Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-14
MY FOURTH AMONG THE CREoLEs.
Correspondence of the Alexandria GAZETTE

ST. AMANT, Ascension Parish, La, July 1.
Saturday, the Tooth anniversary of our coun.
try's birth day, and the first year of the
second advent Of our democracy, was spent
BY me among the palmetto groves and cy-
press swamps Of Louisiana. The day was Il
lovely Ole for US all here in Dixie. The tops
Of The tall trees swayed 10 and fro in the
gentle breeze The birds sang in the wild
wood, while buds Of beauty and flowers Of
fragrance perfumed the air. The dew
sparkIed OIL the green grass like jewels in
the crown Of this glorious day. AS the day
advanced the pleasure seekers began to
gather in from the poor piney woods the
palmetto swamps and the cypress hayous.
They came afoot in mule and OK carts ard
on wild colts and fast stock. They came
from the deep tangled cane brakes in the
back woods, where leafy thickness had long
hid from them the light of ages and envcl-
oped their humble woodland homes in The
twilight shades of obscuri!y. There We're
also few of those distinguished gents from
The frontiers of Tcxas-they who delight to
woo the wild broncho, WELD the larriette
and win their way with n pair Of lightning
Colts. Soon the band arrived Playing
"Hal Columbia" Ny readers will remem
Der these were entirely new scenes and
sounds in this secluded und quiet retreat Of
nature, and the scene which followed can
be more easily imagined than described.
The boys who were dancing broke loose
from their partners, The horses broke loose
from the fence, except those that carried
the fence with ther,, then the COWS and
calves went together and the aurkes, dogs
and small boys went in q chase, in which
Al Al. ri.
active part. OF course the ladies screamed,
and The anxious mother, wild with excite
ment, went 10 lock for the babies that were
not lost. The cow boys, who always enjoy
excitement, responded by whooping, throw
ing up their broad sombreroes and yelling
like they were en- tho war.path, An old
darkey, whose kinks were as white as the
cotton he helped to pick during the last
sixty summers, flowed M some thing war
g%ine fer happn' 10 which his Dinah
exclaimed, "Fu' dc Lord sake YOU don't say
so y The old dalksy was wrong in part,
inasmuch rs something aras happening all
the time just then good old Dinab, who
was yet serving IS black mammie, fieW
through the crowd su;i out Of sight, as we
heard her exclaim, "Fo' de Lord sake,
honey, "har dem chHienr When this ex
element was over and the advent Of the
band had qaeted down, all retired TO the
bali room where the sweet country girls
were engaged in q French waltz. They
seemed as fair as flowers and as light as
z.phyrs as they nontod by in circlng coup
lets. They wore dainty white lawns, reveal
ing fair forms Of neck ard arms. One little
daisy with dimp!ed chin was waltzing with
a country beau Now aud then shade of
annoyance crossed her fine, naughty little
face as she missed the step, her eyes were
filled with transparent devotion, while
flush as fair and sweet as that of wild
primrose came and went on her snow white
check. Her head was poised tendery near
the cameo pin in his hosom. At this short
range soft eyes would meet in that tender
wooing way that always wins.
Sweet exhaustion came upon her,
While bound in loves langnd spell,
Which in her mind surpassed
All the dreams that poets tell.
She was young, sweet and fair
As the dewy form of daffodilly,
While he had the woodland air
OF lEsop's toad when it waved the waterlily.
There were no fire crackers, flags, nor
spread eagle speeches, but there were horse
races, baseball matches and games of draw
poker all day Saturday and Sunday, and
money put up on every game. Thus the
Fourth and fifth were spent by the French
Creoles in this part of the land of Dixie.
RAMBLER.