462 
[Juke 13, 1897, 
ALONG THE POTOMAC. 
IV.— Mount Vernon. 
Mount Vernon is about five miles distant from the ter- 
ritory described in previous chapters; and the grounds 
L have written of were in earlier years a part of the origi- 
nal domain of Washington. This estate, over which my 
thoughts are now wandering, and which my feet did then, 
was partly under cultivation, the residue of the cleared 
portion being in a condition called old fields. These, after 
having been cultivated year after year until they failed to 
yield sufficient returns, were abandoned, to recuperate un- 
der the benign influence and process of nature's elements. 
Although one would suppose that the barren fields would 
present a desolate and repulsive appearance, such was not 
the case. Nature, ever kind, displayed her bounty even 
here. The elements in the soil unnecessary for the pro- 
duction of previous crops had lain dormant, but now be- 
came active and covered those abandoned fields with a 
rank growth of vegetation — sedge grass, briers and wild 
rose bushes — and the deserted fields became attractive 
with clumps of blooming roses scattered over the surface, 
and were favorite resorte and nesting places for numerous 
birds — some celebrated for their brilliant plumage — and 
various songbirds. At the head of the galaxy of songsters 
the English mockingbird was preeminent. The climate 
and surroundings were perfectly congenial to their nature; 
so that they were fruitful in progeny and prolific in diver- 
sity of notes, the melody of which was truly enchanting, 
and far surpassing that of a captive bird of the same 
species. They were not confined nor controlled by man's 
caprice, but were free as the air through which they 
winged their flight to some favorite tree in the vicinity of 
their nests. From the topmost branches at early dawn 
the male birds, in their respective bailiwicks, join in 
melodious rhapsody, the thrilling notes of which (unrivaled 
by any other feathered songster) reverberate from hill- 
side and forest as they are borne along by the morning 
breeze, and so convert the barren fields to scenes 
of beauty and pleasure, for those who appreciate syl- 
van beauties. They also give pleasure and solace to the 
faithful mates patiently performing the daty of incubation 
in their adjacent and artfully concealed nests, anxiously 
anticipating the advent of their expected ofiapring. Those 
magnificent songsters are not confined to this locality. 
Their orchestra embraces all the open land between 
Washington and Wakefield to my knowledge, and no 
doubt farther south. When the first rays of the morning 
sun gilds the lofty foliage their matin songs, as each joins 
the chorus, fill the vast domain with musical vibrations, 
which impress the listener with feelings of admiration 
utterly indescribable. They are still there to greet the 
rising sun as it lifts its head above the green hills of Mary- 
land; and perhaps to give solace by notes familiar to some 
solitary pilgrim wandering over the desolate estate of his 
ancestors, and recalling the happy days of his youth, or 
gazing upon war's desolation, like Marius amid the ruina 
of Carthage. 
It has always been my impression that those mocking 
birds were introduced by the English colonists. If so, 
they found a congenial home. I left their haunts with 
regret, and passed down to a spot on the brink of the river 
to a favorite joleasure ground once shaded by a grove of 
ancient oaks 
Where ofteu In youth, and manhood's bright day. 
Beneath their great boughg we danced on the green; 
But war's dreadful havoc swept them away 
And left it a dreary, desolate scene— 
Girls were not women in those halcyon days, 
Boys were not men at that time; 
They freely indulged in innocent plays, 
Which made them strong women and men at their prime, 
Alas! neither substance nor shade of those patriarchal 
oaks exist. They were spared no doubt by the early set- 
tlers when clearing their land to afibrd the shade around 
a splendid spring incessantly gushing from the roots of 
one of them, sending up a copious volume of cold, clear 
water. This attractive oasis, which had been protected 
and cherished from time immemorial as a place of rest or 
pleasure for all who desired to use it, was destroyed by 
vandal hands, without ostensible object or advantage. 
