USA > Tennessee > Hickman County > A history of Hickman County, Tennessee > Part 12
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At the place later called the "Aaron Caughran place," Daniel Martin, father of William Martin, lived in 1815. James Joslin lived near this place in 1809. In 1810 James Eason lived where Frank Scott now lives. Near by lived George Evans, who was a great pugilist, and who had, when he was a young man, lost a portion of one ear in a fight.
One of the early preachers on Garner's Creek was Hale, a Primitive Baptist. In 1822 John (" Daddy ") Brown preached at the home of Mrs. Steel, there then being no church house in this sec- tion. Mrs. Steel was a Baptist, and during Brown's sermon she several times interrupted him, calling at- tention to what she claimed were misstatements.
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SIXTH DISTRICT.
One of the first to locate on Plunder's Creek was Andrew Haley, who came from North Carolina in 1810. He was the father of the late Lytle Haley, of Garner's Creek.
Moulton Reeves, the father of Marvin and Albert Reeves, was a prominent farmer and citizen of Gar- ner's Creek. Jacob Humble lived on Pine River below the mouth of Garner's Creek, and was one of the county's magistrates. Joel Errington, who later lived on Garner's Creek, was the first to settle the place opposite the mouth of the creek. Claiborne Hobbs lived here at a later date.
Indian Camp Hollow, named on account of its once having been the site of an Indian camp, runs into Gar- ner's Creek near the Dickson and Hickman County line. Chimney Hollow is so named on account of the peculiar standing rock near its mouth. This rock bears a striking resemblance to a chimney. Gordon Hollow received its name from the pioneer school- teacher, John Gordon. Chalk Hollow is so named on account of a white clay deposit found in it. The Biter Hollow received its name on account of a family of that name who lived in the hollow. Cave Hollow is named for the cave near its mouth. This cave has been explored for over a mile. One of the curiosities to be found in this cave is a peculiar rock which, when struck, gives forth a bell-like sound. In the floor of the cave is a pool called " The Well."
In 1865, in the creek valley near where Samuel Errington now lives, Frank McCaslin, a Primi-
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tive Baptist, preached the funeral of G. Washing- ton Christian. Christian was a member of Vernon Lodge, No. 217, F. and A. M.
Joel Fuqua, a son of Jesse Fuqua, was born on June 17, 1819, and married Rebecca Dudley on August 20, 1846. He located at his present place of residence in 1850. He assisted in the erection of the Plunder's Creek mill, which was built in 1862. Prior to this he had assisted in the building and re- building of the Pinewood mills. He possesses re- markable ingenuity as a worker in wood, iron, and leather. As a fifer, he, in 1846, played for Whit- field's company of volunteers at Vernon. Dorsey Weatherspoon was the drummer.
In 1810 James Davis lived on the hill where John McDonough now lives. Dr. Shelby boarded with him in 1829 and 1830. In 1832 Dr. Lewis boarded with him. Dr. Lewis married a Miss Bowen, and later lived at Vernon.
