The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-08-31
For the S~ENTINEL,l

years before: and those dreadful
creeks have been bridged. At St
GATHERINGS creek. Oh Il hot July day,
fifteen years before, on this very
road, going then as now, to visit my
sister, we anH near having il fatal
accident. The roads were terrible
then. We had hired a hack in Nat
caez, and on raarl.ing this creek the
driver stopped, aliyhted. aud examin-
ed the hill leading down to the
waters edge. expressing sotne doubts
as to his being able to drive down
safely. After .an examination, he
thought he could risk it with all of
us (some five or six persons including
children) inside the carriage, but
knowing ''discretion to be the better
part Of valor" we concluded to get
out and walk down to the edge of the
water. The driver started ahead, care
fully guiding his team. On one side
was a wall of earth going upwards,
on the other 4 precipice downward,
with just room fUra vehicle to pass
along. just here the road curved alb
ruPtly, and in making the turn the
carriage passed tao near the edge.
The driver lealed from his seat, and
down over the precipice went horses,
carriage and baggage. The horses
were uninjured but the carriage was
i, perfect wreck. A silver cup tied to
a travelling basket was crushed Hat.
We were thankful, indeed, we had
not attempted to ride down that
place. The driver ruefuliy surveyed
his hack, and then mounted one of
his horses to return to town for HELM.
We We're left in the field to shift for
ourselves. What Il day it was! No
house in sight but Il small negro cab
III, miles from town and the sun so
not. All we could do was to wait uu-
til some one came along to assist us.
After some hours, a gentleman of the
nelghborhOOd passed, with a one
horse carriage. and kindly offered to
carry some Of the party to our des-
tlnatlon ; and then return for the 9TH
ers. SO, after Il nervous drive over Il
very rough road, we finally came to |
the abode we were seeking. 1t was
an experience not to be o o forgot
ten and the later journey Of my
present narrative was delightful, bv
contrast. Now, we drove along
pleasantly aud were moi much
iatlgued when we reached the love-
~ park surrounding the old Spanish
mansion OF 'Saragossa,' the home Of
my sister, and her husbands birth
place. 1t is an irregular house with
floor, and upper story.
small flights of steps here and there.
windows coming down to the floor.
looking out on the ground or stone
walk six Of eight feet below. a very
high gallery without Il railing. and cth-
er eccentricities. How little children 1
were raised in that house without i
themselves, was always a i,
mystery to me; but as "God takes
are OF fools and c%hildren"I suppose q
hey We're providentially protected a
rom the many traps for unwary !
childish feet. The fragile, gentle /
once sole mistress of the place,
Who welcomes us so warmly now, here
cared her four brave, manly bows. of
whom but N remains. Years ago.
Ter husband, so well known in Nat
'hez circles, died, away from wife tt
nd home, while on a business trim "
the river. Then, a promising son a
ust entering manhood, returning p
rom the hunt one day, carelessly Sc
his loaded gun against a pill N
AZ OF the gallery, and a favorite dog IL
Oundlng to meet him, upset the gun 81
its contents were discharged into "
body of the master. Only his VI
lother-his poor, frail mother-to cs
lsh to his assistance, and to bear az
lone this terrible agony, for the 9th be
r sons were absent. Help came soon. yc
ut nothing could save. A few a
ears later, a second son. employed m
round a cotton gin, was caught in ft
he machinery, whirled around by the m
,volvins wheel, and taken out crush ed
| and mangled-dead. The eldest tn
N, leaving home to enter business an
another portion Of the State was W.
ken with fever and died before his
mily could go to him. No wonder OF
us bereaved and afflicted mother is 1t
ervous and feeble, and that her heart al
rms with all its wealth of affection of
one son left, and centers upon him tn.
I'd his interesting family. At Sar- Oft
'ossa we spent three happy days. on
afternoon I was driven eight Tn
lies farther down the country to see LIE
sch0olmate whomI had not
ct for nearly twenty years. 1t was
beautiful, wooded road we took, des- u
ndlng most of the way and rather ~
nelly, with no residences along its W,
urse, though there were one or two ou.
off of the road, hidden by the aa'
rest. We returned late, and it was s
t at all agreeable going up hill in J"
e darkness and avoiding guliies and ~,