Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-21
!MY BLrND D WIFE.

My one-and-twcntieth birthday
came during theperiod ofmy meander-
ings. am d steady-going old fellow
enough nowY,but IN youth my lifewas
crowded with adventures. AT eigh-
teen 1 broke through the limitations
of the old homestead, deserted my
father S. farm, and became a rover;
There must have been nomadic
blood in me. AS child | was rest
less and enterprising. My grand
father, narrowly observing me, SAID
that just escaped being a genius; |
hone that this view of my possibili-
ties reconciled my father to my ter r
rible delinquencies in farming, but |
do not think that it ever did. l was
the black sheep of the family, and
finally allowed by my parents-more
in sorrow than anger-to go my own
ways, which were many and diversi-
The night before r1y final depart
ure, nv mother came up to my room,
after l had gone to bed, and sitting
down by my pillow. put her gentle
hand on my head.
You are not asleep, Jack ??
No, mother
"I have something to say to you,
dear, which I could not say before
the others. I have never been angry
with you because you did not like
farming, as your father has been
only a little disappointed, because
farmer lives a safe and virtuous life,
and 1 hoped to see all my boys settle
down around me, to support and
comfort my old age. But l think l
see that you were not made for a
farmer"
No, mother; I am certain that I
was not am heartslck of the
monotonous routine of drudgery that
leads to nothing but eating and lying
down to rest. The singing OF the
insects in the fields chafes and frets
me. Something from distance
seems calling me, and my strength
and courage are equal to anything
Don't fret about me, little mother;
you shall be proud of your scape-
grace son yet.
"I am proud of you now, Jack,
and shall only be more so, if, after a
few years out in the worlds tempta-
tons, you bring back to me your un-
tarnished self-respect and honor.
Keep out of evil, for my sake-lor
mother's sake, Jack" and she laid
her pale cheek down to mine.
"I will, mother trust me-don t
worry
A few more last words, and then
she kissed me goodnight. l rolled
over in the darkness, vowing, as |
never had vowed before, to keep
straight, for my mothers sake.
A week later l was far down the
Missouri River. I had my own way
to work in the new life had chosen,
and at New Orleans 1 fell among
thieves, fsuratively, and received my
first lesson in human depravity. .
On my way to Mexico I had yel-
low fever, but recovered. At Mon
tezuma | fell in love with a Spanish
girl: also recovered. The next win
ter was in Florida, from whence !
worked my way West.
I had reasons for wishing to 60 to
Omaha. It was then little more
than a military outpost: From St
joseph I went on a blackboard as far
as the headquarters Of the most re-
mote Indian agencies, and when COM
PEELED, procured pony, and contin-
iued my travels. alone, over a most
dangerous portion Of the country.
I know now the course / took was
simple madness, and the wonder is
that I escaped with my life. The
Indians, different tribes Of which
coursed the plains in every direction
were, one and all, hostile to the
whites. But Indifferent to all warn
ing, 1 went forth. anticipating nc
trouble, fearing no evil, though
carried an unusually fine scalp.
With my gun slung across @ my
shoulder, I sung to myself as my
pony gslloped over the plains, ther
brilliantly green with May verdur'
81, ,ping soundly at night wrap
ped in my blanket, upon the gronne
and, happy as the day was long
for three days l pursued my way
prosperously.