National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-27
THE WAY TO NEAL MUNN,s.
Directions Brief but Accurate, by
Scotchmou.

town OF fernando, in the state Of Missis-
sippi. IIo was scotchman, advanced in
years and provorbial for his honesty
Of purpose and intent. He was 50 oxact,
precise, and particular that it was said of
him that he had his measure taken and
his umbrella made to order. Yet he was
passionately fond of good joke, though
1t should turn out to DO little practical.
He was twice elected justice of the peace,
had nice Office and beautiful sign,
and felt very justly proud of his official
position. A few days after his second
installa tion into office he had adjourned
court after an arduous days labor, and
tho sun was about setting, and the justice
was locking his office door to leave for the
day, whom o stranger rode up on horse
back and tho following colloquy oc-
Cured:
Stranger. Do you know man in this
county by the name of Neal Munn2
White. Well, stranger, you have struck
the right man this time. II there is q
man In the county who knows Neal
Mum, and knows him we'll, L am that
man. l have known him for tho last six
teen years. He Is from Carroll county,
Tenn, and as nice man as ever left that
good old state. l have stopped at his
house frequently; ho Is my good friend
in fact, he voted for me in my election,
though opposed to me in politics. You
see, am Justice of the peace here. This
is my office (pointing to it). You see my
new sign.
Stranger. Can you direct mo and lot me
go? 1t is getting late. How far Is IL?
White. oh yes but you can't 60 thero
tonight, and was going to suggest that
you 20 over to the tavern Il will intro
duce YOU and stay all night with my old
friend, Reuben Branch. 1t is tho only
tavern In town, and he is an old friend of
mine. and an excellent old gentleman,
though not very handsome. Io has kept
that house since my earliest recollection
of this town. He voted for mo in my
election. As said, am justice of the
peace-elected the second time. You SEQ
we are entitled to two justices, besides
the mayor, who Is justice er-O0icio, and |
believe could have been elected mayor
If had only known my own strength, but
/ am whig, and the district is largely
democratic, and relied upon my personal
friends, and l presume that Is about the
best after all. And, by the way, the
mayor is elected every year, aud l will
have another chance If L live, and you
must SEQ from my personal appearance
| that am very well preserved.
Stranger. That is all we'll enough, but
must go il you will BIO kind enough to
direct me 1t is late.
White. Yes; 1 was going to say
If there is man In the county who
knows tho way to Neal NUNS, l
am the man, and if you will go-pointing
to corner storo-you see that sign? 1t
is Dockory Brothers, and as good men as
| nxyAR utA hah nd nN
friends of mine; voted for me- in my
election. DR.. Dockery is of the same
family; whig in politics, and a brother
of Gen. Dockery, of North Carolina; in
fact, they are all from that state. and as
clever men as ever emigrated.
Stranger. Well, / hope SO; but l can't
stop there, must 60 on to Neal NUNS
| White. Certainly; you will pass that
corner and turn to your left and go about
half mile, aud on your left you will SEQ
the cemetery. 1t is the Methodist GENE.
terry. The Baptist cemetery is in the
other part of town; you have passed it.
You might not SOC ii, as it is getting late,
but it 10 there, and the Methodist bury
| preacher.
Stranger. But I don't want to stop
there.
White. No, presume not ut your time
of life. You will pass that. as you don't
want to stop, and go down to the forks Of
tho road. If you take the left it will lead
you down into the Jones' neighborhood,
and IL you find yourself of your road las
youwould), and want to stay all night
they will take good care of you and send
you off early in the morning. They arc
from Alabama, think from about Hunts
vile. i know one of them married there.
q, - al
are not gregarious. But that is not your
road. merely speak of IL that you may
know II you should go wrong.
Stranger. Then should take the right
White. o, yes If you miss it in the
first instance, return and take 1t without
delay, as it is getting late. That will
carry you to very large plantation.
Gen. Robertson resides there, and that Is
about rs far as you can go tonight, and
no will be glad to see you, If you will
give him my name David White, j. p.);
he knows mo. He is very wealthy and
loves good company. l frequently go
down and spend hours with him. The gen
eral is man of leisure and desires u little
innocent joy. Let me tell you what have
known him to do. lie would come up here
in his buggy and spend whole day play
ing euchre with my friend Edward Dyer,
merely for amusement. He never gam
bles. He is from Boliver. Hardaman
county, Tenn, and was sheriff of that
county nearly twenty years, and l pro-
sumo he made money. know he brought
money here with him many years ago.
Stranger. Does Neal Mum live there
White. No, indeed; you have not yet
crossed Hurricane creek. Are you from
Carroll county, Tenn.
Stranger (impatiently). Yes. sir, am;
and 80 was Neal Mum, and want to sec
him tonight.
White. Well, there are great many
good people here from old Carroli-the
Perrys, Morgans, Pinkleys, Flewellews,
Jannisons Harrises, Wallaces, Holmes,
Henrys, and others; you ought to sec
them, they are good citizens.
Stranger. / would be pleased to SEQ
them, but must see Neal Mum. What
about that creek? 1t has an ugly name,
but must go.
White. Well, if you will go, that is
nearly mile from Gen. Robertson's, and
you will know that creek when you
come to it, because that is tho only creek
that crosses your road and you must
ford it; the bridge is gone. 1t was carried
away by the high waters. 1t cost the
county about $4,000, but it is not high
now. little rough, as its name would in
dictate, but not swollen. But have seen
it up. Last fall whom was q candidate
Judge Vance and / crossed that creek in
his buggy. Ilo was candidate for pro-
bate Judge, aud elected, too, but II was "a
hard contest. Both of the candidates
wero very popular. He beat Judge Nor.
gan by only IS votes in tho county. lie
is from kentucky, u good lawyer, and a
leading member of the Methodist church.
In fact, he aud my friends, Levin Wheeler
and Dick Browning, are the pillars of
that church. am u Presbyterian with
a twinkle of tho eye); that is one of the
Scottish eccontricities.
Stranger. That Is all well enough, but
/ must cross that creek and find Neal
Mum.
White. o, yes; but, as l was saying, we