The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-10-21
abingdon, Va, October 1st, 1870.
TRAVELS WITH A PAINTING,
No. 2.

| HIGH POINT, N c., Sept, 1870.
MEssRs. EDITORS: May not be con-
sidered as presuming too much upon the
honor you have already conferred upon me,
in submitting this extended detail of nv
Travels with the Painting. do this, fiat
tering myself that at least some of your
readers may have become somewhat enlist
ed or interested in my behalf, and that it
might be to them source of some gratifi-
cation, as well as matter of enquiry, as to
what had become of the chill and fever
doctor and his painting, after that memoir
able night in the dismal swamp of South
Carolina. All !! but few can ever realize
the half of what felt that night. The
groans and lamentations of that sick woman
will ever be fresh in memory, and when
my mind reverts back to the circumstances
with which | was surrounded, on that sad
and melancholy occasion, my heart natu-
rally and irresistibly goes up with emo
tions of gratitude for my safe deliyerance
into the land of tar, pitch and turpentine :;
and though my travels in South Carolina
were attended with many reverses; though
frightened with all the horrors incident to
one whose future seemed destined to the
ills of life, yet | cannot refrain from an
expression of kind feeling towards the good
people OF that State. Indeed, never had
but one objection to those people, and that
was, they would invariably let poor fell
low stay out too late at night before thew
would take him in, and which, you know,
is not very conducive to health in that mi
asmatic region Saying nothing about
snakes, alligators, &c.
NoW Macors E1ifo,, .>,,...
you little sketch of my travels from Cam
den to Columbia, a distance of two days
travel with horse and buggy, which you
will bear in mind was my mode of travel
ling in those days-my buggy being so
constructed as to support long box con-
tanning the painting. Well, being refresh
ed with pleasant nights rest and good
breakfast, congratulating myself on having
enough money left to pay one more bill, at
least, and having obtained from my land
lord the necessary information respecting
directions, distances, accommodations, Sc,
took leave ofthe good people of Camden,
turning my steed in the direction of Co
lumbia.
had gone but short distance, however,
until heard some one crying out at the
top OF his voice-"Stop! stranger, stop |"
Casting my eye back, discovered my land
lord approaching me in double-quick.-
This did not alarm me much, as had set
tied all damages before leaving.
"Well, stranger, says he, zone thing for
got to say to you to-day, you will pass
through very suspicious country-yes,
even dangerous-an wish to say to you,
sir, that there is but one house at which
you can stop tonight with any safety
The gentleman with who n you will stop
is preacher, and the cleverest man on the
road"
Gail right" says l, "he will probably
take the greater interest in the exhibition
of my sacred painting"
Returning thanks to my landlord for his
kindness, resumed my journey in the di-
rection of Columbia, at the same time con
graduating myself on having good time
with the old parson; and yet every leaf that
fell from the trees, every bough that creak-
ed by the way-side, struck terror to my
nervous sensibilities. Robbers and assas-
sins were before me all the while. could
think of nothing else. My heart began to
thump and beat, like pheasant on a log.
My eyes would contract and expand at
every moving object before me. In short,
my feelings became horrible beyond. all Il
human description-when just at this mo-
ment tall, uncouth, ferocious specimen of