Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-02-23

sketches were held, from the many curious
observations and the good advice they contain
ed, drawn from actual experience, that there
were few young men in the city, engaged in
business, that did not possess themselves with
them.
Mr. Todd now resides in Charleston, S. c.,
where he removed a few months since, and
where he now keeps a store for the sale Of
Seed, Plants, &c. Success to him!
SCRAPS FROM MY NOTE BOOK.
NO..
WRITTEN FOR THE NEWS BY LAURIE TODD.
My life has been series of such strange
occurrences, that when look back it appears
as if had been mere machine, without any
will of my own | was born in Dalkeith, near
Edinburgh, 18th day of February, 1878. My
father was poor, [some are cursed with rich
fathers honest and industrious, and followed
the trade of Wrought Nail Maker He was
of the strictest sect of the Scotch Presbyteri-
ans, a Covenanter, and like his neighbor and
prototype, Davie, the father of Jenny Deans,
an honest man. Our cottage stood within two
miles of Dayie Deans farm, and within one
of the Laird Of Dunby- Dykes mansion, those
who have read the Heart of Mid Lothian, one
of Sir Walter SCOTS best productions, will
know what mean.
The first scene impressed on my memory, is
the death of my mother. was thirty months
old at the time | remember nothing Of her
Caresses, countenance or person | remember
nothing OF having seen her corpse or funeral :;
only remember l saw that gentle bosom,
from whence drew the first drops of life,
heaUe ats last Sigh. Sixty-two years there
after, stood at the foot of her undisturbed
grGUe, in a lonely church yard of solitary
glen in Scotland, and then and there | com,
muned with her ransomed spirit; for she liv-
ed the life Of the righteous, and her latter end
was like his.
was neglected and ill-treated byou house
keeper, in consequence of which | lost the
use of my limbs /; and not having exercise,
fell into weak and sickly state, and when
was ten years old, | was not as large as mos
children are at five. But in this, as in al
troubles and misfortunes | have encountered
hitherto, they were only blessings in disguise
for think the means employed to prop my
feeble frame, gave me new constitution, sc
that for the last sixty years, | have been only
one day confined to the house by indisposi
ton; and even now, my withered carcass il
only fourfold cord of skin, bone, bras
nerves, and iron sinews, SO nicely arranged
by the Gver of all good, it's like the small
wires from which swing [by nice arrange
mentl the suspension bridge of Schuylkill.-
Besides, when unable to walk, in my seventh
year, while sat on a low bench by the chin
ney corner, a small, insignificant mortal,
learned much of human nature and somewha
of mother a0it. My elders never thought tina
the mind grows faster in the dwarf than il
fhn inf. md In1o IL, ~
thinking had lost my eyes and my ears, az
we'll as my feet] played such antic tricks be-
fore the high moon, that made even ange
blush. Many droll scenes have seen enact
ed among the young folks who used to con
gregate in our house in my fathers absenc
in the long winter evenings, but of which
never told him, knowing it would only briny
trouble on myself People are apt to forge
that children can see and reason, when the,
cannot speak suffice it to say, that before
could read the A B c, had learned the who'll
mystery of nipplng and Skarting-Sc0tci
folks 1c00'ng, [AngIals; pinching and scratch
lng-a Scotch mode of courtingl
In my eighth year, when the Doctors hat
emptled their bottles of elixers and boxes o
OlntmentS, in vain attempts TO cooper my fee
bic frame, gpsey, comedy matron, VIII
may have seen sixty summers, entered on
dwelling. She asked for something to eat, [
request never refused, even by the poorest, i
Scotland j while feasting with seeming plea
sure, on oaten- cakes and sweet-mlk, my
CURE drew her attention. She examined m
palm, predicting muckle guide luck advise
my father to have me transported to the to
OF the Roman Camp, ian exceeding high noun
tam, three miles distant, and SO named fror
the fact that julius Caesar pitched his tent
therel in the long twllights prevalent in Sco
land. was sent every evening to gathe
about half pint of small Shell SnailS, whic
abound on that hill, and who leave their cave
at SUNSET to feed on the dews of the night
they were then cleansed in water from til
spring, and next morning boiled in three PIN
of milk, warm from the COW; this, with GA
meal porridge, was my food, morning, moo
and night. 1t was very palatable l no,
grew [if not in high stature ] in health. strengt
and spirits. am the more particular in nc
ting this thing, that any in the same condem
nation may go and do likewise. The she
enclosing the snail is an inch in circumference
streaked with purple and yellow; they aboun
on every mountain where flowers blossom
grass grows. The land flows with milk, al
oatmeal, which may be had at my store fl
twelve cents per pound.
The taunts OF the aUee bodie, from nv con
panions at play, or in school, fired nv so,
with ambition to equal or to surpass the tai
est and Oldest among them; in this genera
ly succeeded. | remember a trihe which O,
cured in my fourteenth year, On which sti
think with fear and trembling. On that ia
the Oldest son of the Duke of Buccleuch h;
completed his twenty-frst year. At mig
gymnastics and fire works were displayed
front of the palace AT sun down the tow
drummer informed the inhabitants that II
gates would be open from seven to half pas
and all were invited. Something keptme BAG
and just as | arrived, the door aUas shut.
thought of the foolish virgins. In a few mi
utes about dozen had assembled, who we
in the same predicament. A council was he
i proposed to scale the walIs-we started
but when arrived at what we thought the mo
accessible point their hearts failed; none wou
400 rfu