The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-26


sed piece of cloth, which hung to bel
body by r,eaus Of rope tied around
her waist, and her foul body was
sight that would provoke an agent Of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animsls. Entering the room. around
her xere gathered some fifteen or twenty
children, none of whom we're over slz
or seven years Of age, and all were hud-
died together in the only room 10 the
house, the size Of which vas, perhaps,
6G.en by twelve feet. In this room
they cook, eat and sleep. An old
ricke.y beadstead stands iu one corner
of the room, aud on it is some loose
straw and a blanket. No chignoIs are
here, but long dishevelled locks that
look more like fly brushes than human
hair. Small editions Of humanity were
scattered around the room "what haint
got holdings on" and they stare at you
from out their hazy eye in mute astonlsh-
rnent. You are 10th to believe your own
eyes as you stand and gaze on this sick
eniug picture. o.,
.sIs this ell your family, Mrs. Eaton?"
your correspondent asked of the mater
iamaias (The chances are only three
10 ooe against ycu that you will be right
if you call any person you meet Eaton
go a,o,v ones name is either Eaton,
Dow, or Souther.) "Kee-kee meow,
kee.kee neow," answers Mrs. Eaton,
"How'd you ken my name war Eaton =
"Oh, lam veil acquainted with your
family, Mrs. Eaton"
Them children's mine; then's my
gran -darterS."
"Iiow many children have you, Mrs.
Eaton 7"
.Five-seveu-no-si1," but she
finally concludes that she don't knoC, or
rather that she can't conceal her ignor-
auce on the subject.
..Wherc isyour minister, Mr.. Rand,
this afternoon 2" your correspondent
asks, for effect.
What. crazy Rand, you mean !!
Dunno-don't care. Hope e's dead. "
"Why, Mrs. Eaton, isn'tyour minister
a good man {"
"Bl r.r-r! God NAKED his body and
hi, soul, but the devil max ID his &C.
tons"
..What has he done that displesses
you. Mrs. Eaton ?"
Done? l sh'd like to know what
he hahn; done! Eff ennybuddy fe,ches
. stick of wood to the Christian Lodge
(the church, he calls it tharviu.' ard
he says If buddy takes anything as
don't belong to EN- it's tharving'. He's
4 di>.u>tin' >couudrel That he is!''
That's So" chimed in Mrs. Eaton
40. =. the mother and grandmother
he'd better stick ter preachin' and go
where he's wanted. Round begin all
the timc aud kcepin all he gifts, aud
,;.en preachin' to us about stealin' r
Spying form BY the roadside little
wav in advance, your correspondent said
good bye to Mrs. Eaton and passed on.
".Ah, Mrs. Dov, gathering flowers are
you?" :, ,,
"My ramc aia't Dow; its Souther,"
replied she in harsh voice that came
Aom head under which something
made Of ticking was put, and a string
tied around the neck to support It over
her black greasy back.
II see you have taste for the beauil-
ful, Mrs Souther."
'.Ao, | never tasted ont Some folks
stills flower leaves and make money ont
That's what I'm doin'."
"Whcre's the parson this afternoon?"
your correspondent inquiries, striving to
lie provincial in his speech, afte- his
last attempt to be urbane.
parsons. who's Parsons? ? - nno 40
such critter."
Your minister, mean"
"Parscus his name aint Parsons; its
Rand. Dunno where he is, don't care
He prctends to talk to the boys and gals
bout carryin' on, but mater is uater, and
| dunno's it enuy O his buznlz."
GATHERING OF TIE CLANS.
BY this time the whole neishborhood
had gathered around your correspondent
and looked on him as though they didn''
know what white shirt or steady gai
indicated in a person. There were old
and young, tall aud short, male anc
female. Were it not for consciousness o.
your mental superiority over them you
would consider your life in danger here,
but you feel as though you were standing
in the midst of dumb brutes, who wouc
obey your beck as readily as a poodle
dog obeys his masters whistle. Look a
them, and they shirk from your sigh
as quickly as they conveniently eau
With their mouths wide open, ant
tongues extended, they work upon you
feelings in marvellous manner.
'Ns that your boy, Mrs. low? con
tiuued your correspondent, upon seeinl
lean three-foo,e7, with heavy double
barrelled shot gun on his shoulder.
"No, l wouldn't oun i'm. Hes m!
grandarter's."
eyer lie, yer lie :" lisped the unterri
fed juvenile 81 hain't yer boy. no
yer graudarter's either. l wouldn't ou'
yer"
"Well, Mrs Dow," you look as thoug'
you had hard time to get along iu th
world"
"Ah, sir" she means, "the Bibl
saws that accidents and misfortune
shall happen to men, but believe the