Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-02-05
SABBATH READING,
~ e Last Quaker Meeting.


From Judge O'Noall's Annals of Ncwbcr-
ry, we takethc following beautiful and touch
ing description of the last meeting of the
Quakers in Ncwbcrry
The cold, gray sunshine of an October
Sabbath morning preceding the bright ror-
gcousncss of the Indian summer seemed
appropriate to the invitation | received TO
accompany n dear lady friend to the last
meeting which has been held hv her sect ut
the Quaker church on Bush River, Ncwbcr-
ry district. South Carolina Two Friends.
an aged lady and gentleman. hal come from
n distant land on n visit to the few who re-
manned of their persuasion, and to look uDnn
the graves Of all who had so peacefully de-
parted to the blessed home of rest The ven
erab,c Hugh O'Ncali, whose striking bio
graphy appeared last week in the local dis
trict newspaper, and his aged companion and
youngest living daughter, were all who re-
maned of that people who. once, with the
olive branch of peace and industry in their
hands, made the rich lands of that section
of the district smile with their examples of
thriftand economy. AS wcrole gently alonr
L had ample leisure to reflect upon the many
social mutations which have already swept
over our land in her brief period of national
infancy. We overlook the good old father
O'Neall a short distance from the church.
mounted on his drab-colorcd pony. and look
ing like Old Mortality striving to defy time
that silently moving power which carries cv-
cry thing into nothing. whatsoever looked
on that glod man. in the over-ripe maturity
of a virtuous old age. loved him. With "A
cheerful word and a hcart-ilumming smile
for all. he was tho practical example of puri-
ty and elevated virtue. Rest there. old faith.
crs, IN thy quiet graves. The roaring winds
Of this wintry storm disturb not thy slumhrys
tonight, for thou vast with peace, beloved
by God and by man
The plain Quaker carriage of the visiting
friends stood before the church-yarl. ami
they were walking in silent meditation a
mongst the carefully heaped-up mounds.
which pious devotion had preserved from com
mon disorder and neglect. twas IL picture
which. since then. has dwclt with me, and
one which have often thought would pen
paint that others might receive the satiSlac-
tIon which the touching spectacle aiT,rdcI.
1 was a boy then-amOitious urthe future
with the world spread out bcfIrc me and
since it's trials. its disnpppntmcnts, its vcx-
ing cares have bHsCt ny path; but that day.
and its Impressions have dwct in the cham
hers of mcmory--puro as a strain of music
tloatng over distant waters. The gray old
church. with its plain exterior. the singular
garb of the pIous Friends. the ncatncss of all
the mOundS-cvcn those of near n hundred
years-thc bright colors Of tho diving leaves.
already tinted by the autumnal frosts were
grouped into the picture. whilst the now
mellow sunshine. reflected from thebuo skv.
draped it with beauty beyond the achieve
mcnt of the pencil of art. The glory of that
days sunshine was Gods smile upon the
remnant of his children of peace Silently,
and ono by one, as messengers from another
land, they entered the church. and / felt at
first that my presence might be an intrusion.
whore ali was love and holiness; but the
youngest. my lady friend, quietly babe me
enter We sat long, and in meditation
Patience and meekncss, and long.serving
and humility. were thus silently taught to
the hundreds who lay around in the peaceful
slnmber Of death; and the reflections which
arose from the shrines of the past told the
history of by-gone years more cloqucnty
than living words could have done. A car
dInal red-bird came and twittcrcd among the
delicate boughs Of rod-fruitcd cornell tree
which grew over grave, and its scarlet garb
and shr!Il electric notes frequently, and for
long time repeated, were strangely con-
trasted with the quiet scene around.
Note after note he poured forth from his
t~ll'throated baak, whilst his swelling crest,