The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-03-13
III rs gBN, L a N[3OUS .
TIE LOST FOUND AND RESTORED,
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

"eoVeIu Journey
"Yes," he replied, 81 have, and there
was a circumstance attending it which will
make it the most memorable event III my
whole life"
"Indeed, what is that my friend "
"Ah, it Would take more time than Ell
thcr you or could now spare Sa'' Man
Son, "for me to relate, and yon to listen to
The particulars but will attempt very
brief sketch of the substance:
"When went to school in Connecticut,
had very dear friend and s':hool'nate,
named John McL-d. lie WAS one OF the
brightest and most beloved pupils in the
echool. He grew up, paid his addresses to
beautiful and excellent young lady, a
member Of the church. At length lie was
married to his Mary; and they prepared
Immediately after that event, in pursuance
of q previous plan, to cmiyra:c to a West
orn State. The evening before the day we
were to separate, perhaps forever, had a
tender interview with my bosom friend and
his lovely wife; it WAS deeply affecting to
us all.
"The next morning they departed, with
:he affeciionate f:,rcwclls Of many old
friends and neiyhLors in the town where
they were born and reared, will, handsome
provision made !'y the parents Of both, WHO
were i'll competent circumstances. Ten
years elapsed, luriug Which | WAS in the
Methodist ministry i'll distant iacrs, rs my
Got happened to be cast Not a word con-
corning them reached my ears i'll all that
tinc. The course of duty called me then
to the vicinity af the place where my friend
had settled, and resolved to 90 out of my
why considerably te give John and Mary
vcalI. Arriving at the town, ai:l in'iuiring
for their residence, WAS to! they lived
some distance from the centre village. At
ilcngtll | found the place. At the first
glance, my mind tniSgave me. The sight
OF the miserable cabin m:l,lc he sick; and
after hitcling my horse, scarcely dared to
ENTER. Knock could not; there WAS no
door nothing Tut blanket stretched
across che passage. Removing this, alas !!
what did behold There WAS Mary sit
ting ION n stoul with an inf;,nt un her lap,
;siA another child in the corner on the
ground; for the cabin had no floor.
"Oh, sight of woe! How altered was
the lovely Mary tn!
ado you remember me, dear Mary 7" I
said.
90, Mr.. Manson, is it indeed you! We
are ruined !; John is lost, :.n'l an. the chill
dren arc starving here. We have not had
morscl to eat since yesterday morning"
"Great heavens said I, "and whelc is
John !"
ale is at the store; he has not been
here for several days."
must see him." replied.
Better not, sir, he is savage now, and
will ilItreat YOU"
must and will sec john" replied,
and started Immediately for the store. ac-
cording to her direction. There was no
time to lose, for | was to he at the confer
ence, whittier was bound. at n certain time
appointed. readily found the store and
entered. The first sight disclosed four men
playing cards at table. The next glance
discovered man stretched out along a
whisky h"Sshea.l. The landlord was sitting
by, bnt instantly hoppcd up and ran behind
the counter to wait upon me, supposing
was customer. Says !, "is John McL-d
here :"
They all looked at me on hearing the
question, as if l had been the old one or a
Sheriff.
"What is that to you" he sulleuly re,
piled
~ want to see him." J answered. While
was speaking, / Ito,x auotl,er sweep of the
room with my eye, and saw something like
a man asleep in tue corner. "Is that John 2"
I asked.
"Nonc Of your business" answered the
surly bar-kccpcr.
~ "1f tbs that unhappy man, sou will finl
# some of my business" replied. So I
went to him, recognized him, though in this
shocking, beastly plight, and began to wake
him. This was no easy job, and Will. I
was about Il, the rumseiIer and his ou.sts
demonstrated, telling me to 60 away, threat
ening cI'astise'nent and showing violence.
had i" my hand loaded whip, am not
inferior, you know, in point Of wisy. mus
casar power, and though man of peace. I
confess that in the twenty-seven years I
have been in the ministry, never felt 50
strong disposition as at that moment. In
give four or five men t'rashing. Thew
we're intiInidatel. and succeeded at l.notj,
in getting John upon iis legs, and ,rottiug
him off ho'neward. My presence and the