The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-07
tflisfellanrous Departn1cnt.
sERENADE IN NORTH CAROLINA.


Not a thousand years ago and not very
much more than thousand miles from here,
(Winisor, N. C.,) lived a young lady, the
daughter of very plain country folks, who had
Just returned home from boarding school
hayias finished her education. Her residence
was on the western bank of a "lttle river in this
county The period of which time write was
September. Between the family mansion and
the waters edge, was five acre potato patch:
The roots were cultivated in hills and the vines
were luxuriant.
On the opposite side OF the river, quitea
number of young gentlemen lived, who were
noted for gallantry. Their devotion to the
sexhad induced them tounite their accomplish
rnents IN the forming of - sercnadins band.
The return Of the young lady referred to, al
forded them an opportunity Of doing the gen.
teei. They accordingly met on a clear moon.
light night, andeach furnished with his musical
instrument, betook themselves to their boat to
give musical treat to the ). fair returned"
With mufHled oars they noislessly crossed
tie river and gained the beach. With stealthy
tread they approached the house at the hour
ofimidnight, aud ranging themselves in line, at
q signal from their leader. violin, flute, cla,io-
net, and trombone, in one mighty blast, to the
tune of Dan Tucker" broke the stiffness of
the night and the old folks slumbers. The
mother screamed from from alright, and call
ed to the daughter for an explanation Of the
unusual noise-an was informed III reply that
It was a sereaadet" liistaking the reply,
flew to the old man, who little deaf, was sit
ting bewiidered at tie music, to him confused
sounds
The wlfe's report "they are cannoanling
us p satisfied him. He few to the gun-rack
and taking down old q blue trigger" hurried
down stairs and aroused the house. Mean
while the young lady stood at her window with
the curtain half drawn, drinking the melody as
was waited up. The boys, innocent as Sir
Isaac's dog Diamond, Of the mischief they had
made, were laying themselves out upon the last
variation, when at twenty feet distance, the
old man showed around the corner with his old
musket, aud drew the trigger. She did not
shoot, but the FIRE rolled, bright as falling me-
teors. A stampede ofelectric suddenness took
place-the "leader" of the band leading in a
bee line for. the boat, followed in commend
able ncarness by his company. They hurried
in the start, but the repeated efforts of the old
man to get his piece off," increased their cf-
fort at speed-and call by him for a "chunk
offre" to toneh the priming, told still more.
They forgot the potatoc vines, and such a
scene Of confusion was never witnessed. Head
long tfeyfelI, and at each fall, the sound of bro
ken fiddle strings or battered drums. foretold
thedeath of that band. Heltor skelter, rolling
crawling and stumbling along, they gained the
waters edge and their boat-and sGch pulling
--mep.of.war's men might have learned some.
thing from them then,
Ihc; vines SO oimpeded the old mans progress,
that ne did not reach the bank with his 8 chuuk"
till the cannonaders were out Of gun shot, and
heretur1ed well satisfied that his timely ap-
pearance and courageous manner had achieved
the salvation OF him and his, In the melee the
old lady flew for safety and snccor," whence
she could not be found that night Next NOR
ming she was discovered under the wheat barn,
and, after many assurances that the can
nonaders were routed, was Prevailed upon to
come forth.
All the parties to the frolic are 30 sore upon
the subject, that we dare not mention it-and
would not have them to know that had writ
ten this for the drowry ofthe girl AMI herself
TO boot
Yew trees are the longest lived o" Any other
in Europe. There is one at Braba',e in the
county of Kent, England, which is Flowed to
be 5000 yaars old. The old Englis.l yeomen
made their bows Of the yew tree.
~ Lord Erskine, speaking of animals, hesita-
ting to cali them brutes, hit upon that happy
phrase-'the mute rcation,'-Coleridye,