The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-05-06
WITH AUNT BECKY.
A Trip Down South"-A Fine
Section-Sad Death of MIR.
Neill McCallum-Other Mat
fers-

Neill McCallum-Other Mat
ters.
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Last "Wednesday l returned
home from a trip down South, to
the land not only of cotton, but
a variety of other products, chief
among which were vast fields of
splendid oats and fields of tobac-
co. The farmers in lower Mar
ion are diversifying, and depend
ing less on the kingly cotton
crop than in former years. |
was told by several of these
thrifty, independent planters
that the oat crop, we'll fertilized
and followed by pea-vine hay,
was far more profitable than
low-priced cotton. They SOW the
grain in the early fall, and | have
never seen such a magnificent
prospect, both as to quantity and
quality.
That is a fine section Of coun-
try, the lands fertile, with clay
sub-soil, and the farmers are
wide awake, up-to-date, and U.s.
ing a great many modern labor
saving implements. Mr.. Me
Laurin's farm is located on the
banks of Buck Swamp and two
miles from the Little Pee Dee.
There are two churches within a
radius of two miles, and a splen-
did academy, only a mile distant,
where they have annually an 8
months school term, taught by
excellent teachers, which insures
fine educational advantages. The
people are exceptionally clever,
intelligent and gined to generous
hospitality, and my sojourns
among them are always fraught
with much pleasure, though dur
ing this late visit | was for some
days real sick, and therefore de-
MED the privilege of visiting, and
returning their kindly calls,
which l much regretted. | met,
among others down there, your
interesting correspondent from
Dillon, - 'Vidi" who, with his
wife, came up and spent the day
with us-a day much enjoyed By
me, as they are both among my
first 2cqua;ntar ces in those parts,
and are very entertaining. "Vidi'3
talks as he writes, intelligently
and is we'll informed upon al
points Of interest, both past ant
present-in fact, he is a superb
historian, fluent and easy 0:
speech, rich in descriptive pow
er and altogether interesting.
My trip was accomplished b.
private conveyance in compan.
with the two little boys, and en-
tailed a journey of Is miles
Little Rock being about the half
way point, we drove into a va
cant lot, under the shade Of som
large old trees. fed both man an
beast, met with the Methods
minister who lives near by, wer
into the parsonage for som
water, and received from hil
the kindly courtesy which a
ways marks the true Souther
gentleman. Dillon, situated
miles below Little Rock, was a
so on our route, so the monotor
of travel was pleasantly broker
This latter town is quite a cor
mercial centre, surrounded as
is by~splendid farms and farr
ers, and the town itself is full (
enterprising business men.
Crossing over Maple Swan
two miles below Dillon, a dro7
of beautifully plumaged birds,
a strange variety to me, flew |
on the roadside, and lighted
a small tree. Quick as a fla
the grand-boy was out of Il
buggy, with his little rifle
hand, and in a few moments
: came up with one Of the lit
\ strangers murdered. The colo
ing was somewhat similar to t
partridge, but the bird was lar
er, and on observing it's lengtl
bill l decided it must be snip
l asked the boy what he was g
ing to do with it and he sal
"Why, grandma, Pm going
carry it on for little Halle to e;
you know she is not allowed
eat hog meat and this will be nj
for her." So this was done.
turned out to be a snipe, ST.
enough. was plump and fat, a
the little girl did much enjoy +
bird feast.
III had the pleasure of meeti
Mr.. Roy Afford, his INTEREST,"
family, and his mother, W
formerly resided near Rowlan
in this county. | am always 81
to meet up with Tar Hee
friends in my travels, and ne'
fail to find in them those e
ments of whole-hearted frieI
L.