Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-02-25
HILL COMMUNITY.
RecoIcllons Of It's Early Days and
First Settlers, By an Old Citizen.

ton and another at Wyatt on the
rallahatchie river. The Indians
had herds of cattle and horses.
lived in temporary huts
and were divided into tribes.
The territory of a tribe was usu-
ally bounded by streams, for in
stance, a chiefs dominion might
lie between Tallahatehie and
Yocona rivers, and adjacent
tribes must not pasture this land.
Toby Tubby was tire chief Of
the tribes living hsre, il is said
that he was buried on the Majors
place. He was said to have been
a very quiet peaceable Indian.
| never heard Of any trouble be-
tween the whites and Indians
hereabouts. There were at this
time some Adventures white men
amongst the Indians, and these
unprincipled traders had a bad
influence On the Indians. As a
rule the Indian men were truth
full and the women virtuous. To
the shame of the white man be il
said that this was true until the
Indian was debauched by whis-
key and by contamination with
the whites.
Perhaps it would interest the
boys to hear something Of the
boys away back in the 4O's.
Well they liked fun and frolie Just
as vel, as you do, in fact, the
boy that does Tot, lacks the
spirit that the boy should have.
You like to e the spirited colt
jump the fence sometimes lust
for fun. II shows that he has
life an action, but when he forms
the habit of jumping the fence
for pure meaness you say that
colt should have n curb put on
him. Everybody likes the boy
who likes fun, but if he should
contract a bad habit everybody
laments this for they know bad
habits lead to no good end.
In a previous letter I told YOU
of a holiday the school got by
shutting out the teacher, now /
will tell you about twenty or thir-
ty boys getting a whipping by
another teacher named Mr.. 5.
In those days hazle ruts were
plentiful, and the boys would
gather them at dinner time to ca,
and play hull-gull, a harmless,
simple game. Mr. S was called
out by some one to the gate and
the boys took advantage of his
absence to engage in the game
of hull gull. He returned sud
denly and fou d things in an up
roar and disorder. This aroused
his ire, and he called on all who
had left their seats to take their
stand In the middle of the room.
Switches we're sent for and used
freely. Your humble servant
was in this line, and enjoyed the
fellows above and below getting
their portions, but does not saw
whether he laughed or cried
when receiving his share. Tha,
would be telling tales out Of
school, Hazlenuts never have
tasted as good TO me since that
day.
At a still later day when Mr..
h. was teacher, something else
happened. The school room be-
ing somewhat crowded the mas
ter allowed four of the largest
boys to study out of doors in the
grove, this scribe being one OF
the four thus privileged. BY
way OF relaxation and to relieve
the hum-drum monotcny of dry
text books, these four, all for
fun, took charge of Major F's
horse as he was grazing around
and turned the saddle. The
Major cane on soon after snd
seeing what bod been done be.
came very much angered and
reported the matter straightway
to teacher II, who rang the bell
Tor the four students aforesaid
his verdict was that the four
must apologize to the Major. or
take a thrashing. We confessed
judgment. did not apologize and
took a good whipping. So YOU
see my young friends we used to
have some fun too, but maid
pretty well for it. | want YOU
youngsters to see how things
were done in those days, and by
comparison you may learn the
difference in the conduct of
schools, then and now. The COM.
munity was prosperous and ham.
Ply. There was an abundance ofl
every good thing TO make oneI
comfortable; this was the con-
di1on Of affairs when God AL
mighty for his own wise purpose
sent the scourge of war which
desolated our Southland from one
end to the other. Millions cd
value were destroyed by a stroke
oil the pen; blood was spilled like
water, and no estimate can he
placed on the precious lives lost
IN the struggle. These first set
tiers, patriots as they were, cheer
fully sent their sons and their
treasure to battle for what thew
believed to her right. Few peo.
pie have ever been called UPON
to suffer what ours have. Thew
bore their sufferings bravely, and
submitted to Gods dealings with
out a murmur, knowing that ALL
is best that he sends. God is SUI
preme we are a christian peonle