Eyes, old Neptune had rescue,
Il