Heart whispers

Front matter

• 4 ^

HEAET WHISPERS;

OK,

Part I

MISSISSIPPI. NEW ORLEANS. TEXAS. MEMPHIS. LETTER 1 27

LETTER XL—

A FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO JOURNALIZE A LETTER — A FACT — FIC- TION — TRUTH — THE STAGE — OLD TIMES — MISS MOLLY MUR- RAY — MARRYING A POOR GIRL 28-32

MISERY AND DEATH — COURAGE — ATSON's WILL — HONEST

FROM PRINCIPLE 43-47

Letter VI

ECONOMICAL FAMILY — A GENIUS — A LOVELY YOUNG LADY — SENDING FROM HOME — SCHOOLS — STAGE AND HORSEBACK TRIP — A DUCKING — GETTING ON THE WRONG BOAT — THE MAGNOLIA — NEW ORLEANS — A GENTLEMAN WITH A GRAND AIR — THE THEATRE 47-57

LETTER VII.— TEXAS — GEOGRAPHY OF " LAVACA BAy" — THE AUTHOR IX

LOVE — TREACHERY — A PRESCRIPTION .... 57-63

Xll CONTENTS.

LETTER VIIL—

TEXAS — TUE BLUDGET — SEA SICKNESS — A BAY SUNSET — HOSPITALITY — LITTLE BOGGY — STORM AT MATAGORDA^ — GEORGE WASHINGTON 63-71

Letter IX

SERMON IN TEXAS — " SWEAT" — THOUGHTS IN THE PRAIRIE . 72-80

Letter X

ATSON S RELIGIOUS DOGMAS TOM MOORE S THEOLOGY COR- RECTED — LIFK IS A BATTLE — MEN MAKE THEMSELVES MI- SERABLE — OLD V.'OMEN LONG FOR MISERY — THE AVAY TO TRANSACT BUSINESS RAPIDLY — OUR FLOAV^ERS . . . 81-85

LETTER XL-

TOOK THE WRONG ROAD — TOBACCO — A WOMAN SMOKER^DIP- PING YOUNG LADIES — CRANES — WILD GEESE AND DEER — HILLY PRAIRIE 86-91

LETTER XIL—

BRENHAM. LANDLORD, -WASHINGTON — "BOB WILKINS — COUNTRY BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND INDEPENDENCE — IN- DIA RUBBER— m'CHRISTY's — CALDWELL — DAVID flIGGASON 91-96

LETTER XIIL

TEXAS — LITTLE RIVER — FERRYMAN — A PARTY — TREACHE- ROUS AGENT — A KNAVE IS A FOOL — BELTON — AN ARCADIAN VALE — let's move TO TEXAS 96-100

LETTER XIV.

A DUTCHMAN — CONSULT THE FEELINGS OF YOUR HORSE — A NEW WAY TO REST ONE — TEXAS LEGISLATURE — POLITICS — A SPEECH SHORT AS THE "VENI VIDI VICl" LETTER — MUSIC AT boston's — A DELIGHTFUL FAMILY — A HORSE TRADE, AND THE AUTHOR IN LOVE AGAIN . . . 101-109

LETTER XV.-

THE GULP AGAIN — NEW ORLEANS — THE MISSISSIPPI — NAT- CHEZ — VICKSBURG — MEMPHIS 110-119

Part II

NASHVILLE. GEORGIA. ALABAMA. MISSISSIPPI AGAIN.

LETTER XVI 123-124

LETTER XVII.—

MURFREESBOROUGH CITY HOTEL — " FANNY FERN" — MRS. LEE

HENTZ — "SEQUEL TO LINDA" — A SLY WAY OF DOING GOOD 124-128

CONTENTS. Xili

LETTER XVIII.—

A TALK WITH A D. D. — THE INFERNAL MACHINE — A FATHER AND A CREATOR — THE DIFFERENCE — 13 MY THEOLOGT

LETTER XIX.—

REMEDY FOR HOME-SICKNESS — THE AUTHORS HELM — HIS WAY OP BEING HAPPY — A FAVOURITE PASTOR — WHO DRINKS 137-141

LETTER XX.—

COLLEGE ANECDOTES — MRS. P. AND MRS. R. — THE REASON PEOPLE TREAT THE AUTHOR KINDLY — A PRACTICAL ILLUS- TRATION — NASHVILLE — CLODKNOCKERS AT HOME IN THE STATE HOUSE — A RIDE BETWEEN NASHVILLE AND CHATTA- NOOGA — LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 142-150

LETTER XXI.

