The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-10-03

Il
three half clad children, two little boys and d
,delicately formed girl wild almost as partridgcs,
and cndeavoring to hide behind each other
Mag spoke to them In her kindcst accents, aud
hold out her hand whether it was tho smile
on her face, or the glistening of plain gold
ring upon her finger, we know not but the lit
tic girl, boldor than her brothers, gnawing
ferccly upon one Of her fingers, came sidewise
toward her. Mag took the unoccupied ones
within her own, and, pressing them gently,
asked the child its name. The little one stared
about awhile with unmeaning eyes, and finally
pointed toward what before was unobscrvcd,
some ascending smoke, and the evidences of a
just commenced clearing" Prompted by GU
riosity, and won upon by the artlcssness Of tho
children, Mag followed on until she stood be-
fore heap of rough -hcwn logs place for a
window, and larger opening for door, show
cd it to be the rudcst kind of habitation
Tho noise of her footsteps, and that of the
children, brought out of the shelter wiry-
haired dog, that showed his sharp teeth at the
appearance of a stranger, and upon whom the
two boys flung themselves SO roughly for its
ill-manncrs that the cur was glad to escape.
Mag stood a moment on the threshold, and
then entered, ignorant that there was any one
within to hail her appearance. Two or three
chairs with deer-skin seats, and table leaning
against the wall for support, was all the furni-
ture that met the eye, unless we include a
couple of kettles that glistcncd from constant
use, from under which the embcrs had moul-
dcred into ashes, and yet ret iincd their shape
Mag was about rctreating, ignorant of the
existence of an occupant save herself, when
in one corner of the room, upon low bed,
raised from the Hoor by timbers fastened in
the wall, she discovered the pale face and
clnacintcd form of one she knew at once to be
tho mother of the children about her, The
sight OF SO much poverty an distress, SO start
lingly ncwto hcr sunk to her hcart-slic leaned
over the, patient with tenderness, scarcely
breathing for fear Of awakening her. The
woman gave a3 slight groan, turned her face, to-
ward the d and opened her eyes, The pre-
sGneessR ar.,aa
Mag rcpcnted her curiosity as she watched the
wandering eye and unmeaning expression. 1t
settled down, finally. into a strange inquiry,
and, with a smile playing about her compress
ed lir, she asked
s"Are ye of Heaven, strangcr-so fair, and
so unyearthly Z"
II am not" said Mag, with emotion, as she
bcheld the symptoms of the wandering mind.
81 am not Of Heaven. My fathers boat is
just below here in the rivcr-what can bring
from it to relieve your sutfcrings"
+ ''Bring me some water"
Mag handed her soh.c in gourd, which
she drank eagerly, her hot breath almost
scorching Mag's hand as it played upon it.
"Whar are you from 2" again she inquired of
Mag, staring her in the face.
"Just from the river" was the reply of the
poor girl, almost overcome with excitement.
"I'll go back and bring some one to help YOU"
"N6, don't go!" said the woman, clutching
at Mag's hand-"don't go--thc fever is off
now, and the ague" aud tho poor sufferer
pressed her hand upon her heart
"Marm-~,Aarm !" sang out the oldest boy
"Marm, whar's the corn ? Kit won't cat no
moro berries ~
At this appeal the poor mother showed that
she heard the question Of her child-but she
did not reply; and the boy, after repeating the
remark iu whining, complaining tone dozen
times, dragged from the ashes some half-cookcd
mcat and, soatlng himsoli' upon tho door.siil,
divided it between his brother and sister.
"I'ye been mighty weak a long timc," final
ly sighed the woman-"a long time--and roots
and YARDS ha not helped mc-even doctors
stuffs ha' not helped me-
AS she spoke, the talking of her children
met her car.
"Whar'll be my children when I'm gonc |?
who'll take em to the settlements 2"
Mag leaned over the sick woman, and ell
deavored to encourage her dropping spirit
but in vain. The intcrlnittant fever, SO com.
mon to a new country, had fackod her system
and preyed upon naturally weak mind, until
one had become almost inscnsiblc to pain, and
the other to thought. Occasionally would she
for moment revive, and incolcr emily talk of
things, evidently "reminiscences of her youth.
Then she would speak of her chillrcn--then
breathe short sentences of prayer. But cx