The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-07-20
RANDOM SKETCHES.
The SciOOlhouse on the Hill
For the

U,pi".eu ih that period of time.
uiaicing back, | can see the little
scnooihouse on one Of the pine-crowned
nils OF Mississippi, where my first ex-
Perieice with teachers and school
books began. There were twelve pu-
plis, ranging in age from six to six
'ceii, anu the sexes We're equally di-
.loeu. they came from the surround
ing neighborhood, some on horseback,
some on foot, and the nearest resi-
dence (save the cabins of some free
negroes) was a mile distant. Our
teacher was Miss Jane NJ. a woman of
massive intellect and scholarly attain
nents, who boarded at my fathers
house and rode IL gentle FLY to the
scene OF her labors every day. Some
times | rode in her lap and sometimes
l was carried to school in the arms of
ii faithful old cOlored woman, being
considered too young and delicate to
walk all the way with the other chill
dren of the family.
At the base of the hill where our
seminary of learning was perched
dwelt IA cOlOred woman. ".Aunt Maria"
set free years before by the master
who had owned the beautiful place
where she lived. This place was now
in ruins. The large brick house had
been torn down, the ornamental
grounds neglected and grass and weeds
grew rank where lovely flowers had
~blossomed. Only two or three cabins
stood around, occupied by negroes
set free long before. Surrounding the
schoolhouse was our playground,
where we made rustic bowers in the
cool woods and lode on saplings bent
SO as to incline down the hill : and
glorious rides they were, too. although
the only motion WAS up and down, aud
an occasional tumble might send the
lnckless rider rolling down the hill.
Our playhOuses' we're constructed OF
limbs OF trees and bushes. several pu-
pills owning booth and here we
sometimes gave dinners to which the
scholars and teacher were invited. On
such occasions we borrowed tables
and dishes from "Aunt Maria," who
would sometimes cook n chicken to
add to the feast. The rest of the din
ner was brought from the homes of
those who gave it, and was usually IL
generous %"spread," which was heartily
enjoyed by all. The teacher would
honor MS with her presence and say
grace to Our meal. ~ ESs4&*E
Great was our Indignation when one
morning arriving ut school we found
laborers engaged in cutting down tln.
trees of our playground to enlarge
the cotton field. Of course they had
4 spared us some trees, but our 'houses''
i and our sapling horses We're gone. A
cold, sparkling spring furnished us
with water, aud it WAS the, duty OF the
boys to take turns in filing the bucket
for drinking purposes. .
Our school here vas not kept up
very iong-vnly one term, | believe
why, | do not now remember. But
shortly, after leaving it Our teacher
went to China as a missionary. On
+ her way to that country she met 4 gen
tleman--a now eminent physician Of
i. C~anton-who was so much pleased
} with her that he proposed, was accept
, ed. and in three weeks they were mar.
| ried. Many years she labored among
the Chinese, returning for occasional
visits tt America, and a few years agt
she came back to die, sincerely regret
! ted by family, friends and the people
J of that far Oft land among wllola sllt
t had dwelt so long.
$ Among the scholars was Rosa, thu
, sweet lame girl who married and be
. came mother and widow, dying sud
S denly with ii ~congestiyc chill, ava,
Q from her loved ones. Her sister, An
e nettc, is IL prosperous matron OF Mis-
sissippi. Madison, honest, good DO!
: fell IL victim in the civil war so di'
Orborne. whose obituary was my frs
r published effort. Jane and Prosper
e brother and sister, both married an
are living not far from the scene
have beer describing. Hugh and Sa.
were the red headed. boys, VIII" ar
Il both sleeping the last, long sleep
Poor Hugh. He was thrown from
buggy aud fatally injured at the az
of torty-iust before he was to be MAI
ried. Sans fate WAS still saddel
MARRYING youn. a handsome, capri
waiting. Intelligent but unworthy sir
!, his lite was made unhappy and sh
tinallvy deserted him. He died (
s swami, fever. 1T flle home of a rel;ttiv
0 II few years later. Harrison, the III
q dent, impulsive boy, with his cluster
d ing auburn rinylets. His story, 5
e sad and strange. would i'll! IA volunl
s. of romance. He rests to-day i'll
lonely graveyard, aud over his bod
would Iinscribc the epitapli Oh til
le first tomb OF John Howard Payne
m s.Thcn, poor heart, rest i'll peace
10 ~ a.. I ,uN