The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-09-05
AN OLD-TIME DINNER.


AN OLD-TlME DINNER.
WRITTEN FOR BossIER BANNER F. R.. cALLAwAY /
During the year 1868 the writer lived at
Cotton Valley, then in ward two, Bossier
Parish, but since 1871 in Webster Parish.
He had one year prior to this time married
the only daughter of R. R. Roby, who died
in 1857. At the time of his death he owned
about half of the land on which the town
of Cotton Valley is now situated. E. w.
Hodges, ST., owned the other half. In
September of that year Maj. Lowe Bryan
came from Georgia to visit his two sons,
William B. and Lit Bryan, near Cotton
Valley. My wife received notice from her
very dear friend, Mrs. Manerva Bryan,
that she would come on the next day and
take dinner with her, bringing all Of the
family, namely, W, 3. and Lit Bryan, in
GLIDING Maj. Bryan, Mary and Sidney, on
his pony, Pompey.
This produced quite an excitement with
US, there being only three in the family
my wife, her half brother, John Roby, and
myself, with about 100 freedmen on the
place. With great fear of failure to do the
occasion justice, my wife agreed to make
a success of the dinner, il would help
her. This was agreed to, if she would take
the responsibility and give all orders. |
was ordered to go hunting and fishing.
Three of the negro women on the place
were to gather vegetables from our fine
garden. At sunrise the next morning
was at Bodcau Bayou with my gun and
fishing tackle, and soon caught about
thirty trout and white perch. then started
for home. In passing through the swamp
my hounds flushed fine flock OF wild
turkeys. killed very large gobbler and
one about three months old. On went,
greatly elated with my success, when l
met Crawford Hodges going fishing. After
much persuasion, he agreed to accept my
invitation to go home with me and take
dinner; provided, would let him go in
front and take stand and try to get a
deer for our big dinner, On he went.
Heavy laden with game, passed little
to the left. The hounds soon jumped a
deer, driving it in the direction of Hodges.
Bang went his gun, and then the meat
horn sounded. When got to him | found
him with sleeves rolled up, preparing a
nice deer to carry on his horse to my home.
We arrived there in time to be put to work
helping to prepare for the dinner. In a
short time Jonathan j. Davis, sr., rode
up and then the organs came pretty soon.
Later Col. R. w. Turner arrived. He was
interested with me in running this big farm.
| George Gadson, one OF my colored
hands, came in due time with eighteen
cartridges that he had caught in trap.
This was his contribution to 'sMiss Puss's y
big dinner.
now propose to give a correct menu OF
this bountiful dinner; Vegetables of all
varieties; one twelve pound ham, boiled
whole; wild turkey, baked and fried; fish
baked and fried; chicken, baked and fried
fried cartridges; eggs, boiled and fried
oyster soup.
Soup was served, and we had all started
to eat Mr.. Davis took one mouthful
thinking the soup was made Of beef and
not Of canned oysters. He grew red If
the face, and turning to Col. Turner, he
said, 81 thought this was made of beef
but believe it is made of oysters. never
ate an oyster in my life, and never intene
to do so.'' This produced hearty laugh
from Col. Turner and Maj. Bryan, which
we all greatly enjoyed.
We all ate heartily and with but little
restraint, closing with a desert of apple
dumplings, boiled and baked, served Will
butter sauce and cool sweet milk. Col
Turner then arose with a glass of spring
water in his hand and said: "Here is Il
our young friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Galloway
They are both from Georgia, and wei
know how to dispense true Southern hos
pitality. May they live long and prosper.
Many of your readers may think thi
little story is simple. No doubt they woult
enjoy such dinner now, which woult
cost several dollars.