Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-27
From the Literary World.
LEGEND OF THE REVOLUTION.
THE OLD WHIG AND THE OLD TORY.


Icannot now recoect how old | was, when
| found myself one afternoon pleased listen
er, as usual to group Of backwoodsmen, Sit
ting upon bench in front of a Carolina tavern.
While they chatted, an old man rode in from
the country. He WAS we'll mounted; and
though evidently one who had dsome time sluce
compassed the usual limits of human life, he
carried himself with all the erectness Ola Colo
mel of Dragons. The landlord, an excellent
fellow, who was quite as fond as myself OF
telling or listening to story, received the OLD
man with peculiar deterence. He whispered
me
"This is old Col. K, of ST. Georges,
whom they call King K, in those parts
He rules the parish"
watched the new conner with great atten
ton. He sat down with the group; talked
about cotton, which then brought good prices,
aud, it appeared, was expecting his wagons
that night. The old fellow seemed to be very
we'll known, and was very communicative. lie
evidently felt his position to be quite secure in
the esteem Of everybody. He spoke OF his wife
as old as himself, and quite as vigorous, ahd ne
confessed to full eighty winters Of experience.
have observed that, when men have fairly
passed the m ddle period Of life, and can no
longer venture to claim to be young, they then
become proud of their years. So manifold are
t re subjects and the forms Of human vanity.
Our COL K was however, an old man evil
dently. His white hairs and furrowed visage
were nconclusive proof Of his frosty expert
ence-frosty but kindly and the facility and
freedom of which he spoke oil old times, and his
great knowledge of details, particularly during
the revolutionary period, assured all who heard
him, of a personal experience. He had gone
through several anecdotes which | found Sill
gularly fresh and pleasing, when another trav'
eer made his appearance. This person seem
ed to be quite as old as the former. tie was
well made, about the middle size, of light com
plexon, grey eyes, and very good features, tl'
ken separately, but, on the whole, the expires.
sion was not preposses>ins. There WAS some
thing ubiquitous and indirect in the cast OF his
eye, and lurking shadow ofsuspicion and mis-.
trust seemed to gather beneath his great whle
eyebrows. He, like the former, was erect also
in his carriage, his step WAS firm, and his figure
was indicative of the possession, in past times
at all events, of great strength and activity
He was evidently capable of great physical
endurance But Re complained Of fatigue. He
had ridden fifty miles that day.
"Ihere was a time," he remarked, "when
could have done that thing almost atore break
fast but amt good for'it now, no how"
"And where might you come froml" de.
manded the Fl: st stranger, Col. K, whom
[ remarked, from the first arrival Of the last
traveller, as curiously watching him, with some.
thing like a look Of recognition.
"Fair6eld's my district" was the prompt re-
ply.
Fairfield! You're an old man like myself"
"a short ways beyond the eighty mile post I"
"Ihat's what call old! Pm something over
that myself Have you been all your lie IL
Carolina Z"
"Its my native State" said the other
s.Then you must have sarvcd on one side or
t'other, in the rcvoluionl' was the remark made
with singular quichness.
The person thus addressed, was rising at the
moment, and about to enter the tavern He
cast a sidelong and suspicious glance at the
sneaker, and answered i'll rather lower tones
"I reckon did"
"Them were the days that tried mems souls"
remarked Col. k, in the somewhat stale
phrase, as if all dsys were not calculated to try
mems souls where they have any to be tried.
But K continued:
"Was Fairfield your native districtF"
"Now somewhat deliberately al was born
in Coington." tCocon)