Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-04-10

IN 1889, Campbel street uas the
western verge ol Asi9asta, . limit q
which il bad advaaeed but q feu
years before,; frpn Jackson street.
Thence to Springda led q large
road. now built - u either side
and forming consin.4tion of Broad
street. This road IS cut across
obliquely BY q deep lily, the bed
Of which was an aIENz@t impossible
bog. which entered &c road about
100 yards besDw flock street on
the north side q nos Broad street.
Il was called Campbell's Gully, from
the name Of the gentleman through
whose possessions and near whose
dwelling il wound its way to the
river. Following the direction oi
Broad street from Springfield west
ward, l,347 yards viii bring you to
Harrisburg. which had nothing to
boast OF over Springfield but a ware
house for the storage of tobacco. then
the staple of Georgia. Continue the
same direction 200 yards, then face
to your right hand, and follow your
nose directly across Savannah river,
and, upon ascending the opposite
bank, you will be in the busiest part
Of Campbellton in 1898. Between
Harrisburg and Springfield, and
1,143 yards from the latter. there
runs a stream which may be perpet-
ual. AT the time just mentioned il
flowed between banks IL or IA feet
high, and was then called, as it still
is, Hawks Gully."f
Now, Mr.. Prafor, like the most
successful politician of the present
day, was on all sides in a doubtful
contest; and, accordingly, he laid oil
his gander-pulling ground on the
nearest suitable unappropriated spot
TO the center point between Spring
field and Harrisburg. This was be-
tween Harrisburg and Hawk 5 Gul-
ly, to the south Of the road, and en-
braced part of the road, bat within
100 yards of Harrisburg.
When 'Satterday of thes presents
munth" rolled round, / determined
to go 10 the gander- pulling. When
l reached the spot, a considerable
number of persons, OF differentages,
sexes, sizes, and compilations had
from the rival towns and
the country around. But few fe-
males were there, however, and
those were from the lowest walks of
life.
A circular path of about 40 yards
diameter had already been laid out;
over which, from two posts about
ten feet apart, stretched a rope,
the middle of which was directly
over the path. The rope hang loose
ly, SO as to allow it, with the weight
OF a gander attached TO it, to vibrate
in an arc of 4 or 5 feet span, aad so
as to bring the breast of the gander
within barely easy reach OF man
of middle stature upon a horse OF
common size.
A hat was now handed to such as
wished to enter the list; and they
threw into 1T 25 cents each. This
sum was the victor's prize.
The devoted gander was now
produced; and Mr.. Prator, having
first tied his feet together with a
strong cord, proceeded to the neck
greasing. Abhorrent as it may be
to all who respect the tenderer re-
lations of life, Mrs. Prator had act
ually prepared a gourd of goose
grease for this very purpose. For
when saw Ned dip his
hands into the grease, and com
mence stroking down the feathers
from breast to head, my thoughts
took a melancholy turn. They
dwelt in sadness upon the many
felicities which had proba-
bly, been shared between the greasess
and the greasee. could see
him as he stood by her side,
through many achilly day and cheer
less night, when she was warming
into life the offspring of their mu-
tual loves, and repelled, with chiv-
alrous spirit, every invasion of the
spot which she had
selected for her incubation. Icould
see him moving with patriarchal dig
nifty by the side of his loved one,
at the head Of a smiling. prattline
group-the rich reward Of their mu,
tual care-to the luxuries of the
meadow or to the recreations of the
pool. And now, alasi an extraci
from the smoking sacrifice of his
bosom friend was desecrated to the
unholy purpose of making his neck
/" a fit object" for cruelty TO reach
her quick, unerring fingers at. :
Ye friends of the sacred tiel Judge
what were my feelings when, in the
midst of these reflections, the voice
of James Prator Numbered on mine
ear, Darn his old lodging soul
Rro4hav. Nad rraaSe his naol. t;u .