The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1905-09-29
PEN-PICTUREs OF THE OLDEN TIME
BY COL w I. CLAYTON.

/ was thirteen years old, my ia.
ther moved from the old place
which we first settled and where
7 Eugene Curtis now lives, and set
tied a new place about one and
a half miles from Mooresville,
on the Tupelo and Fulton road,
but then known as the Fulton
add Pontotoc road. It was a new
place, we cutting the first stick
and building the first house on
the land. I remember soon after
my father settled there of fire.
quently seeing Sam and Buck
Owen passing our mousse with
their deer hounds driving for
deer. In fact, until we broke up
the stand by our building the
deer were in the habit of crossing
right where we built our dwelling
house, and for some time there
after the deer would become be-
wildered by running up unex
pectedly upon our premises in
making their old-time passage.
The Owen boys lived with their
father on Mantachie, near where
Ralph Marlin now lives. and |
thus saw them passing on their
horses, followed by their dogs,
having fine horses and mountings
and armed with the then latest
percussion double barrelled guns.
1t was a sight to take boys at
tention, and make him wish for
riches and leisure to do likewise,
and to incline him against the
| life Of plodding toll But many
time since have / realized that
| all is not gold that glistens, nor
the toiler's life all sadness and
gloom; but on the contrary, u
have many times longed for the
sweets and quiet of the farmer
| life in which | was brought up,
and hoped for the time in the flu
ture when | would be able to sit
down beneath the overhanging
shade trees of a rural retreat, lis
ten to the singing birds, cackling
fowls, lowing herds and neigh
ing steeds, and dream only of
love and peace. hope and joy,
while the sands one by one pass
through the hour-glass of time.
/ | begin to think now that it can
never be. Let me, however, say
to those who have their snug lit
tie homes in the country, surroun-
ded by all we miss SO much in
town, do not lightly conclude that
happiness consists in town or
city life, and dispose of your
holdings with the expectation
that a home in town is the pan
acea for every wound.
The first good view l ever had
| of Buck Owen was on the fourth
of July, 1850, when | heard him
deliver an Grafton at the ford Of
| old Bogeufalah, mile east of
Mooresville, at which time we
had a big barbecue and fourth Of
July celebration. The custom in
those olden times was to meet
specially to celebrate the natal
day of our country. and the Dec
laration Of independence was
read and an grafton delivered in
patriotic style, the people gener-
ally feasting on barbecued meats
and other viands and enjoyed
| themselves wonderfully. re-
member Buck Owens appearance
very well that day, and how he
held h IS audience spell bound by
his eloquence. He was a man of
splendid physique, about five
feet ten inches in height, massive
head, well rounded, prominent
forehead, large dark eyes, with
dark beard and his gesticulation
was as near perfect as that Of
any speaker whom | have ever
seen or heard. From the time
he made this speech in 1850 down
to the time Of his death was ac-
quainted with his movements.
In 1853 he was elected to the
lower branch Of our State Legis-
lature, and made a very faithful
and capable member. | remem-
Der even now one question which
was before that legislature and
in which he took a prominent
part, and made a very eloquent