Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-01
Graphic Letter from NOrlh
Mississippi

RoRN LAkE Miss, Sept 18th. 1881.
EDIrOR LED6ER.-To start from
Memphis. about from one to two hours
BY sun, in a n~ine-tenths worn out
wasOn, drawn BY two balky horses,
and travel sixteen miles up aud down
hill, is one Of the most delightful ad-
ventures that we have ever had the
opportunity to perform. Time and
heat and frost and wagon wheels have
worn great gulohes in the sides ofthese
grand old red hills, and frequently, if
John Barleycorn has charge Of the
team, there is a fine chance for a mar
to see how many times he can turn
overgoing into these very steep gullies.
We have a sort of Tam 0'Shanter
neighbor out here who started to
Memphis very early-about two hours
before midnight-and drove his team
about half way and accidentally
stopped at a little grocery store and
purchased say some half dozen bottles
Of whisky for himself and wearied
team and proceeded with much good
resolve on his way. He did not go
far, however, before he unluckily
struck one Of the above mentioned
gullies and proceeded with such
amazing velocity, that when he did
finally strike terra firma, minus wagon
and team, he was perfectly
shocked and did not know
which way he had been going
and unfortunately struck out home,
thinking all the time that he would
soon overtake his lost wagon. When
he came to he was in about two hun
dred yards of his own dear cabin, q
darling spouse. He passed but a few
moments and reflected on the ills Of
life and Numbered on through the
cold and darkness into his own door
way. There was a great log heap fire,
that was very inviting to him indeed,
and he sat down by its laughing,
cracking heat without one word OF
welcome from his better half, and soon
began to get angry at his cold recep-
ton, when the following colloquy OF
rather soliloquy took place: Say.
Susanna, | want something to eat
No response. Il tell you my old pard
| have had unheard Of bad luck, get
uD and give me something to eat
Everything still as death. He arose
from the seat he occupied, refreshed
and equal to the occasion. He laid a
massive hand on an old Irish spade in
use at that hearth as a shovel, and
drove it to the handle into red hot
embers and stroke like a giant to the
bedside Of his love with the spade Of
embers, raised the covering gently and
dashed the embers in. All, hen and
there was mounting in hot haste.
A tempest of WORDS ensued and a
fierce encounter. Susana was a woman,
but a very Amazon to dare and to do.
1t fairly rained chairs, table legs,
crookery and gander feathers.
Affrighted, the timid birds fed their
accustomed perches, with their hearts
so nearly in their threats that they
could only utter broken screams,
Even Madam Inquisitiveness and Mr.,
Knowall, the nearest neighbors, we're
aroused from their slumbers BY the
terrible din Of the conflict, but dared
not 60 to the aid of the resolute belig-
erents. The moon again was up, the
icy moon, and the figures Of Toms
two stalwart brothers-in.l law were dis
tinctly seer advancing upon the scene
Of the very recent conflict. They
scowled terribly, but kept their coun.
sci. They entered the yard, where.
upon they took an inventory of what
was left. They found two bodies re-
clining upon the floor exhausted and
bruised, but still alive. The right
hand Of each Of the said bodies
elinched with a death grip the neck
of an old fashioned monkey headed
bedpost, and besides these two bed.
posts there was nothing left like fur.
niture except q se~yenty-Gve gallon
washpot. The two brothers in-lav
retired repeating, Twas a famous
victory" Il. v. HOLIDAY.