Daily Republican., 1885-07-02
On a Raft.

Two hundred miles below vicksburg
there lies, or did, in 1857, . little hamle
upon the western shore Of the Mississippi
known as Rufftown.
The method of spelling the name is malice
aforethought for when the settlement wa.
first christened the raftsmen and steamboat
hands meant rough" but thinner-skin-
Led generation sold provisions, and wood,
aud poor whiskey to tho travelling public
generally in the year 1867 than when the
name was first given, and by their efforts
the photography was modified as I give it
above.
The town consisted of long wood-dock,
vherc steamers occasionally came for fuel, @
fnil half-dozen slab " hotels" where all tho
accommodations to be had we're sold by
tie quart from Jug, two stores, mere traps
for the unwary, score of shrnnken
houses, and away back, almost to the bluff,
= log school-house.
In the year of which write, l was tho
"acher in that log school house, at sala-
ny of seven dollars month and board /;
me latter, in New England style, board
ing round"
think 1 earned my wages. That may
he as it may. Certain it was that when
I4pring came and the term closed, the trus-
tne could have been no better pleased to pay
and discharge me than was at being dis
n!mrged. Had he forgotten to pay Inc,
shoSld have discharged myself. The fact
I~as was disguised with Rufftown and Rud
-own people, and had determined to voyage
10 New Orleans. Consequently the close OF
Isny engagement pleased me better than it,
Continuance.
School 9 finished" as the boys had it,
on Saturday. On Monday 1 had found ;
| lace as raftsman upon great raft, boune
fr the end of the river. From teachin,
line young idea how to shoot had chansec
to teaching logs how to float-from lands
oman had become p sailor.
The crew were one and all strangers t,
ME, tough and brawny lumbermen from tn
np-country. was probably the only greer
hand aboard.
For few days all went well. coul,
Ipush an oar and boil potatoes, so that wa
Fable to fill the duties of steersman or cook
tbnt was young and foolish enough to thinl
,hat my book-knowledge, slight though n
was, placed me above the other men upon
the raft, and I probably showed it. Thu
Iengendered strife.
!, At first, the scorn which grew in nay com
Ipanions' breasts showed Itself in looks ant
.neering words; but as the days and nights
c Ipassed, and smoked ny pipe apart from
the others, and did not join them In theii
1songs and dances after the sun went down
la more open and hottie spirit betrayed it
self, and suddenly was aroused from my
, ldream of superiority oy the return of q
Iblow for some seornfpl word which haC
cast Mt one of the raftsmen. defended
- Imyself as best night, and rather fatte,
myself now, Us BOX back, that gave as
many hard knocks as | received but the
lind blood WAS on now, and my life became
: wretched.
For A time Ineld my own with my oppo
lnents. but Wien the number of my perse
cutors grew as it shortly did, to includ,
every man IN board, from captain down.
lfelt that prudence was the better part OF
yalor ant simply sought to avoid inter
lcour,e o, trouble of amy kind.
"Th, teachers kinder techy, Ell ?" said
Zach nichokon to his companion, as they
leyed me where | sat, at the rear of the
srea raft smoking alone. " He's kinder
Itecby an heightened. Won't speak to nc
ono now What he wants is another good
trnshipg.
These wods were spoken loud enough
for ne to near distinctly, but l gave no
heed
Yes continued Nicholson, "he needs
mare lNin' to make him know his place.
He's 20 niger, the more you lick Fem
- the PIE
as Southern born, and this compari
-, Is was too much for me. Quick as fash,
, J,ized block of wood, hurled it at the
:. eaker, and felled him to the floor of the
aft His companion assisted him to rise
-Lnnd walk away but that night l slept with
my hand within my bosom upo' my knife.
The climax had come; Nicholson would kill
me now if / was not careful.
A. noon the next day, the friend of my
| energy spoke to me after dinner, and called
me one side followed him.
| "You knocked Zach down yesterday"
81 know it," replied.
"He wants satisfaction"
"Then let him get it," said I, turning
away, enraged.
"No, no !" said the other, "don't be a
fool. He's mad clear through. Eff y
won't fight him, he'll strike we in the dark.
Ye must fight"
| | reflected u moment. What this man
aiu Vas doubtless true. Nicholson hated
me and wished to do me an injury. Ny
safest course would be to have it out at
once.
What does lie propose ?" said I.