The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-08-26

hope, Messrs. Editors, that the circum-
stances under which the above lines were
written will serve as sufficient apology
should it be regarded by your readers as
somewhat proper.
You may well imagine did not tarry
long after this inscription on Larry's wall
But poor Larry, he has long since gone to
that home or station from which no travel
er ever gets return ticket and may the
Lord pardon him, for no man has ever
lived or died in whose breast there might
be found a more vindictive spirit or hatred
to our Southern cause. But l will pass
on and relate, if you will bear with me, a
little incident of my travels through the
district of South Carolina, and from which
l derived and have ever since been honor
ed by the appellation of Doctor.
Well, to come to the point, was travel
ing, one very dark and dreary night,
through perhaps one of the most lonely
and dismal swamps of all that region of
country, where naught be seen or heard
but the thrilling notes of the swamp owl,
intermingled with the believing of alliga.
tors, like so many mad bulls, together with
the wild shrieks of other numerous inhabi-
tants of that dismal spot, all of which, to
my mind, at least, seemed more intended
to Brighten poor traveller to death than
anything else. | ask is it unreasonable to
suppose that under circumstances like these
a man would resort to most any means to
lind shelter and protection? Having been
refused at every house, and at the dead hour
OF midnight, my eyes fixed upon glimer-
ing light that shone out from the cracks
OF huge log cabin. / found my way to
the door and cried aloud No one heard me-
Againl sent forth one fthose unearthly yells
which could only be expected of one in
the last agonies of despair. Never before
was that dark and dismal swamp penetra.
ted by such sound, and | am sure that
my friend Coale, of Abingdon, will bear
me witness that that man or woman who
did not awake under it must have been
either dead on dying. But he came forth
like one resurrected from the dead, and
had it been in the days of Ku Klux,
would have thought that one was standing
before me.
With my lips quivering in despair, en-
treated the man to take me in. 'No,"
says he, "my family are all sick, and | can
not admit you in my house."
what is the matter with your family 2"
says |.
"Chills and fever" was the reply.
just at this moment it occurred to me
that | had with me "McMakin's 5000 Re-
ceipts," treating on chills and fever, and
that might by this means succeed in pas
ing myself for doctor, risking, however,
to the mean chance of good luck as to
where to feel for the pulse.
"Well," says to my friend, perhaps it
would be well for you to take me in, for
| assure you that in all my practice have
never lost one single case of chills and
fever"
"Come in, Doctor, come in, am pleased
to have you with me, tonight" said the
poor old man, who seemed more dead than
alive.
This was a sweet word to me, and yet it
was more like voice from the dead. On
entering the room, groans and lamentations
greteed me on every side. My situation
was terrible beyond description, and yet
regarded it as far preferable to risking my
delicate frame in that dark and dismal
swamp. Having passed through that ter
rible night without having killed or being
killed, (our bills being equaD took leave
for other parts.
Respectfully, d. L. G.