On the east side of Pine River, on Little Spring Creek one mile from its mouth, Andrew Clark located on April 22, 1822. His son, Thomas Clark, now lives near where his father first settled. Andrew Clark was born in North Carolina in 1778. He ex- changed his lands in North Carolina for the lands on which the late John L. Temple lived. Here Clark died in 1852. These lands, before Clark traded for them, belonged to Solomon Jones, who had come from North Carolina several years before this. Some of those who came to Tennessee through the influence
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of Jones were Andrew Clark, Jesse Fuqua, James Alston, and Mrs. Steel. Jones bought these lands from Billy White, who was probably the first indi- vidual owner. Sons of Andrew Clark were William A. Clark and Joseph R. Clark. A daughter, Susan H. Clark, married John Loyd Temple on April 26, 1849. Mr. Temple will again be mentioned in the sketch of the Thirteenth District, where he was born on April 18, 1825. In 1855 Mr. Temple, while clearing land, found a terrapin. Carving the date on its shell, he released it. In 1885 he again found this terrapin-thirty years older, but going the same old gait. Again he carved the date and again re- leased it. On November 25 he covered a terrapin with leaves and dirt and left it by a stump. In the following February he raked away the covering and found the terrapin alive, well, and with speed undi- minished. On June 15 he found a terrapin on a nest in which were five eggs. On September 15 he removed the covering of the nest and found five little terrapins. A terrapin was found on Mr. Temple's farm with the following dates carved on it: 1862, 1868, 1873, 1878, and 1880. In 1896 it was carried to Pinewood, the date and initials "H. H. G." (Harry H. Graham) carved on it, and released. On December 25, 1848, Mr. Temple, while crossing Pine River at the mouth of Little Spring Creek, missed the ford. While battling with the current the swim- mer was encouraged by shouts from a negro, Bob Davis, who stood on the bank. No white people
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living near, Mr. Temple went to Bob's cabin, which stood where the brick storehouse of H. II. & T. H. Graham now stands, and dried his clothing. Bob had been the slave of James Davis, who owned the mill site here and the land on both sides of the river. Bob had been given his freedom and the land on which North Pinewood now stands. This was done on account of Bob's wife having become the mother of ten children. The land given to Bob was then timbered land.
James Davis had come to this place about 1810, and as early as 1820 had a gristmill and cotton gin here. Under Davis' control was a boy, Albert Wil- son, who became the owner of this property after Davis' death. Wilson sold the mill site to William Lytle, who had married a sister of Samuel L. and Richard A. Graham. This sale to Lytle and the Graham brothers marked the beginning of a new era in the business of the district and entire county. Wilson, who sold the property, was a gentleman of the first order. He married Miss Weems, sister of Hon. Joseph Weems. Lytle was an Irishman, pos- sessed of the noble characteristics of that race. He soon sold his interests here to his brothers-in-law, the Grahams, and bought property on Sugar Creek, in the Eighth District. A few years later he removed to West. Tennessee. The Graham brothers, now hav- ing full control, began the building of Pinewood, to which they gave the name. The gristmill was im- proved, and in 1851 the cotton mills had about 1,200
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spindles. Tenement. houses were erected, and soon Pinewood, touched by the magic power of money, directed by the hand of industry and wise economy, came forth from the shades of obscurity into the full light and busy bustle of a live little town. In 1862 Richard A. Graham sold his interest in the Pinewood property to his brother, Samuel L. Graham, and re- moved to New York City, where, after several years of successful business, he died. He never married. After the departure of his brother, S. L. Graham took charge of the business, and, although it was during the dark days of the rebellion, he remained at his post. He suffered from raids by Federals and Con- federates alike. Frequently parties unauthorized by either government raided his mills and factory and appropriated his goods to their individual use. After the din of war was hushed he continued to pros- per, and in 1870 he formed a partnership with his son, John M. Graham. On July 15, 1871, the cotton mills were destroyed by fire, the result of spontaneous combustion. The loss was $60,000. This was a severe blow to S. L. Graham & Son and to the sur- rounding country, but the spirit which first planned and built was alive, and that energy which knew no failure began to remove the rubbish ere the smolder- ing ruins had cooled. Larger buildings soon took the place of those destroyed. At Pinewood there was little friction between employer and employee. Mr. Graham employed and discharged his men with- out taking the outside world into his confidence.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Under his management Pinewood was a model vil- lage, where industry and morality held uninterrupted sway. Mr. Graham was industrious and moral, the inhabitants of Pinewood were industrious and moral-a noble example wisely followed. After the death of Samuel L. Graham, John M. Graham built a large brick store and put improved machinery in the mills ; but, in the division of the property, these improvements became the property of the other heirs, H. H. and T. H. Graham.
Between where Pinewood now stands and the mouth of Beaver Creek, Clem. Deshazo lived in 1828 and 1829, at what was later known as the " Howell Huddleston place." At this time the place was claimed by one Leftwick.
