The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1873-01-11
MANIFESTATIONS.

civil war when, in accordance with
q promise made to my pet friend,
Fannie Mason, on leaving Madam
Chegaray's, ! visited her charming
Virginia home. Fannie was an only
child, and they lived on a beautiful
estate on the James, the natural at
fractions of which were enhanced
by refined taste and unbounded
wealth. To one accustomed, like
myself, to the prim and quiet neat
ness of New ' England towns, the
want Of method was at n first glance
strikingly apparent. A more inti>
mate acquaintance afterward, how>
ever inclines me to the belief that
nature is more lovely and pictu-
rescue in her neglige than when ar
rayed IN the studied garb Of formal
neatness. Eftl8S .lt .k
The house itself, an old homestead
handed down through generations
father to son, had never been re-
moved to make way for a more im-
posing mansion. twas one Of those
spacious, roomy, wooden buildings
which, in the earlier days Of the
South, formed the homes OF many
of the so-called aristocracy. Across
J the entire front ran broad gallery
Tor piazza,) the. innumsrable slender
columns supporting it completely
hidden by clinging vines Of Ivy. IN
summer the view from this stooI
over the sloping lawns and gardens
With glimpses Of the river sparkling
through the interstices Of the grace
| full branches that overhung its banks
must, indeed, have been exquisite
Even now, when nature took hel
winter sleep, and vegetation seem
ingly lay dormant, it was very beau
tiful. The season had been unusll
ally mild, and many of the tree
were not yet shorn OF their crown
of leaves, while others, like gian
sentiuels, their bare branches assum
ing every weird, fantastic shape
kept their grim watch over the dane
ing current at their base.
There was a landing on the banl
where the boat in its early trip t
the city frequently left visitors an,
took away passengers. With tn
: exception Of the whitewashed hut
Of the negro quarter there was u
human habitation to be seen fo
E miles. Atthe time OF my visit tb
family consisted of Colonel and Mr.
, Mason, Cecile Warner, q cousi
from New Orleans (another Of
school friend,) Fannie and mysel
J. | had been at "Ivy" about a wee
!. when a letter from his father calle
Col. Mason to the city . couple
: days on business, and, ,as we'assure
- her that we could keep house alor
q fol that time, Mrs. Mason accomp,
. MED him. remember, as If it wei
IS Yesterday, the Assnsatiols that ol
j pressed me as we waved . farewe
y, ~ from the landing, Northern Dor
and from village where only Q
RS, occasional specimen Of the ETH
he he plan race penetrated, and none ev
az fingered, / had an underlined fcclir
:. OF mistrust. ifnot Of actual fear.o
IN. IN My heart sank as / thought tn
even the overseer was a colored ma
ay and we three helpless girls we're Il
~ only white persons within airss
= Of elk miles. These were my fl
err feelings with regard to the race; b
.ai / will here state, subsequent obst
y vations fully convinced me that,
kindly affection and unswerving d
votion, tho Southern slaves, wi
En- few exceptions, were above gprai
In the numerous families where
had full opportunities for obseryi
the relation between themselves a
their ovns was really touching
me, from thc 'Childlike devotion
/. the one side to the paternal care
The other But to return to mys
-,es Try: ! kept my fears to myself d,
ing ing the best part Of the day, bat,
.t.. 'rd- afternoon merged into evenil
1sf u could not, refrain from imparti
Of them in confidence to Cecile, y
lred accustomed t. such s1rroundil
l,3 9ii from her infancy, was amused at
the fancied danger. Cecile was a gl,
rice GUS specimen Of creole beauty, v
.,,S ana the sensitive organization ofsrop
a plants. I'M. ". ''l''a .i.... ''.