Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-03-16

your recent communication, ana "
say that I am gratified with your CON
tinued expression of tried friendship
is one of those earthly pleasures that
language fails to express. You have
recalled some of our boyhOOd days,
and | note that you ask about some
of the many incidents of the good old
days that you and | figured in to the
displeasure of others. | don't mean
acts that gave us both pain and
pleasure. Neither would | say We
were belligerent characters of a ma
licious nature, but being full of the
vigor of country lads. we were always
in search of some good old brother S
watermelon patch, or soaring the ne
groes with ghost stories and grave
yard talk.
You specially ask me if | recollect
the barbecue at the old Gum springs.
Yes; and | recollect the thrashing I
got the second day after. In fact, if
you will look on your back, you will
find marks as evidence of that event
full day. The prize melons were all
put in the big spring to cool. await
in the free-for-all foot race that was
to take place at 3 o'clock p. m. Old
Jessie had charge of the meat pits,
while the girls and old ladies placed
the bountiful supply of pies and
things on the long table.
At / o'clock the bugle sounded, and
the people lined up in pairs, each boy
with his best girl, and | thought had
the prettiest girl on the ground, all
dressed up in yellow frock, with
blue ribbon round her waist string
of red, white and blue beads around
her neck, band comb in her hair
that hung loose around her shoulders.
Her brother had given her some kind
of sweet smelling drops which
strengthened her attractions, and
would stand on the windy side of her
to enhale the odor. | told her of all
the good things l could think Of, as
l would pose in front of her and grin
to wait her reply, in which she said
was jokin'. Matters got serious with
me, and I felt that it would never do
for me to let the day pass without
her saying "yes."
All the wits had was brought to
bear, and to make matters convinc-
in, told her in all earnestness that
l loved her so we'll that | felt like
could eat her bloodraw. A rival of
mine heard my remarks. and spared
no pains in telling the other girls and
boys. At 3 the call was made for all
the entries to the free-for-all foot
race. The track was laid out in an
old field. and at the poles the big
prize melons were laid across The
track. Back Of each melon stood the
sweetheart of each contestant. Each
boy removed his coat. and Eirdled his
waist with homespun galluses. With
coperas pants rolled half up to the
knee. he "toed the line" in his bare
feet ready to leap at the word go. All
ready, the sound of three shots from
the Judge. instantly the contest be
gan, and was encouraged by the beau
tiful lovers, that waived their rcd
bandannas, with wild cheers to hur
rah. l ran as | never ran before.
About twenty feet from the line, a
big curly headed. freckled-faced boy
began to leave me. and l saw he
pointed for my girl With greater
efforts tried to regain lost ground.
and in minute more he crossed the
line ahead of me and grabbed the
hand Of my best girl. To the victor
belongs the spills. and in this case
lost melon and girl. but the fellow
told me in confidence. a few years
later, in speaking of our experiences,
that he had wished a thousand times
that had ate her.
TO the left Of the judges stand was
a large shady spot of ground all cov-
cred with sawdust. This was the
dancing grounds, and music was fur
nished by three negroes, one played
a tambourine the other fiddle while
the third knocked the bones. to be
assisted by cross-eyed negro boy
that blew the quilts. On either side
was barrel each of cider and per
simmon beer. which we drank out of
in cups hanging by a string. and if
you liked ginger cakes on the side.
they, too. were in abundance. We did
not know anything about the new
fangle ways OF dancing as nowadays
Had boy been caught with his arms
around a girls waist. as is so COM
mon now, he would have been adjudg-
ed guilty Of an assault and battery,
and shot on the spot. No. every fell
low faced his partner, and danced
sho nuf. The sun was just settin'
when the preacher said we would go
into the big log church. and close the
exercises for the day by singin'.
In those days we built what is call
ed stick and dirt chimneys. and just