Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18

a Texas Family Refuge In Ark.n... An an.
Day. nj isss

Texas Family Refuge In Arkanss~ An the
Day. nj isss.
From the psn.. News
A short time since met Gen. John NJ Cl.i-
borne over in an east Texas town. Ia Nm. .
cold and rainy sunday night just before Christ
mas, aud group OF US wore having a most So
ciaSle time around The comfortable stove In
the COW Office % the village hotel I have
often noticed that just such surrounding o.
these are most favorable for the discussion q
ones wines and beverages. Ii seems that hot
stove somehow OF other suggests hot smoking
dishes. aromatic coffee, Tom and Jerry and
other internal comforts On this particular
occasion the conversation drifted into the
homely but intensely interesting channel %
hot baked possum. with rich gravy and
sweet potato accomplishments
nen- Claiborne. we all soon found was not
only an enthusiastic lover Of this popular south
erh diHh. but also an adept at cooking the
smiing little quadruped OF the persimmon
groves. In order 60 properly impress upon his
small but attentive audience the almost indie
scriShie delicacy and toothsomeness OF a prom
eriycooked pOs-um the general related the
life.
I'm lslS. while Texas was a republie ard ,us,
before the war with Mexico. we lived in the ola
town oi Mena. nov called RAstrop The al
cside then In Office was sam Nolfenbarcer Who
advised general retugeeing Of the women
ehildren and negro slaves to the east in order
To escape the threatened invasion OF Gen Vol
or the Mexican army. who was then advancing
on ran Antonio. Mols advance was cut short
by Gen. Zachary Taylor. however. but no., Of
the families Of our locality had gone cast before
the result was known. NY father. like almost
mother with her three children and eighty
negroes refugeed 10 Blackfish lake. near the
NJ francis river, an Arkansas. where we struck
camp lbe reason We ven; 80 far rss, uas he
cause we could not souuer find any work 20 en-
ploy the negro men at Here mother got 9
contract for cutting cord wood for 50 cents .
cord She had 20 manage things herself as l.
the eldest child. only six IL was hig
undertaking FOR q little delicate woman Ike NV
mother, but she managed her affairs with re-
nisrkAoie success considering the obstacles and
difficulties she had 60 encounter
Fortunately for us the country .rou,a
Blacknsh lake was full Of Wild grares and tat
rossums, and the fields in the river bottorn
were full Of the biggest. finest pumpkins I ever
saw. and the generous farmers gave rs all We
wanted. me sweet potato crop very line
also. and We lived chesply but most luNuriou.ly
on grated corn (Which makes the most delicion.
Dread one ever ate. fat 'possum. fish in abuna-
ance, baked sweet potatoes and pumpkin Pie
lhis was our bill Of fare. and most highly did
We enjoy 1t. too. Every one of got a. fat a.
f'hr 'hN eNdN RI less IMAM two months
on Blackhsh lake. Mother. who WAS nursing a
babe. weighed only lis pounds whom We left
home on the 81 day II June hut she weighed
l56 when We left there in August. She could
eat heartily OF the fattest sort Of 'possum aud
never feel symptom Of indigestion. The
little negroes were so fat that their faces fairly
glistened in the bright summer SUM- and ali the
darkies were absolutely happy
winnie We were here We learned something
new new new to us, at least) in the culinary art.
We learned how 20 cook 'possum to perfeo-
ton. No French cook could beat Us ON 'pos-
sum. IL you ever have occasion 20 cook A nos
sum do il this way
''Scald and scrhpe the hair of and clean in
the ordinary way. Fill the carcass with small
or sliced-up sweet potatoes and sew up with a
few stitches of Irvine or coarse thread. Scoop
out hole in the ground large enough 90 hold
your possum, wrap him well in green corn
shucks, or, II they cannot be had, old shucks
thoroughly wetted will do Cover with one
and half 20 two inches Of dirt. build a good
wood fire on him and let the fire burn down
to Goals. In half hour your 'possum, together
with the sweet potatoes, will be done IL Is .
good plan TO cook possum this way a,
night and let IL remain in the ground until
next morning, when you can serve Il for break
fast When cooked in this manner the flesh 10
50 tender that il Just drops from the bone ike
thoroughly stewed spring chicken All the
flne aroma of the meat Is retained which. with
the delicate flavor impaired by the sweet pota-
toes. makes a dish that is absolutely delicious
while IN arkansas we also cooked a great many
iish in this way. Indeed, 10 il the best way
that have ever found 10 cook fish, flesh or
fowl The cowboys often roast a calls head in
this manner when out In camp. wrapping IL up
In wet gunny sack instead Of corn shucks
Heavy brown paper thoroughly wet answers
the purpose OF wrapping first rate.
AS roasted possum was principle arti-
Gle Of food while we were csmped in blackf.h
lake mother always spoke of our journey there
as the possum retreat"