Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-25
Some Reflections of an Old Man.

That these numbers may not become
monotonous.l let us leave off theorizing
and indulge awhile in "reminiscences.
In the long-ago, then, this writer was
Kentucky boy; and he sometimes
answered to the name of "Toe-head,"
because he wore flaxen hair; and some
times "Bonaparte," because he was
named for Napoleon's brother. And
he was also called a good boy because
his mother and sisters, and some other
girls, loved him; and not unfrequently
be got the name of being bad boy,
for mischievous practices; few times
going so far as to steal watermelons
out of neighbor's patch. The last
good licking remember to have got
from my father was for that very
thing. Apropos: Long after that
was attending what was called a green
corn festival among the Kickapoos in
the Indian Territory; OH which occas-
ions it was the custom for the Chiefs
and Braves to make long-winded
speeches for the entertainment of the
crowd. Chief Posh-a-chee, in his talk,
among other self lauiatory remarks,
said "he was an honest man; and had
never been guilty of theft in his life"
L0unging on the prairie grass near
where he stood, I responded, "Posh-a.
chez, you are a better man than /
am" "IVh-a-t?" said the chief; "did
you ever steal apyting?" replied, (se-
riously) "Yes." "What! You come
out here to teach religion to us Irdia 8,
and confess yourself 10 he thief! And
what did you steal?' Answer, "Wat-
ermelons." To which, with hearty
laugh that went the round of all pres
ent, both men and women, Posh-a.chee
replied, 80, I've done the like "many
a time; that's no theft" But remem-
bering how my father had impressed
me on that item of morals had TO dis
sent from the chiefs code, and own up
that had committed sin in that mat
ter.
My parents. hke most heads of fami-
lies in our neighbornood, raised their
children religiously. The morning and
evening family worship, which con-
sisted of reading the scriptures, sing
ing and prayer, came as regular as our
meals: and often father 1--WE called him
"Dada'D would enlarge upon the Bible
lesson for our instruction. This was
good for us, though sometimes taxing
our patience. was not always a very
devout participant i'm the praying, I
we'll remember: for at the night pray
ers, especially, 1 generally lay on my
breast across a split-bottom chair and
took good nap. But took care to be
always wide awake when the amen"
was pronounced. The house servants
as well as some from the "ca bin" were
always participants in these domestic
1 owe much, religiously, to the godIy |
and pious advice of a female |
servant of our family, now in heaven.
In this connection might as well
say, was licensed to exhort in the
Church when 1 was only a
little over seventeen years old, and
work by holding meetings
IN the old log schoolhouse of the neigh
borhood for the religious benefit of the
negroes belonging to my father and
others: and Daniel, who had been my
nurse in babyhood, was my helper.
Those were good meetings for me aud
or them. This same Daniel, poor old
elbow, took terrible scare when Gen.
Price made his raid on Arcadia Va.
ey in 1864, anf with his wife, Phyllis,
Who had been the property Of my wife,
eft for st. Louis, and afterwards went
o Illinois. / often feel DESTROYS to know
low they Lave Jared.
That same log schoolhouse was my
Alma Mater" and sent out several
reachers beside this scribbler.
The "Co.rse of Study" in that in.
.itution was not very extensive. Yet
think / may safely say its "ai~mni"
ave acted their part in the world
bout as well as the generality of those
rho receive their Diplomas from
chools of much higher pretensions.
lay man of thirty years. experience
n the interests of Higher Education"
peak on this subject? Then I will say ,
hat, at the most. one in every fifty of 2
he sons and daughters OF our country
you'd be the better for Collegiats
ducation; but the remaining forty-l