The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1859-05-03

.eThe most mischiefis done with the least noise,
'cordin' to my experience flst and last, here
and there, by and large as the world goes
Did YOU ever 90 courtin', Mister?"
II never did," said Tom.
-"Well. that's abeont the sticst work You
can find, l reckon, thong sometimes there's a
heap o business done"
Harkr' said Tom.
II don't bear nothin' but Paul and the gals
Pauls ruther sweeton one of 'em, should say
though 'twould be hard to choose atween EN-
Wax nv fax, if it wouldn't"
sit strikes me" said Tom, 'that the air is
growing hot and oppressive. Listen ! be quiet
there, Paul and the gals" IS.
Each of the parties became attentive.
A Kissing, roaring sound was heard over
head. ......
.sThe house is on frem cried IIutter. "Some
of the bluodthi,sty villains have effected an en-
trance through the roof"
The scout rushed up stairs and threw open
a door. A dense volume of smoke, mingled
with fame, met him and drove him back
Beds garments, everything combustiblc had
been piled in heap and fired. The straw, the
feathers, the linen, were like tihdcr; it need
ed but spark to kindtc thc mad blaze and
that had been applied some minutes before by
a cunning and malicious hand.
Scorched by the furious element, and half
suffocated, Hpttcr mounted the stairs again, in
hopes to combat the destructive power by scat
tering the material which fed it but it was too
late. Podijah Makepeace ran after him and
dragged him back, half choked by the pene-
tratinc, hot and snoke-loade6 air.
Paul Hazeihurst, in defiance of the black,
asphyxiatil,g vapors, rushed to the chamber
to close tie door that had been lett or-
en-, but saak blinded and oyerpowcrcd
npon the threshold. twas with difficulty that
ne could rctiacc hissteps. He was gasping for
breath like a drowning man when he rejolned
the anxious group below.
"lhat doornll,st be shet," said PodIah cor
We shall be smoked to death, like rats in hole
..l'll shet it, or srtfocatc tryin'. Wax my fax,
if don't !"
The tall form of Podijah disappeared III the
mass of smoke that rolled from above Ike
.thundesclouds.E There was a moment Of III
tense ai.Xicty, then the door was heard 70 close.
Almost simultaneously l'odijah tTmb!ed down
the stairs, covered with einaers; his face and
hands hlstere,3, and some OF sisssS l1s locks
withcred 10 ashes.
"Eravely dole !" cred Jcssie.Ss . % i.Ayc
not saved us YOU have ut Iest :: re.
"Doa,t.hf Rr, kEed io!;i&!,. "I.s
s5-a O.. sls 80 Isiixg Hsa z-7Ie7i ikss
me- IneSs ID git away from this place
alive if tIIcfss kythng desperate can do
"Despcrates ou is desperate said Hutter.-
ave might cut our way through anaerc our
selves perhaps, if there was nothip fenll-
inc natur' to look arter-; but these can't
stan nnsket balls, nor they can't stan fire"
"Heavensw exclaimed Paul. "What shall
we do!r-not for ourselves, but for these poor
girls"
Escape as yon can through the darkness :;
ard as for us girls, We will trust to the mercy
of the enemy, and yield ourselves prisoners" !"
answered Jessie, eagerly.
AYES, we will trust ourselves to the humani-
ty of the Tories" said Judith and Ruth, hurri-
edly.
"You will 6nd poor trust" returucd Hut
ter, looking compassionately at the three girls.
It'll he miserable mercy you'll git from them.
No, no! we can't think of that"
"Blcss You, Tom IIuttcr, no We can't, in
deed, think of that. We will die, if it be Ilea-
ven's will, for these dear and he pless ones but
forsake them, never!"
A loud shout arose from without. The To
rics were exulting in their success.
"What must be ionc!" asked Paul, in an
agony Of anxiety.
awe can do two things" replied Hutter-
"Rcmain here and be burnt, or rush out and
be shot"
"We'll neither be burnt nor shot" !"- rctortcd
Podijah stoutly. "rm bound to live as long
as uppers and unders II hold together | amt
Qoin' to knock under in the mornin' o my days,
by gum! / know that all flesh is grass but l
don't want my grass cut while it's SO green
I'll hold on to existence to the last gasp, swow
Tom Hutter rm goin' to cut jest about my
bigness and the bigness OF one o these gals
through the 'tarnal Tories, a leetie quicker'n
YOU can load load o hay when there's Il thun-
dcr-shower comm up like race horsc!!"
Laurelwood House shook with the violence
of the devouring fame which had eaten thro'
the roof and now enveloped tile and rlfter.-
While the group looked up Ill aiariii' reu
sword of fire was thrust down through the
ceiling.
1T is the flaming sword it waves rs from
our Paradise!" cried Jessie.
Nay" said Paul, impressveIy, "Some Of us
may he going to an eternal Paradise
The fire above growled angriIy in answer,
and the black smoke purled into the room like
the rank and destructive breath of demon.
"Let each man see that his weapon is loaded.
Take care, gals Stand back as far as You can
from the fame and smoke. There's burnin'
cinder on your dress, Miss Ruth-it blazes"
at is out" said Podijah, composedly, slnetll-
ering the incipient glow with his great hand.
1--WE must rush out two abreast" said Hut
ter. "Podijah and will go first. Hazclhurst,
you and Blinko keep near the ladies. Blinko,