Howell Huddleston married Anna Easley, daugh- ter of William Easley, who in 1820 lived where Dr. Thomas Cash now lives. William Easley was the father of William Easley, Jr., known as "Long-jaw Bill," so called to distinguish him from other Will- iam Easleys-" Texas Bill," "Red-eyed Bill," and " Russell Bill." A negro named William Easley was called " Proper Bill." William Easley, Sr., was born on May 8, 1761, and died on January 20, 1826. He was buried at the Easley graveyard, now known as the " Petty graveyard." One of his daugh- ters married Robert Sheegog, the well-known Irish merchant of Vernon. A son, Millington Easley, set- tled where Hardy Petty lived for years, and where Rev. H. S. Ledbetter now lives. The Easleys owned
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most of the level bench land north of Key's Branch. On this land a circular race track a mile in length was situated, extending from near where M. M. Petty lives to near where the Graham Cemetery now is. Here, between 1825 and 1840, many dollars, horses, and slaves changed hands as the result of bets on the several horses that here contested. One of those who never hesitated to back with his money his favorite horse was Claiborne Hobbs, afterwards a faithful and zealous preacher in the Primitive Baptist Church. On these lands William Joslin lived in 1807. In his house were held the first courts of Hickman County prior to the erection of a courthouse at Vernon.
William Phillips once owned the lands north of the Easley lands and adjoining the James Davis lands. Upon them that portion of Pinewood south of the principal street now stands.
Hardy Petty, for several years a leading member of the Hickman County Court, lived for many years at the Millington Easley place, where he died on June 18, 1888. He was born in North Carolina on De- cember 5, 1810. . He married Susan Wrenn, of Vir- ginia. She was born on April 15, 1815, and died on August 8, 1885. The sons of Hardy Petty are: George, John, Wyley, Milton, and H. T. (" Dock ") Petty. His daughters are: Mrs. Thomas Field and Mrs. H. S. Ledbetter.
Peter Wrenn (born on April 8, 1801; died on April 2, 1874) came to Tennessee from Virginia, and to Key's Branch, in 1852. Mr. Wrenn was a re-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
spected citizen, and when he and his brother-in-law, Hardy Petty, died, Hickman County lost two worthy citizens. Matthew and John Wrenn are the sons of Peter Wrenn.
Hardy Petty and wife and Peter Wrenn and wife are buried in the graveyard near where Milton M. Petty now lives. On a tombstone in this cemetery is this inscription: " B. B. Satterfield, born Feb- ruary 18, 1804; died July 2, 1885." Colonel Sat- terfield died near Burns, Dickson County, from the effects of a pistol shot. Whether this shot was sui- cidal or accidental, no one will ever know. Colonel Satterfield was a man of pride, but not haughty. He was at one time possessed of considerable property, which was swept away by the Civil War. He was a fine carpenter and cabinet workman, and, undaunted by misfortunes, he, in his old age, resumed the trade long before this abandoned. For many years he lived near Vernon, where his hospitable home was open to all. On his tombstone are the Masonic em- blems, as he was a member of Vernon Lodge, No. 217, F. and A. M. Mrs. Satterfield died on December 8, 1849. On a near-by tombstone is this inscription : " William Satterfield, born November 7, 1837 ; died, 1858." On another: " S. J. Easley and M. R. Eas- ley, 1835." Another: "Louisa Stephenson, born, 1809 ; died, 1861." Here in an unmarked grave lies Allan Ethridge, who for many years was machinist at Pinewood. Here Ethridge, his wife, seven chil- dren, and two grandchildren are buried side by side.
