Odd and Unusual Tales Melons in the Streets In a short blurb in the New York Times in 1881, it says that in the summer in Greenville, NC, the townspeople throw their watermelon rinds in the streets to let the roving pigs clean up the mess. What a thing to be remembered for. Notoriety is no proof of merit. A thousand dollars of roses will only scent up a few yards, while a single hog pen will scent up a whole town. In 1912, the Pitt County Stock Law read: “If any person shall allow his livestock to run at large within the limits of any county, township or district in which a stock law prevails or shall prevail pursuant to law, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not exceeding $50 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days.” Among the Heathen There was a tale told in the local newspaper in 1896 about a little girl named Helen, age four, who was spending a night away from home under the care of a family friend. At bedtime, Helen knelt at her hostess’ knee to say her prayers, expecting the usual prompting. Find the woman unable to help her out, the little girl ended her prayer with “please God, ‘scuse me. I can’t ‘member my prayers, and I am staying with a lady that don’t know any.” Sleep Poetry In Feb. 1895 during a snowstorm, Dr. Warren of Greenville told a funny tale on his brother Ollen Warren. He said that his brother Ollen woke him up the other night laughing in his sleep. He kept still to see what Ollen might say in his sleep and heard him say “Oh, the snow; the beautiful snow, Let me see you before you go.” Ollen then broke out in another laugh and Dr. Warren could’nt make out the rest of the poem. The next morning, Dr. Warren jibbed Ollen about his sleep poetry and Ollen had no recollection of it. Ollen did remember he dreamed that he got up and upon going outside found that all the snow was gone. One Boy Cuts Another In March 1901 it was reported that several boys went to the water pump in the yard of Alfred Forbes near Five Points to get some water. They had some contention and a few cuss words over the dipper and a knife fight followed between Hill Horne and Hassell Daniel. Hassell stuck his knife in Hill’s breast, making a severe wound. Fortunately for Hill the knife struck the centre breast bone which prevented it penetrating into his organs. Jim Anderson went up to separate the other boys and got a hole cut in his coat. Crack in the Earth In 1895, John Flanagan told the local newspaper that in his yard in Farmville township, on the old George Joyner homestead, that there is a large mysterious opening in the ground. It was formed after the Great Charleston Earthquake in 1886. It was a large crack in the earth, running from northeast to southwest and was about 100 yards long. It was large enough to run a tobacco stick in the crevice. It disappears when the rain fills it with wet earth and as soon as it gets dry it reappears even more distinctly than before. The superstitious in the neighborhood were greatly alarmed, fearing that this was the beginning of a separation of the crust of the earth in that portion of the world and they would be on the right side when the destruction began. It took Mr. Flanagan many years of continual earth filling to make the crack disappear. Business in Jail The Pitt County Jail in 1887 was quite a place of business. Mr. G. A. Stancill, a merchant of Belvoir township, was sentenced to four months imprisonment at the January term of Court, and while serving his sentence, all the mortgages given by parties who get their supplies from his store, were drawn up in jail. And at the March term of Court, Mr. W. H. Harrington, who was tax collector, was sentenced to four months imprisonment. He took the tax books with him to jail and the tax collecting business moved along with him into the prison walls. Cigarette Habit Early In April 1890, the editor of the local newspaper reported that he saw a little boy who was not yet out of his dresses, with a cigarette in his mouth. “It is hard to tell what parents are thinking of in allowing their boys to run at large around town at all hours and contract such bad habits at so early an age.” Southern Farming and Political Almanac The following is a humorous calendar that an area newspaper published in 1827. With a little variation, not much has changed. January---Cold weather will be felt this month; and female gossips will huddle together, sip their tea, and slander their absent neighbors. While the politicians read the newspapers, and curse the opposite party to look big, and drink whiskey to feel brave. February---Those who love greens with their bacon will prepare their gardens, and those who love politics with their coffe will take the newspapers. Talking will continue in fashion. March---There will be seen frosty mornings, this month, without ice and frosty heads without wisdom. Also, heads without frost or brains seen at the grog shops instead of the plow. New grounds and promises will be broken—and matches and tracechains welded. April---Peach trees and lasses will bloom this month. Bees and candidates begin to swarm about this time—and both will want looking after. Colds and anti-fogmatics will be taken by many. May---Hogweeds and demagogues begin to rise this month—and hoes and principles are good things. Young people will have strange dreams, and old ones see strange lights. June---The weather and politics begin to grow warm—and fighting and bathing will be resorted to because of opposing political views. July---Now summer heat rages, and party heat becomes intolerable. Breaking heads and laws is becoming fashionable—and cucumbers and plasters are in demand. August---In this month caterpillars and candidates become troublesome—and camp meetings and barbecues are getting common. September---Now fevers and elections are coming on, and doctors and printers have their hands full. Bibles and cotton-fields are neglected this month. October---Now governors and mint drinks are made—and votes and cotton bagging brought up. Cash and conscience grow scarce about this time. November---Our Legislature gets together, and many married people get apart in this month. The treasury will exhibit symptoms of tuberculosis, and pus filled speeches will be expectorated from the benches of the State house. December---Now old bachelors and watermelons become unfashionable—and girls and sweet meats look delicious. There will be weddings and icicles in this month, parties and snow storms. Every wise man will pay his debts, (if he be able), and make himself merry at the close of the year. _________________________________________________________________ Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail. http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_access_112008