The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-07
LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.

RALEIGH, n. ", aug, SOCh, 1919.
DEAR WH1G:-The "Old Bay Line"
Steamer transferred her passengers from
the North this morning, and at fifteen min
utes of six o'clock, we left Portsmouth by
the Seaboard e. Roanoake Railroad for this
place. Riding on the rails and riding on a
rail, are terms sounding similar, though
generally with vastly different Specification;
but on most southern roads they seem to
be Synonymous. Perhaps some of your
gentle readers for all readers are gentle
YOU know have been conveyed over por-
tions of these Rail roads, most of which
have but little or no ballast between the
sleepers, and to attempt to be sleeper is
simply preposterous; although greatly in
clned to "nap it," l was obliged to desist
and was compelled to read, and was deep
" interested in the agricultural columns
of "7He Wig" when that inharmonious,
upmusical solo accompaniment inevitable
to railway travelling was commenced, by a
vounrster of about ten months old, who
was in possession of pair of lungs that
would have answered admirably for
blacksmith's bellows, and with all the itsy-
tinsv-wincy- pooty- mammy-b aby-talk, by
the maternal parental, it refused to be
comforted; how much enjoyment can be
obtained by an old bachelor in reading, or
with what gusto he can enjoy his reverle
under these circumstances, will leave for
some of my old cronies in your town who
eniov single, blessedness to determine; the
married ones are not competent judges,
and being accustomed to this kind of chin
music. rather believe they enjoy it more.
especally when they see it annoying some
one else. To allay this storm, my compan-
ion commenced singing with his fine tenor
voice. the following verses, which were
very Gppropos.
A helpless babe, who nursed me then,
And gave me paregoric when
I cried with pain, till well again?
My Mother.
And when the colo vexed me sore,
Wro then at midnight walked the floor,
And in her arms her baby bore?
My Mother.
The following verse he altered to har
monizc with his feelings, and sang it with
| VIM
Who would like it's young body bent
! Across his knee-oh grand event
| And spank it to his heart content.
Myself
! Notwithstanding this lullaby sung in
dulcet tones, the squalling continued, and
we left for the smoking car. Along the
road we see corn, sweet potatoes, and mel.
ors in abundance, and as We approach
! Weldon, few patches of the dethroned
linz cotton. After waiting an hour al
I Weldon we change cars, and take the
4 p,laiob & CASTOR Railroad. The lane
!, through which we now travel is generally
:, Of poor quality, and considerable por
! tons remain uncultivated. Occasionally
I Won pass large planters house, reminding
one forcibly of slavery times, but the great
.r number of residences are nuts inhabited
n .;tber by negroes or "crackers," the latter
a term Abbreviated from corn cracker, ane
applied to the poor whites before the war
these people were called in different por
TONS of the South by the name of ''conchs,
"crackers," and "poor white trash," ane
: are generally dirty, indolent, ignoran
: cot and were held in utter contempt befor'
the war by the lordly slave owner, and als'
nv his black vassal, as the former held then
= nm rs an example of how very degraded ;
wbiteman could become, and such being
the case. the blacks soon learned to lool
rnon him in the same light, and despiset
him for being dependent upon himself fo
s,,nnort. "cos massa did," The huts o
the /" cracker" equal, but are no better thai
his black neigbor, built in many instances
y upon piles driven into the ground for
d foundation, then logs notched and laid ont
RI rnon another, forming square on tin
d niles and the cracks stopped with clay, thu
d roof made out of slabs split from pine, tller
Il cutting down rough boards couple o
Il feet from the ground leaving the space