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On a tombstone here is this inscription: " W. T. Easley, born October 4, 1838; died December 26, 1870." Emily Easley, his wife, was a daughter of Hardy Petty. She was born on November 25, 1843, and died on March 23, 1882. The tragic death of W. T. Easley is yet well remembered. On the day of his death he was the guest of Joseph Webb, who lived on Pine River below Vernon. With his uncles, J. T. and D. T. Webb, he was engaged in a deer chase. While they were galloping through the woods a limb struck D. T. Webb's gun, causing a discharge. The contents of the gun struck Easley, killing him. Easley was a son of Solomon Jones Easley, son of Millington Easley. Other sons of Millington Easley were Samuel, Dennis, and Frank. Dennis is buried at the Petty graveyard in an un- marked grave. Samuel went to California in 1849, was one of the famous " Forty-niners," and died in California a bachelor, possessed, it is said, of con- siderable wealth. In the spring of 1849 Easley, Ephraim Willey, and the late William C. Thompson entered into an agreement to go to California. If one of them failed to go, he was to forfeit one hun- dred dollars to the party or parties who did go. Eas- ley alone went, but never demanded the payment of the forfeits.
At the Petty graveyard, in unmarked graves, are William Philips and his good wife, Susan, the uni- versally beloved daughter of James McNeilly. Phil- lips was for three terms sheriff of Hickman County,
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
and for one term Representative of Hickman County. He married Susan Jones, who was the widow of that highly respected citizen, William Jones. Standing in this graveyard is a large cedar tree which is said to mark the grave of the first one buried here. How- ever, nobody knows who this was.
The Sixth District has furnished a number of good officials. William Phillips and W. B. Russell served their constituents as members of the Lower House of the State Legislature. John M. Graham is at pres- ent State Senator. This district has furnished the following sheriffs: William Phillips, Solomon J. George, and E. A. Dean. Under Sheriff George, Thomas Steele was a deputy. Some of the magis- trates of the district were: Jacob Humble, Hudson Dudley, William Wilson, W. B. Russell, Hardy Petty, W. P. Russell, Ed. Still, W. A. J. McDon- ough, and William Brown. One of the present magistrates is John McDonough.
Where William Harbison now lives, on Big Spring Creek, William Walker, aged eighty years, in a fit of despondency, committed suicide by shooting. At Pinewood a young man named Jones was drowned. Here, too, Samuel, a son of S. L. Graham, was drowned. A few years ago a sister of Mrs. S. L. Graham was drowned in Pine River opposite the Graham residence.
At Pinewood, during the Civil War, a man named Buchanan, who was one of a raiding party, was seri- ously wounded by James M. Meacham. Buchanan
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SIXTH DISTRICT.
was attempting to enter Graham's store. Meacham was a clerk in the store. Another more serious shoot- ing occurred at Pinewood during the Civil War. Jones Collins, who had just returned home after service in the Confederate Army, was employed as night watchman by Mr. Graham. A man named Parham came to Pinewood, and, while engaged in an attempt to assume charge of affairs there, was having an altercation with James M. Meacham, when Col- lins came up and took part. During the fight which followed Parham was killed by Collins. Here at Pinewood Calvin Ladd shot and seriously wounded Aaron Caughran.
A man named Cooper built and operated a spin- ning factory in 1830, just below where the present Pinewood Mills stand, and nearly opposite the resi- dence of James Meacham.
Near the southern boundary of the Sixth District, on the west side of Pine River, is the Camp Ground Hollow, so called from the fact that in 1845 the Methodists and Presbyterians held their camp meet- ing here. These meetings were held here as late as 1850. Near the mouth of this branch were spent the boyhood days of Rev. Lee B. Thurman, the well- known preacher.
Near this branch, on the Millington Easley (or Hardy Petty) place, now lives that veteran soldier of the cross, Rev. Henry S. Ledbetter. He was born on August 18, 1831, and was licensed to preach on August 3, 1857. He preached his first sermon at
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Enon Church, in Bedford County. His text was : " Go ve into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Right well has he obeyed this com- mand, and now, aged though he is, he is still strong in the faith. His grandfather was Rev. Charles Ledbetter, who came to Tennessee from Virginia in 1790. His father was Rev. Willie Ledbetter, who was born on July 31, 1803. Rev. Willie Ledbetter married Martha Knott, daughter of William and Elizabeth Knott, of North Carolina. She was born on August 22, 1802.
