The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-11

""oi ho ictufHcu, lof IL was expected
TINT on his arrival, seeing tho barri
cadc, he would run Off TO get tho
scholars to follow him, and by out,
stripping them to get back first and
capture the citadel. Tho programme
was followed out, Hc camo and saw,
and bctook himself to flight, the larger
boys pursuing. Getting the start hc
made the best time possible in tho
race, being young and fleet. Io
made Il circuit Of about Il mile through
woods and fields, over gullics and
fences, seeking, fox-likc, tho most
difficult ground for tho chase. lie
would soon return to tho house and
demand entrance. We little bows
used our pointed sticks through the
cracks and forced him to attempt IN
entrance on the roof. Our pointed
sticks on little poles were used man-
fully, threatening all tic while to
punch out his eyes, until his pursucrs
appeared. Down he came, and then
the tug Of war. We all simultaneous
ly seized him, put him to the ground,
tied him fast, the larger ones carrying
him to deep hole Of water, he strug-
Cling to loose himself from their grip,
and they shouting over their victory.
Now for the fun Of dipping, which
they did, | think, three times. Then
he capitulatcd on our terms. These
wcr" treat Of one gallon Of peach
brandy and one or two days for holi-
day. Two boys were sent for the
liquor, about Il mile, to the nearest
still-housc. 1t cost fifty cents, l sup
suppose, rs that was tic price maliv
years attrrward. No candy, raisins.
almonds. etc. then tor us. Most of tho
pupils partoOk of the brandy, as well
as the tutor, and u few felt it's effects.
We soon repaired to our respective
abodcs, shouting and singing over our
victory, which VIC repeated to our
parents, elder brothers and sisters
with as much gusto us did, perhaps,
the soldiers after the victory Of New
Orlcans.-A1y fourth teacher, the ven
cradle Jns. Il. Wood, Il naive Of New
berry county, would not submit to n
Turn Out, cautioning his pupils not to
attempt it. lie was then thought the
most competent teacher in Middle or
Upper South Carolina, and as he told
us nearly sclt-taught by teaching. l
was with him again i'm 1921 at Month
cello. lie removed to Columbia in
1928, and taught m Eli mglish school
there until he was eighty years of agc
| IL H1tfx
N. W. Hodges school at Monticello.
lie was a graduate of the South Caro-.
lima College, from Abbevillc. attend
ed to the study of Latin and gcogra-
phy. most OF tho time. None of the
Latin and Greek students had ever
been taught geography, as it is now
taught, or was even then by our tutor.
History and philosophy were not
taught in our school.
l will now quit the school room and
citc some items rs to seasons. The
year 1916 was called tho year without
a summer. In conversation with u
friend, four years my senior, in 1874,
he told me had seen, that year, men in
the wheat harvest field with their win
ter clothing on-Onc with an ovcrcoat.
Then the wheat harvest did not occur
until about the 10th or 10th of June.
| reCollcct it was II remarkably drv
and wc cut down much of
onr corn and fed it to stock, and cured
meat for winter use. The year 1917
was quite rainy in spring and summer,
so much SO that bottom lands yielded
but scant crop. Tho year 1918 was
a dry one i'll summer and but q scant
crop was made. rccollcct my father
realized an abundant yield from his
tnrm in 1919. There were such con-
tinuous rains in the summer of 1917
that the wheat crop was with difficult
ty harvested, and the bread from the
flour produced vomiting. 1t was
called sich9rheut.-I will close for the
present, and send down something moro
in my next.
We have had an abundance Of rain
recently, but vegetation, especially
cotton, shows fine color and appcars
vigorous. The wheat crop is much
injured by frost and hail, and fear
there will be a scanty yield general
~. W. l..