APEX OF LOOKOUT — A HUGGING AND KISSING COUPLE — THREE DAYS IN KNOXVILLE — HAPPINESS IN TRIBULATION — ROME — MACAULAY — THE KENNESAAV — ATLANTA — TWO LITTLE SECRETS — THE AUTHOR CONFESSES HIS SINS — NOT TO A PRIEST, BUT TO A PRIESTESS — AN INTERESTING CON- VERSATION INTERRUPTS THE CONFESSION .... 150-160

LETTER XXII.—

WHITE-FOOTED HORSES — GEORGIA — GEORGIA COMPARED WITH TEXAS AND FLORIDA — THE PEOPLE IN THE PINEY COUNTRY — THE UNPARDONABLE SIN — CLASSIFICATION OP THE HUMAN FAMILY BASED ON BUTTER — HIGH WATER— ^ THOUGHTS IN THE WILDERNESS — MUSIC — POETRY — CHAT- TAHOOCHIE, INDIAN NAMES — THE AUTHOR THINKS OF BE- COMING AN EDITOR — CRITICISM OF HIS WIFE'S LETTER . 161-171

LETTER XXIIL—

THE WAY TO CHEER A SICKLY OR GLOOMY WIFE . . . 171-174

LETTER XXIV.

THE AUTHOR MEETS WITH KIN-FOLKS, AT WAHALAK, AND HIS

MATCH AT JOKING DESCRIBES A MOBILE FAMILY — THE

OLD MAN AND HIS HOBBY — THE AUTHOR IN LOVE AGAIN — MONTGOMERY, ALA. — HALF-CITIES — LANIER . . . 175-18©

XW CONTENTS.

PAUT III.

GEORGIA. SOUTH CAROLINA. NORTH CAROLINA. VIRGINIA. EAST TENNESSEE.

PAGB

LETTER XXV.—

ANOTHER STAGE TRIP — LADIES ALONG — MERCANTILE GAL- LANTRY — SOME FUN — A MESSAGE TO THE NEGROES . . 183-185

LETTER XXVI.

PREFERS DAUGHTERS TO SONS — A CAUTION TO A HAUGHTY PERSON — DELICATE PRAISE — A GOOD TONIC FOR A SENSI- TIVE AND SICKLY WIFE — A PRESCRIPTION WHICH WOULD ASTONISH THE HUSBAND OP A FAST WOMAN — THE CHILDREN 185-189

LETTER XXVIL—

NORTH ALABAMA — M. OF HUNTS VILLE — HUNTS VILLE ENTHU- SIASM — HUNTSVILLE AGAIN — THE MILLIONAIRES — SICK- NESS AND TREATMENT 190-194

LETTER XXVIIL—

EPICURUS — GEORGIA — " NIL DESPERANDUM" — DESCRIPTION OF A PECULIAR SPECIES OF INHABITANTS IN ORANGEBURG AND ANDERSON, S. C. — A FIGHT WITH THEM — FORGIVENESS — THE HUGGING COUPLE AGAIN — THE CITY OF CHARLESTON A PLEASANT ELIXIR FOR THE ABOLITIONISTS — ST. MI- CHAEL'S 195-204

LETTER XXIX.—

SUNDAY — HOME — " LITTLE DORRITT" — DICKENS — CLAY — THE

DAYS OF YORE 205-209

LETTER XXX.—

COLUMBIA, S. C. — ANOTHER EFFORT TO CHEER A SICKLY WIPE — A CHEERING PRESCRIPTION — FASHIONABLE HUMILITY — THE LITTLE WASHERWOMAN — THE BEAUTIFUL STORY- TELLER — CHILDHOOD 210-219

LETTER XXXL-

MISS MOLLY MURRAY AND HENRY CLAY — THE PRAISES OF HIS FOES — THE INJUSTICE OF HIS FRIENDS — COMPARISON OP CLAY, WEBSTER, AND CALHOUN — CLAY'S ONLY SUPERIOR — THE MEETING BETWEEN CLAY AND HIS ONLY EQUAL — THE AUTHOR DETERMINES HOW TO VOTE .... 219-223

LETTER XXXIL—

BASHFULNESS — IRRITABILITY — DEMOCRACY — TRAVELS

CLAY — LETTER FROM HOME — CHILDREN SUNDAY-SCHOOL

— SOUTH CAROLINA — POLITICS— A DIST'NIONIST — THE UNION — KANSAS — TWO STRANGE SIGHTS — STAGE TRIP TO GOLDS-

CONTENTS. XV

LETTER XXXIIL—

JOHN RAMPSAY AND WOMAN — HIS RESEMBLANCE TO A CER- TAIN CONGRESSMAN — TWO TRIPS WITH LADIES — REASONS FOR NOT KISSING ONE — MEETS WITH A HANDSOME WOMAN

A SANGUINE MAN — GEORGIA — SOUTH CAROLINA — NORTH

CAROLINA — AN UNHAPPY NEGRO — SLAVERY — A SUMMARY OP MY SIGHT-SEEINGS — HOW A FAMILY SHOULD TREAT A QUARRELSOME MEMBER 233-243

LETTER XXXIV.