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SEVENTH DISTRICT.
CHAPTER X.
THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.
T HE Seventh District is bounded on the north by the Sixth District ; on the east, by the First and Sixth Districts; on the South, by the First and Ninth Districts ; and on the west, by the Eighth Dis- trict and Humphreys County. It includes a portion of Pine River valley, Wilson's (or Pretty) Creek, Taylor's Creek, Bird's Creek, and a portion of Mill Creek. Pretty Creek, formerly called "Wilson's Creek," is about four miles long, flows from the west, and empties into Pine River near Vernon. John Wilburn settled near the head of this creek in 1815. He bought the lands on which he settled from Isaiah Green, who bought from Hugh Johnson, to whom a large tract had been granted by the State about 1810. Felix McGuire settled on the north fork of the creek near - Snipes, who had settled there in 1806. Snipes was the first settler on the creek and one of the pioneers of the county. In 1813 Barney Donelson settled on what has later been known as the " Cates place." Merriman McGuire also located here. Lower down the creek Colonel Bailey located in 1807, on the place later owned by Jesse George, the first man who raised peanuts in Tennessee. The peanut crop was for years the "money crop " of the farmers of Hickman, Humphreys, and Perry Coun-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
ties, there being more peanuts raised in these three counties than in all of the other counties of the State combined. From the place of its introduction on Pretty Creek, this crop spread to the surrounding dis- tricts and counties, so that in a few years almost every farmer in the above-named counties had a crop of " goobers," as peanuts were called. Tradition has it that upon one occasion George carried a load of bad- ly mildewed peanuts to Nashville. The merchants there asked him to what particular variety these pea- nuts belonged. He looked innocent and informed them that they were "Big Brindles." The mer- chants thereupon bought from this unsophisticated countryman his peanuts for one dollar and forty cents per bushel. They probably received fifty cents per bushel for them.
At an early date John Wilburn had in his employ a man named John Phelps. When they came to set- tle Phelps claimed that Wilburn did not pay him all that was due him. He said that he would get even. Next morning Phelps was gone, as was also Wil- burn's fine stallion. Traders carrying furs to Nash- ville took with them the news of Wilburn's loss, and told of the fifty dollars reward which he had offered. . From this point the news spread to all of the Middle Tennessee settlements, and Phelps was soon appre- hended, and he and the stallion were returned to Hickman County. The reward was paid by Wil- burn, and Phelps paid the penalty of his crime. He was publicly whipped at Vernon, the county seat, by
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SEVENTH DISTRICT.
Sheriff William Phillips the First, father of Sheriff William Phillips the Second, and grandfather of Sheriff William Phillips the Third, who now lives in Shipp's Bend.
James Barr, the pioneer Presbyterian preacher, at one time lived on Wilson's Creek. He built a gristmill near the forks of the creek, this mill being the only water mill ever operated on the creek. Evi- dences of this mill may yet be seen here. John H. Whitson operated a steam sawmill and gristmill on the farm of the late Col. John Parham from 1885 to 1890. Tradition says that Rev. James Barr, while he lived on Wilson's Creek, had several beautiful daughters. So beautiful were they that the creek on which they lived came to be called " Pretty Creek." The old name, " Wilson's Creek," is now seldom heard. One of the daughters of Rev. James Barr was the late Mrs. Cynthia Easley, of Gray's Bend, widow of Millington Easley ; Mariah, another daugh- ter, married William H. Carothers. Rev. James Barr was a finely educated divine, and one of the strictest of his sect. He married a sister of Charles Bowen, who was a near relative to the prominent Bowen family, of Smith County, and to Lieut. Reece Bowen, who was killed at King's Mountain.
Richard Parham, from South Carolina, located at the mouth of Pretty Creek, on the south side near a fine spring, in 1808.
