The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-16
stores. not, yet arrived, for $1,000.

y. n st . ~
But though these sums may sound
very large, the whole amount did not
embrace more than three months
provisions for the thirty-one persons
whom was accustomed to provide,
except in the article of salt. [ knew
this, and thought Of it, even on the
way home. n.
Finally, l made compact with the
servants that we should continue to
provide them houses, and to pay .ex-
penses of sickness, should such oc-
cur, and that they should, on these
conditions, try to support themselves
and their own families.
Three servants remained about us,
aud these seemed to me an astonish-
ingly small number. Our household
seemed very small, and our expenses
much diminished.
at length, our supplies were again
exhausted-again L walked the piaz-
"a. and considered that we had not
arother meal in the house. Confe-
derate money could no longer pur-
chase provisions at all. The country
people had ceased to bring any to
market. And again Providence open
ed to us source of supply. A
countrywoman stopped at the gate,
with q half bushel of potatoes and
pair of squirrels. These she offered
for some gunpowder. L had some,
and 1 eagerly made the exchange.
During the summer after the sur
render, we had absolutely no means
of subsistence but by selling the
salt which remained, and our cloth
ing.
The first things which went were
my poor mothers stock of baby
clothing. My father wept when he
saw me compelled to part with them.
But I felt as though tears would un-
man me; would not give way. He
knew that necessity compelled me to
choose these, rather than those arti-
cles which we were wearing, and
which we would not be able to renew.
I kissed him many times, and led him
up stairs without word.
received once twenty chickens for
an embroidered cambria infant dress.
Another time. five dollars for two
embroidered merino dresses. This
bought us five bushels of corn. Some
times I parted with my own wearing
pparel-soap for a collar or handker-
chief, bacon for q muslin spencer,
and so on.
Other ladies were doing the same.
Many kept their households from
starvation in the same manner. Stall
wart brothers, husbands and sons
were thus supported by their female
relations. Bracelets, jewels and sill
yer could no longer he sold, but cloth
ing was still purchased, for some sue
cessful business men contrived, /
know not how, to carry on their farm
work. Some persons obtained work
on the railroads, and thus some little
money was placed III circulation.
But many farms lay waste and I'M
cultivated. The corn which would
feed q horse would feed family, and
the only struggle was to escape star
vation.
All that year we lived by oxchang-
ing for provisions such articles OF
clothing rs we could spare; and, hap
PLY for us, our stock before the war
had been very largo. 1t camc to be
the case that winter that my brothers
could no longer attend church or
school for the want of clothing and
shoes, though l had never parted
with anything of theirs; but they
wore out their clothes so much faster
than my father or L. We had before
that time found out that we could
remain at home for want of clothing,
and yet not suffer rs the want of food
would cause us to suffer.
My father had become so dispirit-
ed, and often weak, from actual want
of delicate food, that L could not per-
suade him to make any exertion. 1
struggled hard to provide food enough
to keep us from starving; to teach the
children and to read to them on Sun
days, as they could no longer attend
church. could not cease to strive
for these children while breath and
life were left me.
[ could have given Trench lessons
and music lessons, but 1 could find
no one able to pay for them. In the
summer, we obtained leave to occupy
q deserted farm house. 1t had often
seemed to me that if we were only on
farm, some of our troubles would
be over. But, alas! the land lay
waste; much OF it was grown up in
- The garden was filed with
Yet my heart did not Silk. paid
clock to freedman, who had n
horse and was cultivating Il few acres