The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-08-10
RANDOM SKETCHES.
AMONG THE HILLS.
For the

1t has been written that che who is
oorn upon the mountain cannot live
content IN the atmosphere of the val
iey.' This is surely not true of all,
Dut t Il reared among the Sever
lasting hills" they possess a charm no
time nor distance can dispel.
Up on the Mississippi Valley rail-
road, $50 miles from New Orleans. lies
what was once a large cotton planta-
ton, with the old Scotch name Loeb
magyar, derived from Lachin Y. Gair or
Loeb Ma Carr in Scotland, made IA
nous by the poets. To this, the home
Of my childhood, my heart has ever
turned with that fond affection for kin
bred and birthplace probably inherited
from some Scotch ancestor, who re-
Sarded his mountain fortress as the
grandest, lovliest spot under heaven.
After 4 separation Of years, u brief
visit to the old home was always anti
cipated with delight. 1t is of my last
visit there l intend to write, which oc-
CURED in the month of June three
Years ago. After a night in the Cres-
cent City We (fOr l had three children
along) took the 8 o'clock train on the
Mississippi Valley road one bright,
warm morning, we'll supplied with
lunch, a satisfactory schedule of the
route and everything necessary for Il
comfortable trip.
Whirling along over the magnificent
track, we passed through fine sugar
plantations aud made brief halts ut
towns and wayside stations, catching
occasional glimpses of the great river
80 near our course. At Baton Rouge
we obtained a view Of many imposing
structures of our Capital City, and
came into close proximity to the Mis-
slsslppi. After this we passed many
new stations and towns Of considerable
size, which have sprung up in the will
derless since the iron horse left his
track through these old pine forests.
Eagerly | watched for the first glimpse
Of the hills on this journey, for when l
caught sight of them l could realize
that was indeed going home. Through
beautiful woods, skirting lofty hills,
across silvery creeks spanned by stout
bridges, we sped. The day advanced.
At Wilson we stopped for dinner. We
did not leave the cal, but | sent out
for a cup Of strong coffee, which was
very invigOla ting, and contemplated
my fellow Passengers and surrounding
objects in this enterprising little place.
AS the hour approached for reaching
HarristOn. where we were to leave the
train, l looked around for familiar
scenes, hoping to recognize some of
the old landmarks of my native county.
But the spirit of change and the icono-
clast, progress, had wiped out some Of
the scenes dear to my childhood, and l
failed to recognize even the portion of
Lochnagar through which the road
passes. AS we came real t o Harriston
1 grew nervou and could not sit still.
So near my old home! So near the
dear ones there.t Would r. be on
hand to meet ,mee You'd the train
stop long enough to get off safely with
children, baggage, baskets, bundles,
etc. l began to attract notice by be-
ing so restless, but was too excited to
be calm. There at last! And K.
ready with carriage and buggy to
transport us over the two or three
miles to our final destination. Over
the road through the fields, now out
on the highway, along the strip Of road
l knew Sc we'll and had travelled SO
many, many times before. And now
comes in sight the roof of the old
homestead. Up to the long veranda
We drive. Here comes to meet us with
tottering steps and outstretched arms,
the honored and aged sire, who has
counted the days aud hours till OuI
coming and the gracious stepmOther,
loveliest and best among women, and
the other dear ones gathered at Loeb.
magyar.
Oh, Lochnagar, in spite of sad
changes, in spite Of times ravages, te
me you were grand and beautiful still
Would l could sketch the place as
saw it one calm afternoon, standing on
a central hill and glancing around il
all directions to the boundary Of vision
Over there to the south, across the
meadow, once stood the negro 'quar'
ters"-neat, comfortable cabins in q
healthy locality, where the colored
families, well cared for by a kind mas
ter, in spare time cultivated their gar
dens, raised poultry, gave their big
"Fourth of July" dinners and lived
peacefully 'sbefore the war;" But one
house remains on the spot, for, after
obtaining their freedom, many Of the
old slaves bought land on the place in
localities to suit them, and have pros.
porous homes Of their own. Some o.
these family servants came to see nj
when they heard of my arrival. One
good, faithful old man asked me fol
"a Christian paper to read" and
gave him one Of my favorite Observers