On the north side of the creek, opposite Parham, Armistead Estes located. He was a peculiar charac-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
ter, though a prominent citizen and the owner of several slaves. One of these, Bob, is yet living at an advanced age. Bob, when a young negro, was considered one of the strongest men in the country. He was a swift runner and a good jumper. His
fingers were never put to the ground under a hand- spike at the logrollings, which were then common. These logrollings were heavy tasks which the early settler had to perform in connection with the clear-
ing of fields. After the trees were felled and cut into logs of convenient lengths, so that they could be handled by the expected force, an invitation was sent to neighbors for miles around to come on an appointed
day and help " roll logs," as it was termed. At an early hour on the appointed day the settlers would commence to assemble at the appointed place. Then they would work all day long as if for wages, carry-
ing the logs and laying them in heaps. These log heaps would later be burned. Every man did his best, knowing that all present would help him on like occasions to roll his logs. Logrollings were only one kind of pioneer reciprocity. There were quilt- ings and house raisings and corn shuckings, where the pioneer men and women assisted their fellows. When the day's work was over, a free-for-all dance was indulged in, and the " old Kentucky reel " was run from dark till dawn. He who could jump the highest, "sift sand " the longest, and "cut the pigeon's wing " with the most vigor was the lion of these occasions. Those were glorious, grand old days
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SEVENTH DISTRICT.
-the days our ancestors knew. Despite the thorns of pioneer life, they gathered the wild roses that grew in the wilderness. Men were then just as gallant as now; women, just as fair. Pioneers-noble, grand, and brave -- God bless their memory! They cleared the fields; we have only to till them. They pene- trated the pathless wilderness ; we enjoy broad high- ways. They kept watch at night for the savages ; we sleep in security and dream only dreams of peace.
Taylor's Creek is in the southwestern portion of the Seventh District, and flows into Duck River. It is about three miles long, and is noted for the bold spring about two and a half miles from the river. The water from this spring sinks a half mile below the spring and rises again before it reaches the river. As tradition has it, a man named Taylor came from North Carolina in 1792 and entered a large tract of land around the mouth of the creek, which was after- wards called "Taylor's Creek." Early in the present century Taylor returned from North Carolina to look after his interests here. He stopped overnight with a settler and was never again heard of. Those with whom he stopped claimed that he had returned to North Carolina. His friends in North Carolina sent fruitless inquiries here concerning him. The early settlers believed that he was slain by his host, and the dead body thrown into one of the near-by sink holes. The more superstitious claimed that Taylor's voice could be heard nightly resounding through these sub- terranean passages making appeals for help.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
At the large spring above referred to, Henry and Andrew Stobaugh (or Stobuck) located about 1806. They were cousins of Mark Robertson Cockrill, of Da- vidson County. Andrew Stobaugh was a son-in-law of William Curl, who in 1806 settled on the flat lands east of Taylor's Creek, where Olinton post office was lately located. Curl was born in Chatham County, N. C., in 1767. He married Keziah Gamblin, who was born in North Carolina in 1770. He died in 1862, within a few steps of where he located. The house which he built eighty years ago is still stand- ing, as is also a portion of a rock chimney built at the same time by "Black" John Warren, so called to dis- tinguish him from another John Warren of fairer skin. When Curl first settled here the Indians from across Duck River were frequent visitors at his house. They were at all times friendly, and would bring wild honey which they would exchange for homemade soap. This they did not use in the orthodox way, but amused themselves by blowing soap bubbles. Curl, who was a saddler, sold them a fine saddle, which, mounted on a pole, they carried with them on all of their hunting and fishing expeditions. Mrs. Curl, who was always kind to them, was much loved . by the savages. On one of their visits they found her seriously sick. They immediately, after the fashion of their tribe, commenced ceremonies to frighten away the evil spirits which annoyed her. With wild cries they marched around the house. Then, with deep sorrow depicted on their faces, they filed slowly
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