The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-05-23
SATURDAY MORNIfGs. MAY 2s, 1868

suffered, and what weary marches and short
rations they sometimes had. And then he told
me how his life had been in danger; how he
had been set upon by tho foe and badly wound
cd and how, at the risk of his own life, fel-
low-soldier had saved him, and carried him
away, lighting his path back &c camp.
I'D never seen you but for him." says my
Charlie. "And if there's man on earth love
it's Rob Hadaway-thc dearest, best fellow
We've shared each others rations, and drank
from the same cantecn many and many time;
and if had brother, couldn't think moro
Of him."
"Why didn't you bring him home to sec
your mother, Charlie" said I. "Why I'd love
him too and anything could do for the man
who saved my boys life, couldn't be enough
Send for him Charlie"
But Charlie shook his head, and covered his
face with his hnuds
Smother" said he, "I don't know whether
Rob IIadaway is alive or dead to-day. While
was still in the ranks he WAS taken prisoner
And military prisons are poor places to live
in, mother Id give my right hand to be able
to do him any good but can find no trace
Of him. And lie has a mother too, and she is
so fond Of him She lives at Grecnbank-
old lady. My dear, good, noble Rob, the pre-
server of my life"
And saw Charlie was nearly crying.
Not to let us see the tears, he got up and
went to the mantclpicce. l did not look
around until l heard cry:
"Grcat heaven. what is it ~
Aud | turned, and Charlie had the tobacco
pouch the man had dropped, in his hand
"Whcrc did this come from 7" said he. 81
feel, as though had seen ghost. gave
this to Rob Hadaway the day he saved me-
We soldiers, lad not much to giTc, you know
and he vowed never to part with it while he
lived. How did it como here, mother Z"
And fell back in my chair, white and
cold, and said l.
IA wandering tramp left it here Never
your Rob, my dear; never your Rob- He
must to have heoa an impostor. / wouldn't
haya turned away person reaiiy iaSsapt. Oh;
no, no; it's another pouch, child; or hc stole
it. tall fellow, with blu eyes, aud yellow
brown hair wounded, he said, and going to
his mother to Greenbank. Not your Rob
| And Charlie stood staring at me, with
clcnchcd hands; and said he
sit was my Rob! it was my dear old Rob,
wounded and starving my dear old Rob, who
saved my life, aud you have driven him out i
such night this, mother. Ny mother to
use Rob sol
Condemn me, Charlie, said I !; condemn me
you like; I'm afraid God will. Three times
he came back; three times he asked only for q
crust and place to lie, and drove him away
-, land he's lying in the road now. Oh (.
if had known! Oh! if had known.
And Charlie caught up his hat
III find him if he's alive said lie. Oh
Rob, my dear friend.
| And then--I never saw the girl in such TAX
ing. Down went Drusilla on her knees, ms if
she was saying her prayers, and says she:
| Thank God darod to do it
And says she again to me:
Oh! aunt, I've been trembling with fright,
not knowing what you'd say to me- took
him in the kitchen way. couldn't see him
Pgo faint. and hungry, and wounded, and put
him in the spare chamber over the parlor, and
I've been so frightened all the while
Lord bless you, Druslla, said Charlie
| Amen, says l.
| And she, getting boldcr, went on:
And l took him up some hot short cakes
and appc-sass and tea, says she, and took
him candle, and hot brick for his feet, and
| told him to cat, and go to bed in the best
chamber, aunt Fairfax, with tc white
countcrpanc and all, and locked him in and
put the key in my pocket and told him
that he should have one nights rest, and that
no one should turn him out unless they walked
over my dead body.
And Drusilla said it like an actress in
tragedy, and went off into Mysteries the mo-
ment the words were out Of her mouth. Shed
been expecting to be half murdered, you know
and the girl was but sixteen, and always be-
fore minded me as if | was her mother.
Never was there any old sinner SO happy as
| was that night, SO thankful to the good
Lord; and it would have done your heart good
if you had gone to sec the two meet in the
mornng-Charlic and his friend Rob. And