Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-06
LETTER FROM MRS. F. D. GAGE.
The WeHther at Port Royal---Ride TO a
PlantntiOn---Old Jack.

remark, giving stupid people, or those thai
might as well be stupid, an opportunity tC
make advances and come into semi-social
relations, is a more prolific source of con
versatiOn in Beaufort than in any other
portion Of the globe with which we are
just now familiar.
Imagine the glossy magnolia growing
over your head, the Oleanders in full
bloom nOdding at you, the sweetest of rose
buds opening their pure hearts to your in
speCtiOn, the magnificent japOnica, with
double and thrible eenters, spreading its
delicate crimson and white to cheer you,
and then imagine if you can, the Gideon
ties las we are ealled) shivering over
blazing fires, chilled and actually suffering
in the damp air, and you will have some
idea of this curious climate. At night we
pile the blankets and quilts as high as our
limited supplies will permit and yet
should there be Tom among US, he would
have to cry out-"Poor Toms a-cold."
And then such q wishing after the good
coal fires Of father-land; such planning
and contriving to keep warm at midnight,
such putting and tanning to keep cool at
mid-dsy-makes one almost believe that
the world is whopping over and over like
a pOrpoise, end for end, instead,,Of hanging
soberly on its pole as it was used to do in
the days when we studied Morses old
Geography, and consequently we are in
the Arctic regions one-half the twenty
four hours, and in the torrid zone the bal
ance of the time.
We advise all people who choose to
spend the winter in South Carolina, es-
pecially upon the Sea Islands, to bring all
the winter clothing they would need in
New-York, except furs, and even they may
be acceptable. The chilliness doubtless
arises from damp. A towel, wrung as dry
as possible, will hang in your bedroom
two days at . time, and if especial pains
is not taken it will not be dry even then.
Scrub floor, and it will take hours to re-
move the moisture that it will not chill
your feet The natives here do not seem
to mind it, but the Northerners, recently
imported, are decidedly of the opinion that
the sammy South is myth, at least eighteen
hours q day-st least in times Of storm.
During the month Of November we have
nights and days as clustering as they are
up North, when regular north-easters
pinch and shrivel us-or at least it seems
so. Yet examine the thermometer, and it
will not have sunk degree from yester-
day, and you are left to wonder whether it
is you or the weather that is out of tune.
But we do have sunshine also.
Enough about the weather; and now,
reader, will you visit q plantation with me.
Step into the buggy, and Tom, who is call
ed q secesh horse will Whirl US with def
ant strength up the street, through that
long row Of shadows. Look, do you see
upon either side, the old Beaufort houses2
Bay windows seem the framework of a
living picture, in which from three to 0
dozen contrabands make the foreground.
Every building that can be obtained is
full to overhowing. In the old Beaufort
College building, on eur left, there are
nearly hundred rstioned by our Govern
ment, and huddled together in groups.
They hardly seem TO know what it all
means; they look into each others eyes
bewilderingly. All they can tell is, that
they were slaves 'longin' TO old massa on
the main, or on some distant isle; now
they are called free and packed into Beau
fort College, having enough to eat, and
] - 4, T. =,
You viii ask, perhaps, why they do not
90 to work. Please will you tell what they
shall do7 There are no sweet potato
patches, no cotton, no rice, no sugar-helds
in Beaufort. Liberty has come to them,
and by-and-by her handmaidens, industry
and opportunity, will follow, and answer
TO their plaintive cry in this their hour of
transition and travail from ehattels into
men born in the image Of God"
But why do they not send those chill
dren to school p you ask again. Because
there is no school-room, no teachers, no
books, no blaekboards. Why, dear reader,
the two schools Of Beaufort are full now.
One is taught by colOred man, in small
building; the other is in the Methodist
Church, and yesterday three Of our North
ern girls had one hundred and eighty-two
in one room, to put through the common
drill of A. B. c., and from that up to Bible
realities.
But we must haste See you those vii
lagos Of canvas, stretching away over the
sandy plain. Six regiments Of our gal
liant Northern boys are trying to make
homes in those peaceful houses Of cotton.
We will leave them behind us soon. Now
We reach the shell road, over which rebel
coaches dashed merrily sixteen months
ago.
There is q soldiers funeral Steady,
Tom, steady; that mufAed drum need not
make thee prick up thy ears. It is only q
squad Of Union soldiers bearing away q
messmate to his last resting-plaee. OH
what grief and disappointment are going
out like ravens upon black wings, to light
upon some door-sill and croak "never
more" TO anxious, loving, waiting hearts
One week ago yon long row was not half
filled; every day, aye, more than once
every day, a new-made hillock in that des-
olate cemetery tells its tale of untimely
death.
Now we skim the earth like a bird, for
the road is smooth and beautiful. Shall
We turn to our left into this narrow path,
oVer-arcned by i've OAKS and hung In
perfect mist Of the interminable moss.
How grand, how unesrthly, is the deep
shade Of such a forest as this; can you
help thinking that the very trees stand in
grim desolation, as in their winding-sheets,
while the wind sings requiem to the de-
parting grandeur of South Carolina's
g 9BuiHark of Freedom"
Look ahead; there are the cottages"
"What, those low -dingy novels call
you those cottages p
"Aye! those are the cottages you have
read about and these the fields where
South Carolina's chivalry wruRg by
bloody sweat and tears. BY stripes and tor