Yet if those who desecrated this renowned spot had 
known its historical relations, they would doubtless have 
exerted themselves to protect and preserve it. This grove 
of oaks, with its gushing spring, had been from time im- 
memorial a favorite resting place for those of the surround- 
ing country who participated in the pleasures and excite- 
ment of hunting and the chase, among them the leading 
men who adorn American history. As Mount Vernon 
was but three miles distant, Washington and his neighbors, 
among them Ool. Fairfax, of Bel voir; Geo. Mason, of Gun- 
ston Hall; Lawrence Lewis, the husband of Washington's 
adopted daughter Nellie Oustis, and his numerous distin- 
guished guests, frequently reclined beneath the boughs of 
those forest monarchs, and refreshed themselves from the 
cool waters of the spring. Classical writers have immor- 
talized the fountain of Clepsydra, as it was in the waters 
of this fountain the infant Jupiter was washed by the 
nymphs Neda and Ithom; and to the fountain modern 
Greeks point with pride. Although we do not claim that 
our comparatively obscure fountain has been honored by 
the presence of any young Jupiters, yet we are personally 
cognizant of the fact that some young American barbarians 
have frequently partaken of its waters, and enjoyed the 
shady grove; if any youthful Jupiter had attempted to pol- 
lute those waters by bathing there would have been a 
tussle, and if the modern Greek heroes are fair specimens 
of those of antiquity, the contest would not have been 
doubtful. Moreover, as mentioned above, it was honored 
by many of those great statesmen, whose creations sur- 
passed those of mythology by erecting a national structure 
surpassing that of Greece in her palmiest days. 
When last in the vicinitv of the spring, I was reminded 
of an extremely sad disaster which occurred on board the 
XJ. S. S. Princeton, immediately in front of this place, when 
passing down the Potomac. It occurred during John Ty- 
ler's administration, I think in 1843; at any rate he was on 
board of her at the time. The Princeton was a beautiful 
vessel, and equipped in elaborate style, and was, I believe, 
the first United States ship which had applied to her the 
Ericsson submerged propeller. She was thus in construc- 
tion a departure from the old style of naval ships, and was 
brought to Washington for the purpose of afibrding an op- 
portunity to members of Congress and others to examine 
her. She remained in this vicinity several months, and 
during the time made a number of excursions down the 
Potomac, conveying the Cabinet, members of Congress and 
other distinguished guests. On the occasion of the disaster 
there were on board of her the President (John Tyler) sev- 
eral members of his Cabinet, and a number of other dis- 
tinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. 
She carried an immense gun, said to be the largest in the 
United States — the Peacemaker. It was part of the pro- 
gramme of entertainment for the guests to discharge that 
gun, that they might witness the practical mode of hand- 
ling such an immense implement of destruction. A num- 
ber of gentlemen were assembled in close proximity when 
the gun exploded, instantly killing two members of the 
Cabinet, Messrs. Upshar and Badger, and three others, one 
of whom was Mr. Gardiner, the proprietor of Gardiner's 
Island, contiguous to the eastern end of Long Island. Mr. 
Gardiner's daughter was also on board, and shortly after 
married John Tyler. Their son represented a district in 
Virginia in the last Congress. 
This familiar locality recalls from the distant past many 
scenes and incidents of unalloyed pleasure, some of which 
appear as vivid as of recent occurrence. Among them 
there was a characteristic custom at that time which never 
languished in interest or popularity with any class of the 
people, black or white, until compelled by circumstances 
to succumb. It was an annual scene of labor and festivity 
enjoyed by all apparently on equal terms; in fact, the 
black race assumed control of the principal feature of the 
entertainment. 
A Corn Husklnsr Under the Old Regime. 
I will endeavor to delineate the scene and incidents, but 
words cannot impart to the minds of others the inborn 
sense of enjoyment experienced by those who partici- 
pated in those festive scenes of Southern life in the Old 
Dominion. 
Those corn husking festivals united labor with pleasure, 
and accomplished a great amount of work in a short time 
under pleasant circumstances. The preparations for the 
final event (that is, hauling in the corn from the field) was 
commenced several days before the specified time for the 
gathering of the clans. All the wagons and ox carts were 
in requisition, in which the corn was hauled to a suitable 
place in the vicinity of the barn, and there piled up in a 
rick 15 or 20ft. high, in length sufficient to contain the 
quantity or yield of the crop. A rick 150ft. in length is 
sometimes required to contain the crop of a large planta- 
tion. As the preparations approach completion, the time 
is selected, which is invariably at night, and the invitations 
are sent to the neighbors, families and servants, which in- 
clude field hands. 
