The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-02-08
WITH AUNT BECKY.
Serious Fire Losses-Col. Nc
Leans Lee Birthday Speech -
Change of Teachers at Oak
Grove.
Correspondence Of The Robesonian.

0fOVc.
Correspondence OF The Robesonian.
On yesterday afternoon, the 1st
OF February, we noticed in the
Southwest a dense smoke aris-
ing, and by night it had gather
ed in our yard and around the
house in such volumns as to al
most stifle US when we unclosed
a door. We thought at the time
that the fire was in a new-ground
which was being cleared upon a
neighboring farm, but this morn
ing Mr.. Pinkney Dorsey came
in and informed US that his SON.
in-law, Mr.. Walter Covington,
who recently moved to this Vi
cinity from Marlboro county,
had his barn and it's contents,
consisting of corn, forage and |
guano, destroyed by fire-a Sc
rious loss to a farmer. On Sat-
urday night last, near the little
town of Hasty, the dwelling
house and smoke house of Mr..
Dan Hasty were burned down,
with almost a complete loss of
his household goods, though he
was fortunate enough to save
the contents of his smoke-house.
The high winds prevailing
these latter days are a menace,
and to me almost a terror, as we
have on three occasions narrow
ly escaped losing our home from
the pitiless flames. Mr.. Coving-
toms misfortune had it's origin in
neW-ground a considerable dis
tance from his barn, whence a
gust of wind lifted a bunch of
burning straw or leaves, and
dropped them on top of hog
pen rooted with pine straw, and
situated so near the barn lot that
the fire was rapidly communicate
ed thither. Mr.. Covington was
absent at the time and before
help arrived the flames had be-
come uncomfortable. Mr.. Hasty's
house caught from a spark on
the roof.
Burnings are much more COM
mon than they used to be. |
suppose imperfect stove-flues
are partly responsible and again
carelessness often has "a finger
in the pie"; and too much pru-
dence and care from now to the
1st of April cannot be practised
along these lines.
| enjoyed intensely the late
speech of Col. N. A. Mclean,
delivered on Lees birthday in
your town. In the opinion of an
''Old Southern" lady, it was
grand and in perfect accord with
my sentiments. tits a production
that is calculated to do great
good, and | wish that every boy
and girl throughout the South
could read and ponder we'll its
truths. l have thought there has
been a great remissness among
our Southern orators and literary
men in the lack of just such
speeches as this, and the posi-
BILE danger of our Southern youth
imbibing erroneous and garbled
ideas from outside sources. The
traditions and ideals of the "Old
South" should be perpetuated in
their native purity and sweet
ness, as also the true facts re-
garding the causes which led up
, to the civil war. This portion
of the colonel's speech was es-
!, pecially praiseWorthy and pro-
found, and should be preserved
: : for historical reference. | was
l ! fortunate in receiving an ex-
! ira copy of The Robesonian
. containing the splendid oration.
One | sent to my South Carolina
! grandchildren, who have otter
j asked of me to explain the very
Il thing which Col. Mclean made
so plain and easily to comprehend
e and the other copy | intend t.
n preserve, both as a future refer
d ence and as a matter of famil.
h pride.
l. Miss Grace Mitchell, the &C
le complished music teacher at Ga
y Grove, has resigned her position
r. owing to her mothers healt
le and need of her at home. Sh
e: was a prime favorite both in an
r out of the school room and he
departure is regretted universe
of ly. She is succeeded in her schot
g. duties by Miss Lula Easterlint
n another of Marlboro's charmin
er daughters.
IS Prof. Poole visited the Ga
at Grove school last Tuesday, ar
e. as usual made a very friend
e,, impression upon all whom l
nd met; but I was disappointed b
es cause he promised the next tin
he came into the Fork he wou
o., call on the Squire and
mt Aunt Becky"
es- Old Fork, N. c., Feb. 2, 'O9.
~ ~ Mr.. R. L. McLeod's saw-mi
to about three miles south Of Ma
aIv ton, was burned last week, t
l.