The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-03-26

Many years ago, contracted an init
macy with Mr.. VIM. Legrand. He was
of an ancient Huguenot family, and had
once been wealthy but series of mis-
fortunes had reduced him to want. To
avoid the modification consequent upon
his disasters, he left New Orleans, the
city of his forefathers, and took up his
residence at Sullivau's Island near
Charleston, South Carolina.
The Island is very singular one. 1t
consists of little else than the sea sand,
and is about three miles long. Its
breadth at no point exceed quarter OF
mile. 1t is separated from the main
land by scarcely perceptible creek,
oezing its way through wilderness of
reeds and slime, favorite resort of the
marsh-hen. The vegetation, as might be
supposed, is scant, or at least, dwar6sh
No trees of any magnitude are to be SEEN
Near the western extremity, where Fort
Moultrle stands, and where are some mis-
erable frame buildings, tenautsd. during
summer, by the fugitives from Charles
ton dust and fever, may be found, in
deed, the bristly palmetto; but the
whole island, with the exception of this
western point, and line of hard, white
beach on the sea-coast, is covered with
dense underground of the sweet myrtle,
SO much priced by the horticulturists of
England. The shrub here often attains
the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and
forms an almost impenetrable coppice,
burthening the air with its fragrance.
In the inmost r.cesscs of this coppice.
not far from the eastern or more remote
end of the island, Legraud had built
himself small hut, which he occupied
when | first, by mere accident made his
acquaintance. This soon ripened into
friendship-ior there was much in the
recluse to excite interest and esteem.
found him well educated, with unusual
powers of mind, but infected with mis-
arthropy, and subject to pervcrse moods
of alternate enthusiasm and melancholy.
He had with him many books, but rarely
employed them. His chief amusements
were cunning and fishing, or sauntering
along the beach and through the myr-
Ties, In quest of shells OF chronological
specimens his collection of the latter
might have been envied by Swammer-
damn. In these excursions he was usu-
ally accompanied by au old negro, called
Jupiter, who had been manumtted be-
fore the reverses of the family, but who
could be induced, neither by threats nor
by promises, TO abandon what he consid-
cred his right of attendance upon the
footsteps of his young "Massa Will"
1t is not probable that the relatives of
Legrand, conceiving him to be somewhat
unsettled in intellect, had contrived to
instil this obstinacy into Jupiter, with
view to the supervision and guardianship
of the wanderer.
The winte in the latitude of Suli-
vans island are seldom very severe, and
in the fall of the year it is n rare event
indeed when fire is considered necessa-
ry. About the middle of October,
IS, there occurred, however, day
of remarkable chilliness. Just before
sunset | scrambled my way through the
cver-grecns to the hut of my friend,
whom had not visited for several weeks
my residence being, Mt that time. in
Charleston, distance of nine miles from
the island, while the facilities of passage
and re- passage were far bebind those of
the present day. Upon reaching the hut
l raped, as my custom, and getting no
reply, sought for the key where knew
it was secrcted, unlocked the door and
went in. A fiue fire was blazing upon
the hearth. 1t was novelty, and by no
means an ungrateiul one. threw off
au overcoa took an armchair by the
cracking logs, and awaited patiently the
arrival of my host.
Soon after dark they arrived, and gave
me most cordial welcome. Jupiter
grlnning from car to ear, hustled about
To prepare some mursh-hens for supper.
Legrand was in one of his fts-how else
shall | term them Y--of enthusiasm. He
had found all unknown bivalve, forming
u new genius, and more than this, he
had hunted aowa and secured, with Ju-
pitors assistance, a ScarabGus which he
believed to be totally new, but in respect
to which he wished to have my opinion