The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-27
C0'TIN' IN THE OLD SOUTH
SQUIRE M'BEE'S BdRBECJE AND
THE STORIES mr. TOLD.
Difficulties the Young Men Encountered in
Making Love-rIrst symptoms of Tender
ness and How They Were Developed

A Southern barbecue nowadays is al
most always well attended by the young
folks, for il is at these gatherings that
they learn much Of the peculiar and IN
tercsting customs of their fOrefathers.
\ notable event of this kind occurred
jn the Piedmont region of South Carolina
not long ago when the clan of McBee,
in response TO invitations issued by
Squire Alexander McBee met az "Mcl3ees
Spring" Everybody In South Carolina
and western North Carolina knows
Squire McBee, and everybody was inter-
ested in his family reunion. The family
used to own all of one of the most thriV-
ing little cities IN the Piedmont section,
and SIN owns large part OF IT, and GER
tainly has done more than its share TO-
ward peopling IT,
Squire McBee and his cousin. Squire
William Camp. the only surviving grand
sons Of Col. Elias Alexander, VINO was
in his day prominent in the army or the
Revolution and king Of the North Caro-
lima mountains, were the conspicuous
figures OF the day. Both have had the
title of Squire for fifty years, and both
remember we'll how affairs were going
seventy years ago. All the morning the
Young men and women and their fathers
and mothers, too, sat at the feet OF the
Sauires 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 and other things
that have nearly passed away.
After "A while sly youth cast glance
n; a young girl. and soon she stroied
into the woods near by. lie waited unui
one more story was finished, rose 70 ms
feet and stalked after her with tell
tale blush. The two Squires looked at
each other knowingly, and Squire camp
said 10 Squire McBee;
you know what that means, Squire!
uhe Young ones are co'un'-'
"G,ye been noticin' for some time,
replied Squire McBee. that he has been
.otin, ,possums to her house. but say.
SnIre the Young folks nowadays don't
low what real genuine old coffin Is, do
thevg The way IS made too easy for
them"
You're right there" answered Squire
Camp. "they wouldn't know what on
Garth 10 do or say II they had 10 get IN
their cO'tin' with every member or the
family sittin' around the room.
"Heavens. how horrible" exclaimed n
,o,-ng rnatron. and a young woman said.
with loving glance al inc ViiO'e' ." nei
engagement finger:
..Wbat did YOU mean, grandpa, by say
5,., that John was totin 'possums 20
Mans house? she wouldn't touch a
piece Of 'possum
Al This the two Squires became garru-
lous. and Squire Camp explained;
THAT was an expression that originated
with my father nearly hundred years
ago In regard 20 co'tin' and now u Is
rrov.rblal I'm both States. one night IN
NET a sbv young fellow. who was never
Known 10 20 near a girl. carrying big
fat 'possum TO a certain young woman
b,,t,se and he came home and toid us
hovs that this man was totsn 'possums
"a this girls house, and the saying mas
conc the rounds ever since"
..Well. II counting in the old days was
.o different and so much more difiicul'
man now. tell us about 1t. please per
sisted the engaged girl, and every one
.howed interest I'm the answer.
lyon tell her. Squire McBee, sald
e,,irs camp. "You are more experienced
than | am ., r,.,. ,or
,ou always were great haho LOT inc
,sates ;, and then they slapped each other
over the shoulders several tunes ana
laughed a great deal. and exchanged
,asnv nods and wInks before Squire Camp
began. "a ,,o,, co,,,p,
well. It's just as told YOU GO TN
,n the old DAYS was no easy task Every
thing seemed 10 be against the youns
man who had his eye and heart on z ,eI.
tain girl. even TO the architecture o' '""'