At the proper time the hands assemble around the rick 
and await the orders of the Corn King, who is not a tran- 
sient dignitary, selected on the occasion to perform the 
duties for that time only, but is selected on the ground of 
his natural ability to perform the duties of leader at all 
the^huskings in the neighborhood, and holds the coveted 
position until some aspinng rival dethrones him by superior 
ability to improvise, or by more ready wit or more power- 
ful hmgs. He is a leader of his race, and on this occasion 
this- dark-complexioned descendant, perhaps, of African 
royalty— and in addition to the above qualities possessed 
of 'a massive form, assumed an imperious air; all this, with 
a stentorian voice equal in volume to a fog-horn, impressed 
those of his race in the lower grades with feelings of pride 
and eagerness to obey his commands. After his Nigerty 
ascends his throne (the top of the rick) he assumes a 
dignified posture, stretches forth his arm, and shouts in 
a slow and slightly reduced cadence, the others respond- 
ing in the chorus: 
Is you all ready, down dere below? 
O-yes—O! 
Jerk ofE de husk en' let her go, 
O—yes-0! 
Hurry up dere en' don' be slov/ , 
0—yes—O! 
Dls I tell you; you got to know— 
O—yes—0! 
Your neighbor's corn, I tell you so, 
O-yes—O! 
Is moldln' in de husk, an' 'ginnin' to grow, 
0-yes-O! 
ABOUT MIDNIGHT. 
Master Tom, your niggers is sick, 
O—yes—O! 
Bring 'roun' de jigger— bring it quick! 
O—yea—O! 
TOWAKD MORNIlfG. 
I see signs of de break of day, 
O -yes— 01 
T'ro' a crack in de cloud ; it's coming dis way, . 
0—yes—0> 
The sentiment and words are changed to suit the cir- 
cumstances occurring during the night. During the early 
hours of the night the ladies of the household, assisted by 
their guests and the house servants, prepare the edibles 
and other accessories necessary to furnish a banquet to 
satisfy in abundance and variety the entire assemblage, 
for all, whether known or unknown, are welcome to par- 
ticipate. 
Although universal pleasure and jovial sociability 
characterized those scenes, yet there was an occasional un- 
pleasantness to mar the general joy — and even those had 
their ludicrous features, which afforded mirth to the spec- 
tators if not to the participants. About the finishing of 
the work at the rick, the mutterings of a controversy could 
be heard between two male descendants of Ham. The 
contention was ostensibly in reference to one of the dark 
brunettes, but no doubt the frequent circulation of the jig- 
ger brought on the trouble which terminated in practical 
hostility. 
There was not the slightest effort to make any prelimi- 
nary arrangements. Not a word in reference to the Mar- 
quis of Queensbury rules, and without even sparring for 
position, they sprang together, their heads striking like 
cannon balls. In a few moments they were clinched and 
on the ground, a position they invariably occupied when 
indulging in this class of athletic exercise — called rough- 
and-tumble. The combatants in this class of pugilism are 
restricted to three modes of assault— gouge, kick and bite. 
The last appears to be in the greatest favor with the cham- 
pions. They have very little to say. In fact I recollect 
but one instance during a contest, when the under gladi- 
ator remarked to his antagonist: "You kin r'ar, I'll stay 
wid yu, do." Mementos of those little difficulties were 
occasionally found. One of my youthful companions 
picked up the lobe of a gladiator's ear, which he said was 
nearly large enough for a razor strap. Jas. Norkis. 
Magnolia, Harford County, Md. 
ON THE EDGE OF THE GRAN CHAGO. 
told by WILLIAM KINGSBURY TO WILLIAM H. AVIS. 
Chapter IV. 
The water in the well at the house would sometimes 
run low, then we would have to take a cask to a fresh- 
water lagoon about half a mile from the house and fill it. 
One morning, after filling the cask, I lighted my pipe and 
lay down in the grass to enjoy a quiet smoke, I had been 
lying there lazily watching the rings of smoke from my 
pipe and thinking of far-away home and friends whom I 
had not seen for nearly ten years. While thus ruminating 
my hand wandered to my Winchester, and hardly noticing 
what I was about, I picked it up, rested it across the water 
cask, and carelessly commenced to aim it at different ob- 
jects, such as flowers, grass stems and the like. Suddenly, 
as I swept the barrel in an opposite direction from that in 
which I had been aiming, I was surprised to have the 
sights come in range with a large ostrich that was leisurely 
walking along not more than 150yds. off. The huge bird 
would walk a short distance with head erect, then it would 
stop and pick awhile, only to walk a little further and stop 
and pick again. 
