The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-31
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The Mothers Last Visit.

.tThcre is something in this more than natural
sfphilosophy could find ii ont."-tiiam'ct
One dark, foggy winters evening a
party Of young men were assembled in
as strengthening nn apartment us n
company Of we'll dressed respectable
people were perhaps ever collected in
for the purpose Of enjoying convivial
meeting. It was large attic with a
slunting, roof, from which projected two
sqnareWindows with rat,ling easements,
ykrouglf whose chinks and crevices The
tettherT snow danced sgaily,. and then
sssstledgii a miniature rangepf alpsupon
t he sine slt wac 5.er6l l. -,
hung, By way cfscRt,aiH, nn old faded
and iultered trble-clo,h ila, had once
been printed baizc, and over-lhc other
n piece of sack cloth served similar
purpose. \ large strong deal liable
s,cod near the windows, and on i, lay n
strange assortment Of surgical rrepara-
lions, bones, skulls, chemical apparatus,
\ bottles, Instruments, and books. A
small bed oflhe shape that Punch de.
dominates the scssnrs,', was pushed
into an obscure corner near the fire.
place; and This, with the table before
mentioned, sUndry boxes, and ono old
lealher-covcrcd easy chair, composed
the whole furniture OF The room. This
easy chair was occupied by young
man of slight figure and delicate health;
the rest sat upon the bed or upon boxes
round the fire. Another box, placed in
the center, supported two pewter pots,
the remains OF a loaf and some cheese
rinds, The wrecks and fragments of,hcir
supper. The owner of this place OF
I few comforts sat upon the most rckctty
of all the boxes. IIn was about two
and.twenty; but his pale studious face
made him look much older. There
were, besides, in the firm compression
of his mouth when silent, in his rapid,
but distinct, enunciation when he spoke,
in the quick glance Of his intelligent
dirk eye, even IN the small attention be.
slowed upon his crisply, curling black
hair and redundant whiskcrs, evidences
of reliance upon himself, and an in
difference to the opinions Of others, that
belonged 10 maturer agc than he could
claim. Yet his figure was not devoid
OF certaiu picturesque grace that, 10
the eye of an artist; would have more
than compensated for absence ofneat
ness. His open shirt.collar, slightly
confined by black ribbon, displayed a
strong and well shaped masculine neck ;
and his loose German blouse suited well
with his large boned vigorous, and
symmetrical frame. The ONLY sign OF
ornament that could be detected about
him was q steel buckle 10 the black
leather bolt round his waist. 1t was
perfectly plain, but very bright; and
often while conversing, his eyes would
full upon it, and he would mechanically y
polish it with his hand.
The other young men, five in mum.
Der, ell bore the stamp Of mental super.
iority over the common run Of young
gentlemen; and all bore in their attire
and some in their gold watch. chains
the marks Of grcntcr anlucncc than the
poor student they were visiting. There
is one remark, which am sorry to say,
veraciiy comrels me 10 mike concern.
ing them. They were alI--from The
stnlwart host to the pale youth in the
chnlr--all smoking; yes, smoking com.
mon clay pipes and filing the room
with an odorresembling that Of "vilain.
Gus shag."
Walter Cameron loved these friends
and fellow stu lenls; they formed his so.
ciaI world in the loneliness Of The huge
city; anil every Saturday evening found
them asscmbledin, his comiorlcss abode
where they enjoyed themselves mucI
moro Than they would have done il