The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-06
that be really did not know whittier lie

1 ~ eSSN'S'o5
place." he continued, 1--WE bavcTjust pass
ed" The reasons for this course were
sad ones. lie had Sister at Louisville
who had married and removed thitber.
while be was yet child. The death o.
that sisters husband had induced her to
write for her brother to come on to pro-
tect her in her widowhood, and assist in
settling up the estate. His parents pro.
vided him with all the neccssaries for the
|. journey, gave him permission to tarry a
few days at New York and Philadelphia,
should he. think proper, and also gave
him about two hundred dollars ip, monaYs
Ali went smoothl ysand pleasantly until
he arrived ID P Philadelphia. Here lie
took lodgings at a leading hotel, and soon
formed au acquaintance with two: young
men of gcutcel exterior, plausible man.
ners, aud captivating address. Accom-
panied by them, he, during the day, Vis-
tied several Of the leading institutions,
and a, night accepted An invitation to
play game at Whist, the only game OF
cards with which he was familiar.
Several days and evenings were occu"
pied in similar manner. lie then de-
termined to continue his journey, which
he did, by taking passage in one OF
the Lines for Pittsburgh. On appearing
at the depot the next morning, he was
delighted 10 6rd his two companions
They also Lud business West, and they
regarded it as a pleasure TO have 80
agreeable companion. After exhaust
ing the ordinary topics Of the day, the
game Of whit was again thought Of and
renewed. They first played for tue cards,
then for l;euor, and finally for small
| sums of money. The youth became ex>
cited and ere they reached the iron city,
lie had lost every dollar that belonged to
him, with the exception Of sum just
sufficient to pay his passage from Louis
vile. But again the strangers made
their appearance on hoard an Ohio river
steamer, and in the hope of recovering
what he had lost, the dcluded young
man played again, when his gold watch
was the sacrifice. On arriving at Gin
cinnati, he was nearly mad. lie then
helhought himself of a package which
his mother had confjed 10 him for bis
sister. lie sought for it in his trunk,
found AMI opened it. It contained
necklace as love eft, and an unscalcd
letter, in whi,h VS. cncluscda bank
note for 500.
Still tempted by the demon of gam
Lling, and still anxious to regain what
he had lost, l;o returned to his vile
companions and whist. liz played
hour after hour, lost the money, and
then staked and lost the necklace. At
this point, the horrors Of his situation
were illdiscribable. Louisville was at
hand, but how could he meet his sister?
How could he explain his folly, his in
fatuation and his crime, lie had left
home with Il good name, on mission
of sacred duty, and he WAS now a thief
and Il robber lie had misemployed
funds given under hallowed circum-
stances, and his condition was indeed
desperate. Confused and perplexed,
he at last determined to rush from the
boat, leave the rihed package at the
house Of his sister, return and fol-
low the fortune Of the gamblers, who
had tempted and betrayed him, in the
hope that they would not be SO hoart-
less as to throw him off,. But this hope
was Of short duration, for they were
among the party that left the boat as
above described, i'll consequence of there
being too many Of the fraternity on
board.
1t was while they were returning
that he was noticed by Green, and that
heice tear forced itself to his eye,
when he realized the loneliness and
wretchedness of his situation. He was
on oucast and a robber-had become
so q few days, from having ventured
upon what he called an innocent game
Of whist, and thus he truly said, in re-
ply to the question put to him-that he
knew not whittier he was going. Green
advised him to return to his sister and
make frank confession-but his heart
failed him-he had not the moral nerve
He could not. meet the being he had so
bitterly wronged. He gratefully ac-
cepted a slight loan from Green, and
soon after departed.
Two years rolled by. Green was
again on the Mississippi, q passenger
on the steamer Mediterranean, on her
way from Orleans to Louisville. An
accident happened by which she was
induced to stop near Plaquomine.
While there, fellow-passenger remar-
kedthat he had just witnessed hor-
rible sight upon: the forward deck of
the boat.
"Ahr' exclaimed Green imme-
diately proceeded to the spot designated
He there behed FIVE men in chains
aonvicts, on their way from New Or