The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-08-29

say, OeVllS-0ay, Win US. IL was H0thlhS Dul
drinking and dancing. pitching, cards, and
swearing.
"Well. sir, YOU see-Jesse he got married
to regular lady-like girl, sir and i turned
out pous one. They didn't none Of EN-
that is, Pinkham, his wife, and old mother
ljine US in our merry -makings on Sabbath,
but sometimes the young man and Bessy-
that's his wife, sir-woud walk five miles to
hear parson preach. We was all down up
ON Jesse, sir-you see the real thing was, he
made US ashamed of ourselves by his good
ness, and was worse than the rest, trying
my best all the time to pick up quarrel with
him. Well, sir, one Saturday night what
did we see but notice stuck upon this very
tree, that there'd be parson from Franks
town on the morrow, to preach to us. We
didn't like the news, and we could tell pref
ty well where the move come from cause
you sec, we knew Jesse was pious. So we
determined. the greater part OF US, that we
wouldn't have any psalm-singing-ao can't
| ing prayer-n0 reading out OF the Bible.
"Well the minister came, and he found a
Babel. We all got together, and we rallied,
and laughed, and pitched quolts, and made
such noise that the parsOn had to give it
up. He tried agln, and agin, and came right
among us-he was plucky, tell ye-but
we hoOted in his ears, and threw mud on his
bettermost clothes, and so he was fairly driv.
en- off'-'cause you see we had liquor enough
4 in US to set US all crazy.
Poor Jesse. how we jeered him after that,
1 but he bure it meek, sir, and | was often
ashamed OF myself, though I'd died afore I'D
confessed it. But am sorry enough for my
part of it; for one day there came rumb-
! ling. heavy noise, shaking The earth, and then
a crash like raitling thunder beneatlI our feet,
and we knew that somebody was buried a.
live. 1t was in the working shaft where
Jesse Vas, aud there didn't happen 10 be a
soul in the place except him, poor fellow =!
! They'd all gone into another shaft, where lie
didn't like to follow EN-, cause they were
such wicked set; and as they was eating
j their dinners. aud he his. the accident hap
pened.
" We dug him out, sir He was awful
lcrushed--all but his iace--that looked smi.
\ ling and peaceful, and We couldn't bear the
SIGHT: il made Us think how we'd a-ireated
Thin. So We carried him home to Bessy
She didat CRY and take on, as most the men's
wives DO when an accident happens. but it
were awful 10 see how still aud white she
were Awful, sir. and never want to see
sight like il again.
1--WE all felt bad--for poor Jesse hadn't
never said harsh word to one Of US, and
/ he'd borne many an insult.
/ We couldn't see through il when he
we're living, but used 10 call him weak head
ed and tame coyey,' and as lie Law there
& :. A a Eaaitner
over me. sir. you NAV depend upon il. Oh!
fif Id heard then To the lesson that was tell
ing Of me. il I'D only listened then to the
voice Of God, speaking a. il we're IRON the
lips Of that crushed dead bady, I'll saved
myself many day Of suilerin'-many an
hour Of torment. But didn't.
eve All walked IL the grave, and | tell We
il touched even hari fellows like u, to see
that Young widdcr with her little child in
her arms, luller close TO the coffin-never
Ecrying. only hnlding her head down as il il
were too heavy bowed with her sorrow TO
keep itup.
!" Well. We had talk at the grave by the
same parson as we'd treated 81 badly.
don't know wha, his gnul words wnuld a.
done in after days, il hadn't been leader
in wckedness. ha,er Of pions people, and
everything that had to do with religion, a
wicked. swearing, worthless sinner say il
TO NV shame, dun't boast. sir, Gnd forbid.
| wish could shut out nv thoughts and the
wears Of my life ihst ! amt spent pcus.
Hut Gud. hope, II be mericifOl 20 me.
s.Wen, sir--his wife-the poor young
thing touk the drata sadly 10 heart. They
said The shack had been top sudden. dried up
ali her tears, like. She never cried once't
unly lansui.hcd and pned, grew thinner and
whiirr. aud died Just three months after poor
Jesse. That was how the little bny--Jesse'.
little bny-eame 10 be an orphan. sir.
;. Well, We were 81 determining 70 take
care vi the httle nnc, 50 We cast lots every
munih 10 see which should have the main
tainin' Of him. 1, used to come TO me preti,
often, but done ii willingly. sir. because
considered I'll been hard 10 the man--hatd
TO poor dead Jcssr.
!. The bny was pretty. sic. but he didn'i
grow much. You see he hsdn't 40 mother.
lore 10 thrive on. They women. they though,
they did well by him. but they sort O. hus.
tied him, and lie waited something different,
coming Of a delicate stock. ! don't sPose
nothing. sir. can give child that ieel. that
having somebOdy TO love and call mother
does-no. not all the cossetin' IN the world
by strangers.
aWell, the wears passed. snd The little fgl.
low began 70 be handy IN the mine. ltseen'
ell pity to see him beginning that hard
surt o. life, bat then we're not able TO take
care uf one more helpless hand. aud thCr,
! wac plenty Young as he down there.
4 but be was 50 different from al the rest
of the children. lie looked for all the world
before he got the grim IN his face. like gen.
tlrman's child. sir. Ills skin vas like tie
shells you sometimes see with leetle ret
llngc on EN-, aud BE had his mothers large
btawn eyes. aud his fathers curly hair. and
then he was 80 sim.like and girlish. But b,
had spirit beyond his strength. and gloriet
in wmk.
fittings was going on about as usual. eS
ccpt that | was harder down on religion thar