I have kept that precious tract until the present hour as a sacred memento from my Sabbath school teacher. May he receive his reward in Heaven, when God makes up his jewels from earth.

The Academy to which I was going, stood in a grove, hard by the road already alluded to, on a somewhat elevated piece of ground. In front of the house and beyond the road, we had a full view of a large mound or ridge, known in those days as "Hickory ridge."

It was supposed by many that a great battle had been fought on that notable place by the Indians in some past age, judging om relics discovered We would frequently go up on the ridge and often pick up curiosities, such as skull bones, of human shape, spikes and tomahawks.

I well recollect how my heart would pulsate each morning with delight as we would arrive in sight of the old school house, our old familiar teacher standing in the door to welcome us with a smile within its walls. When the old gentleman would take his seat, and say "books, books," we would scamper to our seats respectfully, and soon all was silent. In a few moments he would again cry "lessons," when several children would go up, and so on until all the classes had recited. This was his general rule. The first morning I went he called me, and asked me if I knew my A. B. C.'s. I soon convinced him that I did, and could spell "rellish”— that being the first word I ever spelt in school. It being a word in the old Webster spelling book, it is doubtful if any of the same could be found in this latter day of improvement. At the close of my first lesson, my teacher gave me great praise, saying he was going to give me a little classmate, and I must not let him excel me in learning, calling out, "Calvin Moss, here is this little girl you must have for a classmate, learn her her lessons, so she may get even with you, then we will see who will beat." Never will I forget his zeal and assiduity in teaching me my les

sons until I got up to him in our book. The first opportunity my little teacher had he informed me that "we children say our lessons in turn-the one who gets here in the morning first reads first, and so on through the day.” "Now," says he, "when you get near the school house, and see me, you need not run. I can run for both of us." I appreciated his kindness, and felt very grateful for it. It saved me many a hard race and much mortification of having been beaten. Several families of children would come in sight of each other near the school honse, and then such running for the first lesson. It was quite amusing. The contestants were youths from six to eighteen years of age-each endeavoring to get to the door first. How I would strain my eyes to catch a sight of Calvin, my little classmate, who seldom failed to throw up his little sunburnt hands as a signal that I need not run, which always made my heart bound with joy and gladness. Seldom were we behind with our recitations. When "old daddy Mack" (as the scholars used to call the teacher, as a token of their high respect for him,) would call out lessons, two prouder little hearts never approached the recitation seat than Calvin Moss and his humble classmate. We seldom left the seat without receiving a word of commendation and praise from our beloved old teacher.

Callous and obtuse must be the heart that cannot revert back to the days of its early school life without ineffable pleasure, and with joy recount the innumerable innocent sports and plays indulged in. Is there one of my fond old schoolmates yet living that does not recollect with how much pleasure our kind old teacher, while standing in the door, would smile at our amusements and sports? If any of us let drop an apple he would nod his head, signifying that it belonged to him. This was to teach us to be more careful in handling our things. Yet many an apple was let fall on purpose so he might get it-all feeling a great

delight in contributing to the pleasure of our teacher, who manifested so much sympathy for his pupils. Sometimes he was enabled to tie up a large cotton handkerchief full of the trophies he would thus gain through the day. Oft did Calvin slip a large white apple into my hand, whispering, "here, Sue, is an apple to let fall to-day." Thus passed my first school-day life. Many may look upon the above minutiae of detail as superfluous, but hearts as appreciative as mine is of acts and manifestations of kindness and sympathy will not criticise nor condemn; and perhaps all will, ere these pages are finished, see my motive in being so minute in my reminiscences, though imperfect they be.

My unalloyed happiness at that school terminated much sooner than I could have wished, owing to my inability to continue to walk so far. I therefore was compelled to bid farewell to the spot that had become to me so dear, and especially my little classmate. How sad was his adieu to me! He remarked, "you will come back, won't you, when you get rested? I wish I could help you walk, then you could come to school all the time." I often wonder if he yet lives. If so, may angels guard his declining years. How dear is the memory of that kind hearted little boy to his long lost classmate. Nearly a half century has elapsed since those happy events. How apropos to my feelings. at that time, are the lines of the immortal Moore:

"How sad 'mid the sunshine that gladdens the scene
Comes the thought that, tho' friends, we must part;
Still fondly our thoughts will return to the spot,
On the wings of remembrance borne."

I have been informed that the old Academy has long since crumbled to decay, and is numbered with the things that were. No more will be heard within its walls the echo of youthful voices with their mimic speeches, or the joyous laugh of the happy group that there resorted for instruction.

B

Few perhaps are now living who were pupils at the period above alluded to.

"Some are in the churchyard laid,

Some sleep beneath the sod,

And few are left of all that school
With me to serve their God;

But when the time shall come, dear friends,

That we are called to go,

O, may we meet with those we loved

Near forty years ago."

Many sad changes have taken place since those happy days of childhood, and sadness oft doth steal o'er my mind

"When I think of those I loved so well

Those early broken ties."

But I must bid adieu to those fond recollections, and beg pardon of the reader for thus digressing, and return to the point we left in our journal.

We remained in Brownsville but two years, when circumstances over which I had no control compelled me, against my will, to leave the pleasant little village and its interesting school-for which I had formed a strong attachment—to take up my residence in a new and distant part of the State the county of Tipton. My sister having married a Mr. Sullivan, of Smith county, Middle Tennessee, moved with her husband to Tipton county. I therefore had to go with her.

Yet, in that wilderness region I found several very pleasant and agreeable neighbors, who had daughters near my own age, with whom I spent many pleasant hours. But a home in the woods at that time and in that place was anything but desirable and pleasant. It was infested with bears, wolves, reptiles of all descriptions, and mosquitoes, with every conceivable insect calculated to annoy. We were kept in almost constant dread both night and day. Wolves and bears would prowl about near the house until late in the morning. The nights were made hideous with the howlings of the wolves, and not unfrequently the

unearthly scream of the panther, all in quest of prey. And through the day we could see the serpentine movements of almost all kinds of reptiles, from the venomous monster rattle snake to the more innocent and delicate garter. Being naturally timid, my mind was kept in dread nearly all the while. Not unfrequently would they intrude themselves into our house, producing terror and dismay among the inmates. The mosquitoes were almost insufferable. One could scarcely perform their daily work for their tormenting annoyance. A constant smoke would be kept up near the house, and the children kept constantly oiled to keep from suffering almost death from their stings. Stock could feed but a short time ere they would come bellowing home to enjoy the smoke that was in constant waiting for them, and not unfrequently would they die from the sting of the "buffalo gnats," which were in as great abundance as the mosquitoes. The reader can judge by the above imperfect sketch whether a residence in that locality was desirable.

When the time came for me to leave that place, I left it with much pleasure, notwithstanding I had some strong ties there. At this time my second brother had completed his apprenticeship, and, according to promise, he made us a visit. During his stay with us he asked me if I would not return with him to Nashville, to which proposition I gladly consented, notwithstanding I thereby had to leave my only sister and her two sweet little babes; also my youngest brother. My eldest brother having died sometime prior in a far distant country, my second brother became my next natural protector, which place he filled with commendable brotherly affection and care.

Preparations having been made, we on the 10th of February, 1832, bid adieu to our loved friends in the wilderness, and started for our destination on horseback, amid the bitter cold and windy weather of that season of the