The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-20
Visiting "Vamints from the Wilderness
on Tour of Inspection.
"POR TO DIE LIKE LATRUS DIED."
Selections Of Negro Melodies Arranged for Several Voices
BY "Druidsr" Jake Byrl



Upper Sink OF the Pinhook River, and
determined to forego originality aud " mere
establish our temporary sbodes Tho negroes
were set at work the morning after our arrival in
telling pines hauling loads Of the great palmetto
fans The nrst edince reared was quarter for the
servants II constructed in this fashion:-Poles
nailed together to form the frame for slantng.
sided roof. which reached nearly to tho ground.
Smaller poles then fastened raers with ten
dons Of palmetto nbre, and to these again the broad
glossy fans tied with strips OF their own tissue
They were placed in rows, the higher ones overlap
ping the lower and thus they formed dense and i'm.
pervious roof almost good the best shingles that
architect could choose for palace. The walls wero
constructed OF the same material The negroes built
very merrily and they abored they would break
into songs, composed of stanzas like the following
Sister Martha, when your foot strikes Zion,
De lamps all lit up IN dc view,
Want 10 bid old he'll
A long farewell
Wild de lamps all lit up in de view.
mourn, children, mourn,
For low IL de way;
An de way to git to Zion Is
BY faith and humble prayer
This edi6ce was finished two hours and ten min.
utes and was declared by "Aunt' Hannah ''amost
too good place Tor darke folk" Considering that
the previous night they had ali mad refuge from
The rain except the wagon bodies under which they
enjoyed such near intimacy with the elements was
not astonisned the exclamation which
she uttered
NOVEL HOUSES
The next enterprise was the erection of houses for
eide quality that is myself and the eng and
ladies' The sent BRING logs OF hard
yellow pine which had been These speedily
notched and joined together in the true fashion OF he
pioneer, so to form substantial though rude walls
and these the stretched. PIC
ture q house thus formed and it will IN
doubleday strike you both cheap aud comfortable.
II thus that the army OF the Revolution at
Valley Forge made themselves city; and we felt an
exallation In following such heroic precedent SO
much so that we discussed the qualities OF Washington
and Stonewall Jackson as chiettains, and compared
their prayeru traits; whether the latter General had
not always IN his minds eye the image of the Father
Of his Country he knelt in the by the way
in the wniry woods of Pennsylvania.
The gable OF the building matched with pal
metto leaves, in the manner the roof OF the
servants quarters, and the pednent looked pic
turesqre with rich green fringe OF that giant foliage
Walls thus constructed afford constant ventilation
through the minute but thousand OF such
in,ricaq OF leaves The end OF tho house which
to- face the fire was but half closed,
SO that the glow from the hearts OF the
long-h pines could always enter and I'LL
the interior with the beauty OF light and warmth.
The chinks between the logs were crowded with Span
sh moss A bedstcad, as rude and primitive as tho
house ITSELF was made of two logs, supporting thin
Stats Of yellow PINE which had much of the springy
quality could have been impaired to couch by a
modern uphoIserer. mattress and white linen and
warm blankets mads this inviting corner
could desire in which to 'lie down to pleasant
dreams"
The house was not complete without q floor, and
palmetto fans also used to form this at the
time constituting cool and dry mating. Joe Dallas,
one OF the muattoes, constructed several shelves with
no other tools than hatchot and froe. mosquito
netting suspended the couch by rope fast.
ened 70 the raiters, and thus finished an ediace
which rivals, ween, the famous blouse that Jack
Bulltn
PAVILION.
dining hall constructed Of pine poles and
matched and walled with the ever useful palmetto
leaf II was dubbed The Pavilion " and at night the
principal fire Of the camp built Immediately before
Its open 'front.' beautiful wide board OF the OF
the pride Of India supported posts which sunk
in the ground the banqueting table, where stag
and doe and duck and wild turkey to receive
iall their Evolutionary rites OF worship.
PRowLISG "vARMISrs."
when the contrast Of its bright precincts with sug
gesiive shadows of the deep surrounding Forest in
fuses into the heart mingled sense Of comfort and
security Let IL not be supposed, however, that no
Nocturnal prowlers approach 1t, that they do not
long to feast upon the invaders OF their sacred soil
tude. No sooner Is the twilight spent when the car
OF Dan has not yet come in view, than the stealhy
pace and restless breath OF and fall
npon the OF the acute listener; and let him step
Into the shade OF yonder robust pine and look steadily
II the black tapestry Of night, and he will soon see
aerce, wicked eyes glaring out Of It's iods and per
chance, only quick withdrawal will save him from
The concentrated spring Of one OF DEATHS messengers
Alter we retire to rest. with orders to bench
TO pie the logs the lire intervals till dawn SO as
10 keep tho varmnts" at safe distance they may be
heard stealing away through the rustng pamettos and
giving vent to their uncarhy OF
SPIRITS OF THE DEAD
These are far from being all OF the pests OF the night
however. The iair face OF Cynthia has palcd tho
glamour Of the stars, toward the ''wee sma hours
when tho wind bears bithcr from the far depths Of
the woods the mournln aud weird haoo-"to whit
io-whoo-oo towhit, towhoo.o o I" followed BY pro.
onged aud hideous screech, 10 which the English
vowcls can give no adequate expression. II would
seem that the spirits Of the remorseul dead were
embodied In the creatures that give forth such un.
earthly voices, us they
revisit thus the giimpses OF the moon
Making night hideous.
II Is difficult to think On a more cheerful subject
than Gray's revery among the tombs, while
The mopng owl to the moon complain
MELODY.
The unconventional atmosphere OF the camp iempts
us often TO prolonged watches in the merry ackering
Of the blazing logs The negroes prone the same
Indulgence Of revcry and lazy content Al such a
lime their melodies TO their lips in their foil
richness and IL Is impossible not 10 feel their spell OF
pathos and faith Much has been written about them