The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-06-07

ccllent as he may be, through all this war has
never drawn blade or pulled a trigger for the
love Of his country. Your brothers are all
brave fellows, and serving her with honor
You stay at home to pore over dictionaries in
the daytime, and cone and make love to An
nette by moonlight. Now, | have nothing
against you, as | said before; but Eve made
up my mind Annette shan't marry a man that
hasn't had hand in this war against the En-
glish. If you are mind to follow the exam
pIe of Your brothers, and let me hear some
thing you have done can tell my ueighbors
of with pride, then you shall have my consent
to marry Annette; lns hers, dare say, she has
given you long ago. Atext, you know, is as
good as a sermon, Master Edward. So if you
want my daughter you know how she is to be
won."
Thus speaking, Squire Harwood took An
nette under his arm, and bowing very kindly
but firmly, to the astonished lover, disappeared
within the house
Edward remained standing moment upon
the spot where they had left him, as if trying
to realize what had passed. He then turned
away in silence, his cheek burning With the
glow cf a mortified aud sensitive spirit:
The profession he had in view was that of a
clergyman; and although not deficient in cour
age patriotismshe had suffered his brothers
to take the field and the deck while he remain.
cd at home. The words of the Squire sank
deep into his spirit. lie walked slowly home.
ward, very sad, and filed with painful ideas of
losing her who was so very dear to him. AS
he came upon the bridge, he had made up his
mind. He stopped, and speaking aloud sad
firmly: -
'If Annette is only to be won by taking up
arms, I will enlist tomorrow tls honorable
to serve, ones country. ! am rot yet clergy
man, and can therefore act freely. This is
the last day the reproach shall be thrown up
on me, that remain dallying at home "h'le
my brothers are abroad, exposing their bos"ms
to the weapons oftheir country's toes!'
While he was speaking, he saw. that The ship,
which he had noticed half an hour before at a
distance, had drawn close in with the land,
aud had d,ppped anchor about abreast of the
inlct. The un}had already set, yet he could
see her distinctly, and discover that she was
merchant ship. He remained for sometime
watching her, and listeningt to the distant drum
of detachment of militia of the neighborho"d,
which was retiring homcwards from the mus
tcl field. The sound Of the drum died away in
the distance beyond the mill and the low
dashing of waves against the bridge fell upon
his ear.
"WelI, tomorrow, too, shall march to the
measure of the fife and drum! | will enlist as
private and make my way up. Annette
shall be won!'
lie paused, thinking he heard the sound OF
oars lie looked scaward, but the twilight rem
dered objects too obscure to detect any boat
approaching. Yet each moment the fall "fthe
sweeps came clearer and nearer, and he was
soon able able to discover barge pulling in
towards the bridge. His position in the sha
dow ofan overhauging liub shielded him from
observation. He saw that the boat contained
at least twenty men. 1t moved slower as it
drew nearer the land, and a person standing
up in the stern directing its landing. ltstr, ok
the shore close by the bridge within the nlet;
and almost beneath where he stood, the party
debarked. He now saw that half of them
were seamen and half marines. and that all
were armed. They were commanded by a
yonng midshipman, who, forming them into
column marched them up the bank and on the
bridge. Edward, as they came near, drew
himself up into the limb, and was concealed in
the foliage while he observed with surprise
their stealthy movements.
'How far is the gr st-mI hence, Sambo :"
asked the young officer, looking about him af
ter had got on the brd ge, save man to guard
the boat ,.sss .
"The first mill am bout third of a mile up
de creek, and de to'thcr one whar dc most
grist be am mile. There is good path long
de creek Shore answered a man in the true
Yankee negro intonaton, but speaking with
manifest reluctance.
''If you deceive me darkic, you arc dead
manp said MILDLY, very positively.
II knows dat well 'nuf, so i tells you de
truth, tho hates It nightly! knows all
bout dis place, coz used to lib here once
Ober dar whar Squire Harwood lib, ands ober
dat way am widdur OgiIyie, an wish dis mig
ger was safe in dar kitchen! Inebber 60 cook
agin in Boston ship, nor no oder one a'ter bein'
took prisoner by de British as is dis time p
"IIist with your noise each of you march
forward in silence We are in an enemy's
country and must be cautious"
"Yes, | guess you better" said the negro.
eff de country people knowed you was skulkin
here after corn, -four, and sheep and oxes to
keep from starvin' to death, as we have been 4
week past. dey be round as thick as snake in
de grass. an dcbble one oh, you git back TO
our boat. So wise you, massa, to keep sharp
look out to de windward! Guy! how mad all
them be in de momin' when dey find out you
land here in prize ship, wild only two: guns
and thirty men, and carry off clear to Halifax
de grist from dere two mills, and sheep and
turkey too, for dc lieutenant's dinner Dey
swear den, and 'pect de Squire swear huff for
q whole regiment"
forward" cried MILDLY. "Silence all Of