Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-12-12
c0'TIN' IN THE OLD SOUTH.
Squire r1'Bee's Barbecue and the
Stories He Told.

Stories He Told.
always we'll attended by the young folks,
for it is at these gatherings that they learn
much of the peculiar ana interesting GUS
toms OF their forefathers. A notable event
Of this kind occurred In the Piedmont re-
giOn Of South Carolina not long ago when
the clan Of McBee. In respOnce to invita-
ti0ns Issued by Squire Alexander McBee,
met Mt ..McBee's Spring." Everybody In
South Carolina and western North Care
lima knows Squire McBee, and everybody
was interested 10 his family reunion. The
| family used to own all of one OF the most
thriving little cities In the Piedmont Sec
ton, and still owns large part of 1t, and
certainly has done more than his share to-
ward peOpling it.
Squire McI3ee and his cousin, Squire
William Camp, the only surviving grand
sons Of Col. Alias Alexander, who was In
his day prominent in the army of the revO-
luton and king Of the North Carolina
mountains, were the conspicuous figures of
the day. Both have had the title for 50
years, and both remember well how affairs
were going 10 years ago. All the morn
ing the young men and women and their
fathers aud mothers, too sat at the feet Of
squires and listened to their tales about the
way they used to hunt when they were boys
about the old schools they had attended,
| and heard stories of camp meetings., ground
rallies, aud other things that have nearly
passed away.
After awhile sly youth cast a glance at
a young girl, and soon she strolled in the
woods near by. He waited until one more
story was finished, rose to his feet and
stalked after her with a telltale blu h.
The two squiers looked at each other know
ingly, and Squire Camp said to Squire Nc
Bee:
''You know what that means, squire?
The Young ones are cO'tin'."
| 1--WE been nOticin' for some time" re-
piled Squire McBee, ''that he has been to-
tin 'p0ssums to her house, but say, squire,
the young folks nowadays don't know
what real genuine old c0'tin' is, do they?
The way is made too easy fer them"
YOU'RE right there" answered SQUIRE
Camp, they wouldn't know what on
earth to do or say II they had to get IN
their coffin with every member OF the
family sittin' around the ROOM"
Heavens how horrible" exclaimed q
young matrOn, and young woman said,
/
engagement finger:
''What did you mean, grandpa. by say
ing that John was tOtin' 'pOssums to Mary's
house. She wouldn't touch q piece of
| 'pOssum."
At this the two squiers became garrulous,
and Squire Camp explained:
| ''That was an expression that originated
with my father nearly 100 years ago in re-
gard to coffin. and now 1t Is proven bal In
both states. One night he met shy young
fellow, who was never known to 20 near, q
girl, earring a big fat 'possum toa Gel tain
woman house, and he scame home and
told us boys that this man was totln' pos
sums to the girls house. and the saying
has gone the rounds ever since"
well, il counting in the old days was so
much different and SO much more difficult
than now, tell us about it, please" persist
ed the engaged girl, and everyone showed
interest in the answer.
You tell her, Squire McBee, said Squire
Camp. You are more experienced than
am"
No, you tell her. Squire Camp, for you
aud then they slapped each other over the
shoulder several times and laughed great
deal, and exchanged many mods an winks
before Squige Camp began.
well. it's just as told you, co'tin' In
| the old days was no easy task, Everything
was against the young man who had his
eye and heart on certain girl, even to
the architecture at that time. You see
uino-tenths of the houses In the Piedmont
belt I ON half century to 20 years ago
and had only one fireplace. 1t was usually
an immense one, in which huge logs from
four TO ten feet long were burned, and was
always what was called the big rOOm.'
which ment the same then as 8 sitting
room does now. A small bed room was
cut on at the back of this main room an
two or three shed rooms built on to the
sides Of It. These were the better houses.
mind you, and the whole family would as
semble around the fire in this main room
ct night. So you can easily see what q
hard time fellow had 10 make love.
Very little coffin was done ON week
days. OF course ct corn shuckins and
cotton pickin's many matches were made
and love making INDUCED In, and they al
ways took place on week nights but Sun.
day was the crest sparkin' day. The very
first sign that young man ever gave =
young woman which showed her that he
was smttteu with her was to run out of the
| church after service on Sunday morning
and lead her horse around to the block for
her to mount. This was sure symptom
of love. OF course, when he did this she
knew that he would mount his own horse
and ride home with her, provided
another one of her many admirers
didn't mount quicker and take his place at
her side. In this case he had to give up.
1t was a code OF honor among young men
Of that day to let the man who appeared
first have the right Of way. Ii the fellow
was lucky enough to get the girl Of his
choice mounted. and quick enough to
mount his own horse aid ride up by her
side before anyone else got the place. he
went home with her, took dinner and sun
per and often remained over night. That
was pretty rough on the girl IL she didn't
happen to fancy the man, wasn't itP
During all this time the man wouldn't
get moment alone with the girl unless
her mother happened to favor him: II she
did she would first call out her husband
and then the younger children one by one.
leaving the couple to themselves In the hir
room, or she would tell them that She
thought they would find It warmer in the
Kitchen. and II their love was mutual Won
may be sure they would skip out to the