The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-01-13
A Southern Story.

toms Journal some "reminiscences OF
| early life at Aiken, South Carolina,
| now a favorite resort for invaliis nom
! the North during the winter months,
and for tho coast planters in the sum-
mers. Aiken Mt the time referred to
| was the resort Of trappers and frontiers
men, wagoners from the mountain
counties, rough farmers, gamblers, etc,
Once in the fall of 1885,, writes Mr..
H., there came into Aiken an old
trapper and hunter from tho neighbor-
ing State of Georgia, for the purpose
of selling q store of skins and choice
!venison hams, which accompanied by
his sony lie had lnboriousIy carried
thither ina rough springless cart.
Sam Gregory-the old man's name
was known to some persons In the
Village as straightforward, honest,
simple-hea rted Methodist, an individ-
ual of fow words, and as easy, ON most
occasions, to deal with as All unspotled
child. Though seventy years ofiage,
he was as upright rs u pine, tall in
stature, with undiminished muscular
vigor and activity. The son, then
utest particular the very image of his
father, except that he topped the elder
by couple of inches, although old
Gregory was upward of six feet high.
It was t.s,sle-tlay' upon which these
two found themselves mingling with
what, to their woodland eyes, seemed
quite Il crowd, among the shops and
warehouses of Aiken. A merchant.
with whom Gregory had been acc,,s-
toned to treat in the disposition Of
hides and hams, having left the place,
our hunter was compelled to seek c,ls-
tom elsewhere. He went from shop
to shop, exhibiting specimens Of his
stock-in-trade, but luck was against
him; he could obtain no purchasers up
on anything like fair terms.
At length he came to All establish
ment which, supposing it to be gro-
Gerry, he carelessly entered, his SON just
behind him. 1t was not a grocery,
however, but u notorious bar-room,
kept by u fellow who rejoiced in the
nickname OF "Bully Bob" one OF
those desperadoes who infest all new
societies, and are the terror of the vir-
tuous and inoffensive.
! Bully Bob was even worse than his
class in general. Having grown ricl,
in the sale of liquors, he Waxed out
rageously impertincnt, organized
''body-gunrP' of "Mohawks," who
obeyed his slightest nod, and were the
pests of the soberer portion of the COM
munity both night and day. One Of
the buify's rules Gas sternly carried out
as the laws of the Medes and Persians)
was that no man, woman, or child
should enter this bar, no matter how
or when, without being made to drink!
In this unhalfowed place, and in the
presence of the bandy-legged, beetle
browed, broatl-chested, and fiery-nosed
genius of the same, the Gregorys now
stood, looking about them in that lost,
bewiidered way characteristic of the
backwoodsman in town or city, and
the effect of which is half ludicrous,
half pathetic.
"Wcll, stranger" growled Bully Bob,
ssaire ye a-going to stop thar ali day ?
Watts the likker?'
Old Sam explained in his simple, in
nocent way that he had made a mis-
take as to the place, and that "fact
was nuther Jenny" (pointing to his
sony "nor his dad CHATS me, boys)
ever. TUX to liklScr yet, nor ever mean
top
Whcrcupon he turned to the door,
and seemed about to leave. "Nonc of
the counter and locking the door in
stantIy, the key of which he put into
his pocket. "You id old cuss," he
continued, "I'll make yc swiil pint
o. whisky neat, and pay double for it
to bOOtv'
Here was dilemma. Bully Bob
was supported by half dozen of his |
reckless myrfnidons, and to attempt
resistance seemed madness. That did |
not strike the Gregorys, however. |
After recovering from little natural !
surprise at the unexpected position,
the latter demanded their freedom.
''Let us go!' said he. "When you've
done your dooty, and obcycd ORDERS"
replied Bob, who had again taken his
place behind the bar, and was search
ing among his bottles. Sam wheeled
around, but quite deliberately, and
walked toward IL back door that was
open, beckoning Jem to follow. But
three of Bob's "Mohawks" put them
selves coolIy in his way. "No use,
old 'un,' said one Of them, with a
provoking grin.
'tDo you're bd'--
''And you'll niver be chd'-
piped another with an Irish accent,
and the flourish Of huge stick.
Perhaps it was the threat or insult |