The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-07-13

ready lor nm as we wanted him to go
off as scrumptious as possible. Jest at
that time, Deacon Morgan's oldest daugh
ter, Thankful, was married to Josiah
Plain. They lived on the old turnpike
road, about half a mile from our house.
Now, Thankful and | had always been
as thick as two peas in pod and of
course | had an invitation TO tue weddiu'.
and mother promised me new chintz
gown for the occasion, and this was a
great event 10 the, as money, was scarce
IN them war :imes, and our harvest
hadn't turned out remarkable.
But as the time drew near Cor Increase
TO leave, | began to turn over in my mind
what sort OF present could make him,
to carry oft, and keep round him, so tha;
he would aFays be sort o reminded of
his sister Mary, aud at last hit on one,
u little red morocco coloreG Bible. But
| knew IN order to get this, ia have to
go without the chiniZ dress for the we'd
din, and for a day or two there went ON
sharp struggle in my mind, for was
only seventeen then, and had great fan.
cy for shinn' feathers, as all young things
have.
'One m)rn;n', however, sat stitchin
on flannel sleeve for Increase, and Mo
ther WAS heelin' stockin' and siphin'
every few minutes, 10 herself, when
spoke un sudden. Mother, I've Jest con-
cluded to have Your old black silk we'd
din dress turned, 50 can wear it to the
weddim', and take the money YOU prom.
lsed me for chntz gown, and buy In
crease a little RED pocket Bible, that he
can aPays carry about him. Jared Nun.
son can ge; it when he goes to town 20.
moron, II you've 10 ohjcc,ions.'
NO, Massey, my dear child. amt
got no oljectons, says she and leaned
right over and kissed me, which Was
very uncommon thing for mother.
The day before Increase left, he aud
went TO take a little walk through Crook
ed Lane ; | remember that afternoon
better than DO yesterdays, though it's
more'n seventy years ago. 1t was in the
late May, ard The trees were All in bios
som, ike tents o pink aud white, pitched
Tick as an army's. The mir was full of
sweet smells, and the songs of Young rob-
ms, aud the pastures were sprinkied over
with daudclioEs, thick as The sky with
stars on II Summers night. But nv
heart was SO full, djdu't much enjoy the
afternoon 4; and Increase, he jnked and
talked artcr lis !ightest fashi'n, as We
went along, but felt there was some
thin underneath all this.
At !Hsr spoke, t>kiu the iittlo Bibie
out of my pocket. It's all I've got to
give YOU, Increase; but you'll take it
kindly, and remember its from your lit
tie sister Massy, and read verse in it
every day for her sake
lie took it with grave face. Yes :;
I'll promise you, dear little sister. III
wear it close to my heart
oh, Increase; and here | broke
right down. pat my arms round his
neck, and cried.
Come, now, Pussy, don't give up so.
I'm only goin' off To give them red coats
the whnckjn' they deserve, aud comm
home, one o :hesc days, to make you and
mother stare at my officers uniform, and
all the gals in singiu' school will envy
you such brother, see If they don't
'Oh-but Increase, what if anything
should happen to you-whst if you
should be brought home with broken
leg, or taken prisoner, Or Or
"'Come, come, now, Massy; You'll
never do for a soldiers wife, # YOU go on
at that rate That wasn't the way the
Spartin mothers used to send off their
boys to the war. Why don't you say,
III you don't give them British a good
lickin', won't kiss you when You come
back
lie said this with such look, that |
burst right out into a laugh that shook
the tears off my cheeks, AMI by this time
We hal go. home, and the COW stood
waitin' at the gate, and that was the
last walk Increase and ever took togeth
er; but We shall take one in another
lane, where the Autumn winds never
blow, as they blew that day, when the
news came
Tel! me, Aunty.'
1T vas cloudy, bIus,erin' day. We
heard the week before, there had been a
, skirtnish with the British, but no news
S'"S VI iHNiCaSci alu IuOlHCI u DtRuu W
grow uneasy. was parin' apple. in the
! milk room, when there come loud knock
al the kitchen door. My heart Ieapel
right into my throat then, for felt some.
how, there was tidin's Of Increase.
Mother stepped to the door, and then
heard Jared Munson's voice he'd mar
sied my fathers second cousins darteL
"'Miss Pike sand he, comm right in,
we've had ne "s from the war, and
and - I'm sorry for you!
"'Oh, Jared, has anything happened
TO my boyi asked Mother, in tone 7
never shall forget, though | live to be as
old as MethuSelah.
ssTbe great, strong man burst right out
c cryin' like child. Mss Pike he
said, it's happened to us, not to him, for
Gods taken him to himself'
Here Aunt Mercy broke right down,
and the tears flowed over her withered
earth For long time sha did not