Show A BALLAD OF OUR DIXIE the following poem a ballad on the early settling of dixie was written in 1861 1864 by george A hicks who was one ot of didies pioneers I 1 tune georgia volunteer once onca I 1 lived in cottonwood and owned a little farm arm but I 1 was called to dixie which did me much alarm to raise the cane and cottan fright I 1 right away must go but the reason why they called me im sure I 1 did not know I 1 yoke dold old jim and dolly bolly up all for or to make a start to leave my house and garlea garien gar lea it almost broke my heart wo we moved along quite slowly and often looked behind for the sand and rocks of dlce kept running through my mind at length we reached the black ridge I 1 where I 1 broko broke ray my wagon down ji could not find a carp carpl AFIr pr I 1 was twenty miles from town so with vt a clumsy celar ce lar polo pole I 1 fixed an awkward alido my wagon pulled so heavy beavy then that betsy could vc net ride while betsy was a wali dum I 1 told her to take caro care i when all upon a u she struck a pear then she began begam to blubber out As loud as she could bawl afi it t was back in cottonwood I 1 would not net come at all when we reached the sandy we could not move at all for poor old jim and bolly began to puff and loll 1011 s 1 I whipped and swore a little but could not ma make kethe the route for myself the team and betsy were all ot us give out next we got to washington where we stayed a little while to see it if april showers would make the verdure verdure smile but ohl oh ivas I 1 was mistaken and so I 1 went away for the red hills of november looked just the same in may I 1 feel so weak and lonely now theres ichler except prophetic sermons which we very often hear they will hand hana them out by dozens and prove them by the book id rather have some roasting ears to home and cook i I 1 feel eel so weak and hungry now I 1 think im nearly dead ITIs seven weeks next sunday since I 1 have tasted bread of 0 carrot tops topa and lacem greens weve had enough to eat but 13 utIA id like to change my diet oft off to buckwheat cakes and meat I 1 brought this old coat with me about two years ago and how ill get another one im sure sura I 1 do not know may providence protect me me against the wind and wet I 1 think myself and betsy these times will not target forget my shirt Is dyed with wild doc kroot with greatwood greak wood tor for a set I 1 tear fear the colors all will fade when once it does get wet they said we wa could raise madder and aad indigo so blue bilue but that turned out ut a humbug the story was not true the hot winds whirl around me and take away my breath I 1 have had bad chills and fever over till im nearly shook to death AU all earthly tribulations are but a moment here and ohl it if 1 I prove faithful my wagons sold for or sorghum seed soad to make a little broad bread a and poor old jim and aad dolly long ago are dead theres there only me and betsy left to hoe boe the cotton trpe ree may heaven help the wherever he be may bet GEORGE A HICKS written in 1864 in dixie |