Tar Heel Tales by H.E.C.Bryant (1909)

Copyright, 1909,
By STONE & BARRINGER CO.

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TO
JOSEPH PEARSON CALDWELL

most of these stories you have seen, some you have praised, while others, newly writ, you have not been able to see on account of your unfortunate illness, but, to you, the Prince of Tar Heels, I dedicate all, in loving remembrance of fifteen years of intimate acquaintance, faithful friendship, and most delightful companionship.

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PREFACE

These tales, concerning all sorts and conditions of people, were written by H. E. C. Bryant, better known as Red Buck. As staff correspondent of The Charlotte Observer, Mr. Bryant visited every corner of North Carolina, and in his travels over the state wrote many stories of human interest, depicting life and character as he found it. His first impulse to publish his stories in book form resulted from an appreciation of his work by the lamented Harry Myrover, a very scholarly writer of Fayetteville, who said:

“I have been struck frequently at how the predominant mental characteristic sticks out in Mr. Bryant. His sense of humor is as keen as a razor. He sees a farce while other men are looking at a funeral, and this exquisite sense of humor is liable to break out at any time—even in church. One may read after him seriously, as he reports the proceedings of a big event but toward the last the whole thing is likely to burst out in an irrepressible guffaw, at some very quaint, funny reflection or criticism, or an inadversion. All this shows out, too, from the personal side of the man, making him delightful in talk, and altogether one of the most entertaining fellows one will meet in many a day’s journey.

“I really think there is more individuality about his writings, than about those of any other writer of the state. Every page sparkles and bubbles with the humor of the man, and it is a clean, wholesome humor, there being nothing in it to wound, but everything to cheer and please.”

These words honestly spoken by Mr. Myrover encouraged Mr. Bryant. Red Buck’s dialect stories soon obtained a state wide reputation, and as Mr. J. P. Caldwell, the gifted editor of The Charlotte Observer, truly said: “His negro dialect stories are equal to those of Joel Chandler Harris—Uncle Remus.”

His friends will be delighted to know that he has collected some of the best of his stories, and that they are presented here.

In North Carolina there is no better known man than Red Buck. A letter addressed to “Red Buck, North Carolina,” would be delivered to H. E. C. Bryant, at Charlotte. Everybody in the state knows the big hearted, auburn haired Scotch-Irishman of the Mecklenburg colony, who, on leaving college went to work on The Charlotte Observer and, on account of his cardinal locks, rosy complexion and gay and game way, was dubbed “Red Buck” by the editor, Mr. Caldwell. It was an office name for a time. Then it became state property, and the name “Bryant” perished.

Red Buck has traveled all over the state of North Carolina and written human interest stories from every sand-hill and mountain cove. Many Tar Heels know him by no other name than Red Buck. In fact there is a Red Buck fad in the state, which has resulted in a Red Buck brand of whiskey, a Red Buck cigar, a Red Buck mule, a Red Buck pig, and a Red Buck rooster, although the man for whom they are named drinks not, neither does he smoke.

This book of Tar Heel tales is from Mr. Bryant’s cleverest work.

Thomas J. Pence.

Washington Press Gallery.

December, 1909.

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CONTENTS

Uncle Ben’s Last Fox Race 1

Forty Acres and a Mule 11

The Spaniel and the Cops 33

A Hound of the Old Stock 43

Minerva—The Owl 58

Uncle Derrick in Washington 68

And the Signs Failed Not 79

The Irishman’s Game Cock 97

Strange Vision of Arabella 112

A Negro and His Friend 125

Faithful Unto Death 142

“Red Buck”: Where I Came By It 153

Until Death Do Us Part 168

Uncle George and the Englishman 181

She Didn’t Like my Yellow Shoes 191

Afraid of the Frowsy Blonde 199

Jan Pier—The Shoeshine 206

William and Appendicitis 214

ILLUSTRATIONS

Nine Little Tar Heels Frontispiece

Uncle Ben 1

Aunt Matt 11

Tite, Riding a Democratic Ox 27

Marse Lawrence and Trouble 43

Uncle Derrick at Home 68

Preparing for the Guest 79

Arabella the Day After 112

Jim in a Peaceful Mood 125

William 214

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