Page v

PREFACE.

   When I commenced the following sketches I did not expect to publish 
them. I visited my old native section in 1857, after an absence of twenty 
years, and while there the reminiscences of my early years naturally 
revived, from the influence of that strange but necessary law in man's 
mental structure, association of ideas, and on my return I concluded to 
write out some of the scenes and stories of that age and section. When I 
had nearly finished them, they were read to some friends, who warmly 
suggested their publication. I have consented, and the reader now has 
them, and will, of course, as one of the sovereigns of the mental world, 
decide upon their merits. Long prefaces are 

Page vi

not generally read, and I shall say but little in that line. I hope these 
"Scenes and Stories" will contribute a mite toward our country's stock of 
humorous literature. I choose to conceal my real name, and will be known 
by the nickname of my boyhood,

"SKITT."
July, 1859. 



Page vii

CONTENTS.

I. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY . . . . . 13 

II. "FAMUS OR NO FAMUS" . . . . . 20 

III. JOHNSON SNOW 
THE NIGHT MEETING.--HE JOINS THE CHURCH.--HE APOSTATIZES.--THE INTERVIEW 
AND TRIUMPH. . . . . . 28 

IV. UNCLE DAVY LANE 
THE CHASE.--THE HORN-SNAKE.--THE RATTLESNAKE BITE.--THE FAST-RUNNING 
BUCK.--RIDE IN THE PEACH-TREE.--THE PANTHER.--THE TURKEY HUNT.--THE 
PIGEON-ROOST.--BIG PEACH-EATING.--SOME APPLE-EATING.--THE TAPE-WORM.--THE 
BUCK-HORNED SNAKE. . . . . . 50 

V. UNCLE FROST SNOW . . . . . 94 

VI. DICK SNOW 
CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES.--COURTSHIP.--GETTING RELIGION. . . . . . 98 

VII. OLIVER STANLEY 
ESCAPE FROM THE WHALE.--INDIAN AND BEAR STORY. . . . . . 124 

VIII. LARKIN SNOW, THE MILLER 
STORY OF THE EELS.--FAST-RUNNING DOG. . . . . . 139 

IX. UNCLE BILLY LEWIS 
THE FIRE-HUNT.--UNCLE BILLY PREACHES. . . . . . 152 

X. JOHN SENTER 
THE TRIAL.--THE WEDDING. . . . . . 165 

XI. REV. CHARLES GENTRY 
THE ORIGIN OF THE WHITES.--JONAH AND THE WHALE. . . . . . 186 

XII. FIGHTING 
JOSH JONES AND HASH-HEAD SMITH.--BUTTING.--A QUARTER OF A DOLLAR FIGHT.--
FIGHT ABOUT A KIP-SKIN. . . . . . 193 

XIII. THE CONVERT . . . . . 206 

XIV. NOT A TRAVELER . . . . . 212

Page viii

XV. COOKING.--BIG EATING, ETC . . . . . 217 

XVI. A DECLARATION OF LOVE . . . . . 222 

XVII. GLASSEL AND THE OWL . . . . . 227 

XVIII. ONE OF THE PEOPLE . . . . . 229 

XIX. A CALL TO THE MINISTRY . . . . . 233 

XX. OUTDONE . . . . . 237 

XXI. STRAW! STRAW! MORE STRAW HERE! . . . . . 241 

XXII. TARE AND TRET.--AN ALABAMA TALE . . . . . 244 

XXIII. HAM RACHEL, OF ALABAMA . . . . . 249 

Page ix

ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE HORN-SNAKE . . . . . Frontispiece. 
THE NIGHT MEETING . . . . . 38 
BENDING BUCKSMASHER . . . . . 66 
THE PIGEON-ROOST . . . . . 82 
"GOOD-MORNIN', LADIES" . . . . . 107 
ESCAPE FROM THE WHALE . . . . . 131 
THE EELS . . . . . 146 
THE FIRE-HUNT . . . . . 157 
THE WEDDING . . . . . 181 
BUTTING . . . . . 200 
THE WINDSOR CHAIR . . . . . 215 
TARE AND TRET . . . . . 247 
HAM RACHEL, OF ALABAMA . . . . . 266 



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