I knew the ostrich had not seem me or he would have 
been off like the wind. That he had seen the horse I did 
not doubt; but then I knew that the horse was not likely 
to frighten him, for in all my experience on the pampas I 
had never seen an ostrich run from an unmounted horse. 
In fact, I have hundreds of times seen them feed in great 
numbers right among droves of horses and cattle. In 
direct contradiction to many accounts I have read con- 
cerning the wariness of the ostrich, I can truthfully say 
that I nave on difterent occasions deliberately and openly" 
walked to within 150 or 200yds. of a troop before they 
started to run. 
Ostriches can swim. As I wish this fact distinctly 
understood, I emphatically repeat, ostriches can swim. 
Many and many a time have I chased them into the 
water, both singly and in troops, and while they were 
climbing the opposite bank, after swimming the river or 
lagoon into which I had chased them, I have shot them. 
Further on I will tell of a chase in which we forced a 
troop of fully fifty ostriches to swim the Salado River. 
Adjusting the sights for 200yds., I carefully aimed ju^ 
below, the wing, near the center of the body, and firt4. 
At the report of the rifle he dropped and commenced to 
flop around at a great rate. Soon he grew quiet, and when 
I reached him he was dead. He proved to be a large male, 
and after cutting his. throat I drew his legs over my 
shoulders and partly carried, partly dragged him to the 
cart. When I reached the house they were surprised to 
see me bringing meat as well as water. 
One evening I was leisurely sauntering on the pampas 
with the Remington carbine, which old Francisco Mon- 
tenegro had given to Jim, when I noticed a troop of four 
ostriches about 400yds. oil". I started to walk toward them 
and had gone but 100yds. or so when they took fright and 
away three of them went; the fourth, a large male, how- 
ever, seemed not to be in as great a hurry as the rest. 
Instead of running he seemed to prefer to walk, and that 
is just where he made the great mistake of his life. As he 
walked along, looking back at me first over one shoulder 
then the^other, he aggravated me to such a degree that I 
determined to try a shot at him even at that great dis- 
tance, so, watching my opportunity, I waited until he 
turned his broadside to me I aimed quickly and fired. I 
had no idea whatever of hitting him, and my surprise may 
be imagined when I saw him go headlong into the grass. 
I hardly believed it possible I had hit him until I walked 
up and found him dead, shot directly through the heart. 
I lay claim to no skill in getting that bird. It was a lucky, 
accidental shot, pure and simple, the most remarkable I 
ever remember making. The queer part of the whole 
business is, that try as I would, I never was able to hit 
anything with that carbine afterward. 
Soon after this Jim and I decided to go fishing. The 
waters of the arroyo San Antonio were still very high, so we 
judged that many large fish must have ascended from the 
River Salado. 
We started bright and early one morning, so as to fish 
in the cool of the day. W^e had caught a heavy string of 
catfish, more than we really needed, and were ab mt to 
give up when Jim's line began to run out in a strange, 
sluggish manner. Giving a quick jerk, he found that he 
had hooked something heavy, and as he started to haul in 
hand over hand he had to exert a great deal of strength 
to keep the line coming his way. We were wondering 
what was on the hook, when presently an immense turtle 
poked his head above the surface. Jim worked him care- 
fully to within half a dozen yards of the shore, and as we 
feared he might make trouble should we attempt to land 
him alive, I fired a couple of bullets into his head out of 
my Smith & Wesson. The bullets caused him to become 
quiet, so we had no trouble in landing him. He weighed 
about 601bs. 
While returning to the rancho with our fish and the 
turtle, I saw about 300yds. ahead what I made out to be 
the antlers of a buck gama showing just above the top of 
the grass. As his head was below the grass, he did not 
see us, and as he was to windward, we rode to within 
200yds, of him. Dismounting, I handed my bridle-rein to 
Jim and proceeded to stalk the deer. When I had ap- 
proached to about 75yds. of him I rose to my feet and, 
after looking carefully ahead, I could just see the tips 
of his antlers moving about. I aimed at the place where I 
judged his body to be and fired. ^ 
At the crack of the rifie the antlers disappeared and 
there was a sudden commotion in the grass, as I could see 
by the swaying of its top. As Jim observed the success of 
the shot he immediately hurried forward with the horses. 
When we reached the deer we found that my aim had ^ 
been true, as the bullet had passed directly through the 
