The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-12-21
WITH AUNT BECKY.

mas Olden Time Hog-Kill-
ings and Some Experiences at
Them Bloody Fight Between
Croatan Girls.
Correspondence of The Robcsonian.
The approach of Christmas is
in the air and already | see
signs of the coming event in the
children's bright faces and happy
voices; and yesterdays mail
brought Mrs. Olmstead a lovely
Christmas card from far away
Kansas. l heard this morning
Of q Wayward little neighbor boy
who persisted in a long spell of
crying and was told by his moth
er that she would probably have
to write Santa Claus a letter, and
tell him not to bring anything to
put in his stocking. So, little
boys and girls, take warning and
be good, for | think old Santa al
ways finds out the bad little
children. | knew of little boy
once who found tough little
cow-hide whip sticking up in his
i stocking cn Christmas morning;
UuC hope all Of our little Robe
sonian children are good, smart
and obedient and will have q
happy, iOllV time and DlantV of
| Christmas cheer.
Everything is quiet in the
Fork, except some moving has
started among the tenantry.
The crops are about all gather
ed, and | hear some talk of 'hard
times. " The price of cotton con-
tinued so low that a goodly num-
Der was unable to settle current
expenses, and money is much
5carcer than it was this time last
season; but good corn and forage
crops were made, there are some
hogs being killed, potatoes and
ribbon syrup are plentiful, and
there IS no danger Of starvation.
In oIden times the hog-killings
were on a huge scale. Every
farmer raised a sufficient supply
for home consumption, and un-
til after the way I never saw 6
piece Of shipped bacon in my
life. When | was little CIR
very often IS or 20 hogs were
slaughtered at one time onthe ole
plantation, and offal was in such
quantities that the coIored wo-
men had them hauled to the big
branch" near by, because much
water" was necessary in the
cleansing. Of course a retinut
Of youngsters of both colors
followed TO see what was going
on, and to have a good time
generally. On one occasion thu
day was very cold and the ic'
was thick on the edges of tn
water, so I decided to go skat
Ing; but alas! I had not proceed
ed far when the ice gave way
and into the freezing depths
plunged! But being near ''th
coast, | scrambled out an,
fastened home, where l had t,
remain the balance of the day
Another time | was down ther
/ on similar business and wa
t. rambling about in the woods nea
by, when | came upon a negr
man, lying asleep behind log
and [ knew he must be a run
a-Way', Of whom l was terribl
afraid. So l turned and fled i
\ terror to my dear old black man
= my at the branch. She soothe
my fears and said she would g
and see who it was, if | woul
go far enough to show her tn
log, which l did, and hiding be
hind a big pine tree, l stoppe
to see and hear the sequel of m
discovery. Presently | hear
9 mammy's clear, ringing voic
: eXclaim, 'You Nose, wake u
and go home from here! | know
: ed twas yOu'.
He was an unruly fellow Wh
belonged to a neighbor, and wa
;, often a Runaway. Givin
nanny a reluctant promise
go home, he started off throug
the woods and fulfilled his prom
Use, but in a few weeks We
e gone again, though he playe
~ hide and seek until the Yankee
" came along, when he betraye
~ some of his owners hidden pre-
z perty and followed them of
Il No news of interest in tk
=. Fork. Prof. Reynolds took a tri
4 to Rowland Saturday. Mrs. job
Gibson and children, Of Fairmon
N have been on a visit to her pc
~ rents, Mr.. and Mrs. w. G.. Ca
. dell. The Squire has improve
b recently and has gone to M
Il Lytch's mill today with a load
-. wheat.
a | had almost forgotten to te
m you of bloody fight which 0
cured Il miles from here ju
over the Scotland county lint
on last Friday morning betwee
n a crowd of Croatan girls, comir
from school. Knives were free
used, and 3 girls cut, two
q them desperately, one of who
y has IA stabs, and the other W
disemboWeled. DR.. John,~
Laurinburg, dressedtheirwoun
and considers two of them in