The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-07-19

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! hear a lot these days about
hunting and fishing clubs; so I |
decided to tell you about hunting
clubs of the old days, when /. was
a child.
Every week in the year was the
season for hunting. All the farm
ers had dogs and guns which was
the only equipment needed, only |
the love to hunt.
All the farmers in the commu-
nifty were members, as it were.
could hear my father before day
blowing his horn, calling his
hounds to take that trip up to
Hyde Park, the paradise of all
hunters.
But first I must tell you of my
enjoyment the day before watch
ing that all important lunch being
prepared for the all important oc-
casion.
1t was packed in a wooden
bucket that was being summed and
made ready to hold the food.
Mother and Nanny Phillis were
busy making biscuits and cracklin'
bread which had to be cooled; it
must not be put in that bucket
while hot.
Ham and sausage were fried,
sweet potatoes baked, and two or
three sweet potato pies; coffee was
freshly parched and ground for
that occasion; when biscuits were
cool they were cut open, some
were buttered, some had ham slip
ped in between. There was no such
thing as waxed paper, extensively
used now, but fresh clean brown
paper bags were saved, pies We're
slipped in them, biscuits in some,
the baked sweet potatoes in some
and the chacklin' bread in others.
l wanted to help out old Nanny
Phillis, but she said no, you turks
clear out, we don't need any of
your help.
The members of this clubs con-
sisted of my father, Reading
Blount, Decatur Jarvis and his son
Fenner,. Uncle Caleb Clark of
CHOW, miscalled the Bible shore,
and old Joe Neatherland. My
father said Joe never did days
work in all his life and Aunt Eva
Blount's father, Bill Harvey's that
came every week end any way. He
was no hunter, but they were al
ways glad to see him drive in. Old
Jim, the yard man, was instructed
to hackle out flax to load all the
guns.
The spring wagon was packed
with feed for the horses and ia
Their would say "Jim, put an axe
in and bush hook in too," for it
was an all night and a two days
vacation for the farmers. Blankets
and the old Civil war overcoat al
ways went along, as well as the
"hump back ticker" father called
his whiskey bottle. They met in
Leechville store to wait for any
one that was late. Eli Baynor had
the stuff to fill the bottles.
We children enjoyed all the
preparations and even got a ham
biscuit while they packed the
buckets and lest l forget, a string
soaked in turpentine was tied
around the buckets to keep the
ants out.
NV father said to my mother
Johnnie, are you sure you have
everything in, for hunters are hun
CRY menu" She said, eyes, Mr..
Blount everything is ready. Many
times as l have done this; l should
know" The buckets were packed
and put in pantry so next morning
he had only to put them in the
wagon; and next morning before
day, the horns were blowing and
the hounds were yelping. Mama
would say, II wish you would
leave old Jeff home, he is too DID,"
he said "No sir, he is my lead dog
and knows his business" When
they returned, the deer were hung
in the smoke house till the tenants
and Uncle Jim dressed them.
We children had plenty of wood
on the porch for we knew there
would be stories to tell after sup
per and that was my greatest
pleasure, to listen to stories; from
what remember, my father was
the Jolly joker as we'll as Bill Har-
vey, would tell the ones Joe
atherland told. / hear my father
say, "Jim take quarter over to
Major Marsh, he is too lazy to go
hunting, bat Betty likes venison."
Joe Neatherland would always
send your Pap-Pap hind quarter.
1 hate to wind ZIP this story
with what / call a tragedy. AT
breakfast next morning we sat
down to breakfast. / saw my
father get flush on his face, |
knew something was going to hap
pen. he looked at the biscuits, got
up. took them out and threw them
all to the dogs. My mother said,
"Mr. Blount those biscuits didn't
have too much soda" He said,
"When Phillis can put it in so