Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-26

4 SICK, Stck,-2l-c.k-uitB bttit-suO0fs 81
boy!" suboyl"
| Our next adventure was decidedly
dangerous one. Fording the Tallapoos
i river, where its bed is extremely uneven
being formed Of masses of rock full 0
assures, and covered with Shiny gree
moss, when about t9o-thirds of the wa,
across, we were hailed by Sol Todd from
the bank VIC were approaching. w
stopped 10 hear him more distinctly.
fsHellow little squire, you a-chickel
hunting to-day2"
Being answered afiirmaiiyely, he con
tinued-"You better mind the holes il
them ere rocks-if your horses foot git
hitched in 'em you'll never git it out.
You see that big black rock down to YOU
right9 Well, there's good bottom dowr
below that. Strike down that, outside
that little riftie-and now cut right into
that smooth water and come across !"
We followed Soils directions to the let
ter, and plunging into the smooth water,
we found lodges of rock, and deep enough
| to swim the horse we rode. Round and
round the poor old black toiled without
finding any place at which he could effec!
a landing, SO precipitous were the sides.
Sol occasionally asked US 'ff the bottom
wasn't first rate" but did nothing to
help US. At length we scrambled out,
wet and chilled to the bone, fol- it was a
sharp September morning-and continued
our journey, not little annoyed by the
boisterous, roaring laughter OF the said
Solomon, at our picturesque appearance.
We hadn't more than got out of hear
ing of SOILS cachinstory explosions, be-
fore we met one of his neighbors, who
gave US to understand that the ducking
we had just received, was but the fulfill
ment of q threat of Soils, TO make the
''chicken man. take swim in The tsBuck
Hole" lie had heard of our stopping
on the opposite side OF the river the night
previous, and learning our intention to
ford just where we did, fixed himself on
the bank to insure our finding the way
into the "Buck Hole"
This information brought our nap right
up, and requesting Bill Splawn to stay
where he was until we returned, we gal
loped back to SOILS and found that worthy,
rod on shoulder, ready to leave on a fish
ing excursion.
''Sol, old fellow" said we, shat was
a most unfortunate LuTlge made into that
hole in the river--I've lost twenty-five
dollars in specie out of my coat pocket,
and Pm certain it's in that hole, for felt
my pocket get light while l was scuffiing
about in there The money was tied up
tight in a buckskin pouch, and Unjust get
you to help me get it. - 49,
This of course, was regular old-fash-
toned lie, as we had not seen the amount
of cash mentioned as lost, in 'coon's
age" 1t took, however, pretty well; and
Sol concluded, as it was pretty cold
spell of weather for the season, and the
water was almost like ice, that half the
contents of the buckskin pouch would be
just about fair for recovering it. After
some chaffering, we,agreed that Sol should
dive for the money ION shares, and we
went down with him to the river, to point
out the precise spot at which our pocket
'grew light" We did so with anxious
and Sol soon denuded himself
and went under the water in the 'tBuck
Hole" '1ike shuffler duck with his
wing broke" Puff puff as he
rose TO the surface" SCOT il,
Soil" 'tNo. dang it, here goes again
and Sol disappeared a second time.
Puff! puff and considerable rattle of |
eeth as Sol once more rose into ''upper |
.ir." "What luck, old horse 2" "By |
ings, felt It that time, but somehow it |
lid out of my fingers" Down went Sol |
gain, and up he came after the lapse of |
/ minute, still without the pouch. care
you right sure, squire, that you lost it in
his hole ~ said Sol, getting out upon |
arge rock, while the chattering of bis |
eeth divided his words into rather more
han their legitimate number of syllables.
'Oh, perfectly certain, Sol, perfectly GER
ain. You know twenty-five dollars in |
lard money weigh q pound or two.
lidn't mention the circumstance when | |
irot out of tho rivor, because was
70 scared and confused that l didn't re-
member it-but know just as well when
he pouch broke through my pocket, as
AN be ~
Thus treasured, Sol took the water
gain, ana, as we were in hurry, we re-
luested him to bring the pouch and half
lie money to Dadeville, if his diving
hould prove successful
''To be sure l will" said he, and his
)lue lips quiyered with cold, and his
whole frame shook from the same cause.
The 'triver aSer" made Sol shake worse
han that, that fall.
But we left him diving for thc1
ouch industriously, and no doubt he
would have got it, if it had been there
Our next encounter was with an old
ady notorious in her neighborhood for
Ter garrulity and simple-mindedness Her
oquacity knew no bounds; it was con-
tant, unremittiug, interminable, and
laughably silly. She was in
crested in quite large chaneery suit
which had been dragging its slow length
long" for several years, and furnished |
rev upon extensively, under the idea
hat its merits would never be sufficiently
discussed. Having been warned of her
and being somewhat hurried
When we called upon her, we were dis
'osed to get through business as soon as
,ossible, and without hearing her emu
aeration of the strong points of her law
ase. Striding into the house, and draw
Gg our papers
''Taklng the census, ma'am!" quoth
7e.
"Ah! well! yesl bless your soul, honey,
akc a seat. Now do! Are you the gem
eman that Mr.. Van Buren, has sent out
D take the se3lsis? l wonder! well, good |
ord look down, how aOaS Mr.. Van Bu-
en- and family when you seed him?" Il
We explained that we had never seen
he President; didn't 'know him from q
de of sole leather" and we had been
.ritten to, to take the census. "a /.
"Well, now, thar agin! Love your
oul! Well, l 'spOse Mr.. Van Buren,
2ri you letter, did he? No9 Well,
'spose some of his officers done it
less my soul7 Well, God be praised,
here's nightly little here to take down.
mes is hard, Gods will be done; but |
Doks like people can't git their just rights
/ this country; and the law is all for the
ich and none for the poor. praise the
ord. Did you ever hear tell of that
ase my boys has got agin old Simpson ?
looks like never will git to the eend on it;
Tory to His name The children will
uffer, I'm mighty AFRAID Lord give us