The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-12
MAKING WILL UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
From "Andrews' "Reminiscences of q
Georgia Lawyer" we extract the follow


From "Andrews' "reminiscences of a
Georgia Lawyer" we extract the follow
ing:
On the night of the 18th November,
1881 believe that was the time of ssthe
falling stars" s"-an obese old farmer was
lying on his sofa, having a negro woman
scratching his head, two children pick
ing his ears, two rubbing his hands and
two his feet, when he was startled by
one-who had been looking out of the
wlndow-exclaiming, ''lor, master, some
thing is ON fire, see how the GOALS are
flying" Kicking and knocking away
tho seven misunderstanding him like
ants around q dead worm-he went to
the door, aud seeing the grand pyro-
technic display, sent the Whole seven to
call Phillips, the overseer, whom, when
he came, he ordered to call the negroes,
and making him select four of the strong
est, he had himself lot down his we'll, and
telling Phillips to stand at the mouth to
transmit his orders, proceeded shouting
from his lower deep, "Phillips, make
Tom and Peter get on the gin house,
Sam and Bob on the barn, Joo and JEFF
on the corn-crib, and make the others
carry them water" 'Phillipsl" ''Sir"
"Have them fodder stacks in the GIN
house field caught yet?" "No sir
Phillips, aint the grass field, on the
South hill, all in blaze?" ''Not yet,
sir; the fire goes out before coming to
the ground" "Phillips, have a bottle
of that old peach brandy, in the cellar,
sent down-for hot ns it is up there, it is
mighty cold down hore-and give the
niggers what they want, for it will all be
burnt up before day" "Phillips, do you
smell any birthstone from the fire?" II
thought, sir, I had Whit of it just
now" "Phillips, if any of that fire falls
down here and should miss me, it will
scald me like n hog in scalding tub, at
least it will rnrboil the life out of me.
Phillips, get pen, ink and paper, (after
they were brought he proceedei3 Phil
they set the water-bucket?' Eyes, sir!"
he would have him come up and sign in
ceoded9 "Phillips, what is the state Of
the fire?" pouring like it was raining
ten thousand brush heaps" " Cant come
up yet, Phillips. Phillips, have you
heard Gabriel's trumpet?'' "Not yet"
"Well, let me know the first toot you
hear, that / may have time to pray lit
tie" (Phillips proceeded to tell him
that there was no use making will, no.
how, for all his property would be
burned and it would be of no use.)
"Well, Phillips, I forgot that" The old
peach having began to operate, gave him
Dutch courage to come up, having first
had the wagon-body brought near the
we'll and turned upside down, under
which he crawlcd. Phillips proposed
having straw put under the body for him
to lie on; he objected, "bccause it would
take fire too easily" But, ordering
sheep-skins and blankets, he gave direc-
tions to have himself let down again if
the wagonbody caught fire, and went
into his wooden nest under it. The re-
action from the warmth and soothing
qualities of the emptied bottle, wrapped
him, with his fears, into forgetfulness,
until the blessed sun, rising before the
sleeper. blotted out al appearance of the
falling fire. That acM was never pre-
served for probate.