The Osceola times., 1881-03-26
Gen. jackson aud His Wife.
Iippincott's Magazine.


ton to listen has recently given us a book
full of memories which he calls cold
Times in Tennessee" But greater treat
than reading it is to hear the author tell
how he saw General jackson scare and
put to flight twenty thousand men," 1t
was on Clover-bottom race-course. The
narrator, than a very small boy, was
stationed on a ceder fence. The betting
was very fierce. Horses and negroes as
well as money were put up, a large
pound being filed with the live stock.
Murmurs arose that it was to be Jockey
race; that Greyhound" one of the fam
Gus racers, had been seen the night be-
fore in a wheat field, and his rider waste
receive $500 to throw him off. In the
height of the excitement General Jack
son appeared, riding gray horse and
carrying long pistol in each hand. !
think they were as long as my arm, with
muzzles that a ground squirrel could en-
ter. lie swore by the eternen he would
shoot the first man who brought his
horse on the track-that the peoples
money should not be stolen in this man
ner. He talked incessantly, while the
spittle rolled from his mouth and the fire
flashed from his eyes. have seen bears
and wolves at bay, but he was the most
ferocious looking animal | have ever
seen. His appearance and manner struck
terror into the hearts of 10000 people.
If they all felt as ! did, every one ex-
pected to be slain"
The end of il was that there was great
rush to the pound to get back the money
staked, and the boy on the fence was
overturned and nearly trampled to death.
But he still lives, possibly the only sur
vivor Of that great crowd. He gives the
most vivid idea of "Old Hickory's" per-
sonalty. When Lafayette visited Nash
vile in 1924, and jackson greeted him
in the public square, approaching the
carriage with peacock stride" the eyes
of all were attracted to their own hero
rather than to their distinguished guest.
\ hundred voices exclaimed, "Just look
at Old Jackson" There was something
in his face, his martial presence, that
enchanted the public gaze whenever he
appeared.
OF course, amid SO much talk of Gen
eral Jackson, the lady to whom he gave
the protection of his name and honor
comes in for her share. Many sly
little anecdote about her has been pre-
served. One lady tells that the last time
her mother saw Mrs. Jackson the latter
remarked, by way Of accounting for a
cold under which she suffered, "The GIN
eral kicked the kiver off last night
One of her negro women came to her
in good deal oftrouble because she had
Just been told that the world was round
and she had always thought it flat!
"Never mind, aunty," said kind Miss
Rachel" don't you be distarbed !
think it is flat myself, and honey"-so
she often called the General-"honey
thinks so too"
But her veriest detractors find nothing
to say against her looks or character.
"She was beastly ignorant" said one fine
old gentleman, "and Jackson married
her, not from love, but from an impulse
Of chirairy, TO fling his protection around
her; but she was perfectly beautiful, and
as fine and good woman ascver lived"
But he did love her. They tell that
the hermitage, which stands rather odd
" Just back of an elevation of the ground,
instead of on its brow, was so placed be-
cause Mrs. jackson walking one after.
noon with the General, stopped Just
there and said Il would be the right place
for the new house, as it was only short
distance from the spring where they
went for water. The General struck the
ground with his staff and said there
should the foundations be laid. And
there they were laid, in spite of expos
tulation.