St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-25

2DAY, SEPTEMBER /:
II my own and native land. Every hill
and rock and valley-every cow paik
and every pig trail Tor miles and miles
around is dear to my eyesight and IA
milious to my way,vard feet. Here is
where l was borned and bred and
b-ung up. and here hope to find = lit
tie patch of earth wherein to lay me
down to sleep when the boot money II
all spent and the naturnl-born horse
trader turns his toes up to the hog weeds
and the daisies. But in the mainline
if nothin else will do but you must give
the names and tell the story Of that
moonlight buggy ride the show il now
out and the monkey II dead. This
country will soon be too crowded like
and hot to retain my manly form and
rugged presence. Then the foxes
would have holes to hide in when the
pack were in full cry. and even the rain
frog could find hollow tree to build
his home and sing his songs in. but An
drew Jackson Lucas-the grandson OF
old man Hiram Lucas-would have mo-
where's to set his foot or rest his head in
peace. Mind you that, Rufus. Think
about the little home over there across
the creek, where git my board and
clothes and have my. washin done
where everything from the baby in his
cradle to the horses in the stables
knows my voice and looks to me for the
wherewithals of life. Remember the
widders and tho orphants, Rufus Re
member, too, that fair female women
are tremendous jealous things. and
don't tell anything for certain about
that moonlight buggy ride"
Now under the general circumfer-
ence of the surroundin circumstances
didn't make NO promise nor pass my
word to Andy as to whether would or
whether wouldn't. I have no earthly
doubts but what you mought maybe
love to hear the news touchin that
onlyest moonlight buggy ride. And don't
you believe but what would love the
best in the world to turn loose and tell
the story. Every time think about
it have got to do one Of three things
bust, or die, or laugh-and l do mortal-
ly hate to 60 out 10 the lot or slip OF
down in the woods paster and do all
the laughin by my lone self.
But for the sake Of the widders and
the orphants-and in remembrance Of
them brighter and better days which
me and Andy have spent together-so
long as life shall last will never write
and tell dadblame thing about that
onlycst moonlight buggy ride.
In Cyclone Streak.
This time last week didn't know .
blessed bit more than. you about
what was goin on over there In that
rugged strip of country which they
call Cyclone Streak. But soon Friday
mornin little Bunk Weatherford rid by
to tell US that they would have big
picnic and public speakin in Cyclone
Streak that day. Nothin must do but
what must go. and SO consequentially
I went with him.
Well, first and last, have lived long
time, been about considerable and seen
a heap Of sights. But that was tho
gonebyest, hottest day, and the blam-
dest. most hottest place have ever
driv into, do believe. White people.
if dirk knives and six-sho0ters don't
grow on the trees in that country I'll
be essentially flimflamed il can tell
where they come from in such alarmin
plenty. And bless the heavens II IT.
don't look to me like you could take
and saw up the rotten logs over there
and squeeze out moonshine whisky by
the gallon.
1t was ruther late when me and Bunk
driv up that day and they had already
opened the performance. But in the
mainline it would seem like they had
got up red-hot disputation.and some
of the delegates had bolted the con-
vention> One half of the crowd want
ed to put up six Of their most ablest
young menAthree to the side-and
debate the great question as to who
discovered America, whilst the other
side wanted to hire a pair Of hddlers
and adopt platform in favor Of q free
and unlimited good time. That was
the snag ON which they first tore the
blanket, and all but tore up the bosom
Of mother earth with q anonymous re-
port in favor of free fight. When we
driv up the fildlers were playin little
patches of some lively old tunes like
"Cotton-Eyed joe" and "Mollie Put
| the Kettle On" and ''Soapsuds Over the
Fence" whilst one-half of the crowd
went on with the dance. Clost by Gus
Harkins had clum into wagon, opened
| the debate and was holdin forth ON the
mainest question: "Who discovered
America - Christopher Columbus or
George Washington"
As time wore ON the dancing waxed
fast and furious, and the speakin
waxed loud and louder. It was then
four bits with one and 50 cents with
the other as to which could kick up the
most fuss-two fiddlers with their 6dr
dies or Gus Harkins with his mouth.
By and by the thing got 30 sulfurioui
hot till somethin had to blaze. The
fire broke loose out in the edge Of the
crowd, and when the dust riz and the
smoke cleared away there was wound
ed-6; dead-0; badly skeered-217.
When Bunk Weatherford come by
that morrin he fetched the news that
they would have dinner ON the ground
But I didn't see no signs Of kitchen
physic. All I could see was people
and empty bottles and six-shooters
Consequentially when I come to think
about it, If I had any business to tend