DANVILLE — WELDON — MURFREESBOROUGH — DOCTOR HAN- KINS AND HIS MIXTURE — WARRENTON — HENDERSON

RALEIGH — LETTERS FROM HOME — THE AUTHOR — HIS TA-

TENTS — HIS CHILDREN, ETC. — J., OP MEMPHIS — POLITICS . 244-255

LETTER XXXV.—

ENGINE OFF THE TRACK — SCARY PERSONS — POLITENESS OP WHITE WOMEN AND " BLACKS" CONTRASTED — LYNCHBURG — KISSES STRANGE WOMEN — LIFE INSURANCE . . . 256-260

LETTER XXXVL—

author's CHILDHOOD — LYNCHBURG — LOVE OP OUR BIRTH- PLACE — WISE, JEFFERSON, WASHINGTON COMPARISON OF

STATES — THE PHILOSOPHY OP CONTENTMENT — THE PHILO- SOPHER'S STONE — " PENNING MEN" — A.'s AMBITION — POLI- TICAL EXPLANATION — WHIG AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES — SLAVERY — ABOLITION — " MAMMY" 261-283

LETTER XXXVIL—

"the SOLEMN — THE SERIO-COMIC — AND THE SILLY** . .284-293

LETTER XXXVIIL—

UGLINESS AND WEALTH — BEAUTY AND POVERTY — " OUR BUDS" — OLD VIRGINIA — " AMELIA" — '* MRS. FRENCH" — AN

EPIC POEM — THE MATERIALS FOR — DEFINITION OF LADY

OF GENTLEMAN — HUMAN NATURE — SELF — HANDWRITING —

EFFECT OP CHILDREN 293-309

LETTER XXXIX.—

EGOTISTICAL — CONFESSIONS — IS A MAN BOUND TO HEAR AN INFERIOR PREACHER? — METHODIST PREACHERS — KNOTT, CHAPMAN, BASKERVILLE — THWEATT's PORTRAIT — THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH — AN IMBECILE EPISCOPAL MINISTER — THE LITURGY — THE BAPTIST CHURCH — THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — TWO PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS — PREDESTINA- TION AND MORAL AGENCY — THEIR CHILDREN — HUMILITY AND CHARITY — RECAPITULATION — AND NOW FOR HOME . 310--330

XVI CONTENTS.

EXTRACTS FROM "A BOOK OF THOUGHTS AND TALK/'

PAGE

THE HEIGHT OP INCONSISTENCY 333

A QUESTION ABOUT THE SEXES 333

ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING QUERY 334

ADVERTISEMENT 334

TALKING IS NOT ARGUING 335

A MINISTER CAN BE SAVED 337

ADVICE TO A YOUNG BRIDEGROOM 337

C, ALABAMA 338

THE WAY GOD TEACHES SCHOOL 339

FLOGGING 339

THE LITTLE GIRLS — GOD BLESS THEM 340

SCEPTICAL 340

BROOKS AND SUMNER. A PRESCRIPTION FOR DISUNIONISTS . . 341

PAULINE 345

A GEORGIA LAWYER 346

A TALK ABOUT FIGHTING. BE PEACEABLE IF YOTJ CAN — FIGHT IP YOU

MUST 348

MACAULAY. THE TWO KINGS. CATHOLICISM 356

POPERY 357

the husband op a fast woman 358

dancing, swearing, etc 358

"confound" 358

the way to retain parental influence ..... 359

the effect op such teaching . . . . . . . 359

how to swear 359

miss nellie atson 360

letter of introduction 360

"THE avoman's law" 360

WHAT GOD IS 366

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 366

FINIS 367

PART I.

MISSISSIPPI. NEW ORLEANS. TEXAS. MEMPHIS.

LETTER I. Jackson, Miss., December 20, 1855

Dear Molly : — I do not intend to write you a letter to-night. Stage-travelling and letter-writing are not at all compatible. With the exception of a little rest at Columbus, I have been moving day and night. I started at 6 o'clock yesterday morning for this place, and have been tossing up hill and down, until I reached the cars, twelve and a half miles from here, this afternoon.

I would not write at all now, but I do not wish you to be ia suspense. To-morrow night I shall be on the Magnolia, and then after resting, I can collect my wandering thoughts and centre them upon home, children, wife. It is not however for the want of thoughts about you all that I do not proceed. They throng in abundance about me. " Beauty,'^ Anna, Alice, yourself — your images are all before me. They inspire me as I travel. They stimulate me to go forward. They make pleasing the prospect of my return. Physical indisposition arising from fatigue, and the want of time, are the real reasons which induce me to forego the pleasure of pleasing you by a long talk on paper.

Kiss the children for me ; excuse me for disappointing you ; and accept afresh love no less ardent and much deeper and

28 A rfiEr behind the family curtain;

more durable, than that of the honeymoon, from your affectionate husband;

William Atson.