The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-10-17
The Old Homestead and Older Hills.

The Old Homestead and Older Hills.
A rest week and state of discount in health
fortunately falling together, I conjoined third
item last week-a flying trip to my native
place and hills in Anderson County. For that
week, eve" are off the District and II" outside
of its bounds. Nothing particularly happened
on the trip up the G.. &C. Railroad, except our
engine lost its ash-pan. The train backed to
Silver Street, and there remained till the pam
less engine could be run back to Helena and be
exchanged for another. For some cause or
other the Anderson Branch train, instead OF
letting one off at Brownies Crossing" as for.
merly, had to splice on mile of footing and
mule-riding to get to Sam. Brownies. A night
of sweet rest prepared me for next days fifteen
miles carriage ride. per Doc Jasper Browne)
v;o Anderson G.. a., to the old home in the
fork of Hencoop Greek and Rocky River: Al
Anderson our company was enlarged with the
addition of three others. My kin have way
of making out that they are glad to see me.
Be that as it may, they make it cost them as
much that way as it would be any other, and
enjoy it Just the same.
The pleasant division of day and night be-
tween the families of Bros. Jerry and Doc is
all I can say of the kin. They can make them
selves at home-the place once called home
and still claim an attachment, that strengthens
with my age. Here is the place that gave me
birth here the days of childhood, boyhood and
manhood were spent-to the last day OF Decem-
ber, 1S45, when I left for my first (Union) cir
cult. As I walked over some OF the play
grounds and backgrounds too, any one of the
hills, rocks, aged oaks or other familiar objects
could furnish q starting point to make sepa-
rate book, such as it might be to some, as it
would ever be to me. But the changes-though
natural and expedient-made me feel that
something like the hand of mocking spoliation
had delighted to see how far the lovely and ga
cred could be changed. The wide spreading
old oaks that shaded our place to play marbles
are gone, and the place for the "ring' and for
ataw" is covered with flowers; the old domicil
against which, as battery, we boys had many
a hard game at ball, is clean gone, and new
and finer house built near by. The celebrated
fishing places in the creek, as well as our "swim
holes. are all gone. The creek has been made
to leave the old channel and run in another
place. The long, steep hill, reaching from the
house to the old bed of the creek, is there.
This, and the old, everlasting spring at the foot
of the hill. seemed to be nearly all that re-
mained as when I left them. felt like kneel-
ing down and kissing the grand old hill for
staying in its place. Down this hill used to
''sailn in time of snow or sleet. And up this
hill have carried hundreds of piggins of wa
ter; so did the other boys. l remember we'll
how exactly the boys all knew whose time it
was to go after water. 1t was hard to dodge
the turn. Jerry, the oldest brother, could not
carry water on his head without spilling it
over himself The rest of the boys used to tell
him that he Just made out so. The hunting
grounds, the places for camp-fres at night, to
roast potatoes while the dogs would search the
surrounding woods for rabbits, opossums and
raccoons, have nearly all been cleared up; the
fruit trees and vines offorty years ago, have died
or otherwise disappeared, &c. 1t made me feel
sad to see, or rather not to see things once and
vet so dear to my heart, and it makes me feel
so now to write about them. While these
changes, and hundred others about the old
home and hills, have taken place according to
course of nature and the hand of industry and
Improvement, yet did I feel something as l
suppose the Indian feels when his hunting and
fishing grounds are all spoiled to make way for
civilization. I am glad that l cannot forget the
hills trees, rocks, creeks, branches, roads and
play grounds of my boyhood. Let us retire,
forsuch things crowd on the mind with un-
pleasant rapidity.
: On Sunday. Oct 6, preached in old Ebene-
zer-the third house within my own recollec-
tion, each standing in succession about on the
same ground, and each bearing the samename,
'e.E6enezer." In the lgoodly and attractive con-
gregation only a. few of the old members
and nieighbors could be counted-the great
er number being the children and grand. chill
dren of my cotemporaries. From the pulpit, l
could see through the window the well-kept
graveyard, where, asleep in Jesus, lie many OF
the fathers and mothers in Israel, as well as
many children, who are certainly of the king
dom of God. Among the blessed sleepers in
that graveyard, besides other loved ones, lie
my father, mother, two children and former
wife Of precious memory. LetIthe dead sleep
till Christ come, Let the serious congregation
receive the benediction. Let me- drop back
and dine at the old place, and then return with
Sam to rest at his home near the rail. = :
Grati6ed with my trip-huried as it was--1
turned homeward Monday morning, with the
"reminiscences of childhood SO revived that
shall not be surprised if some of my readers
shall pronounce this sketch egotistic. IF so, I
shall neither apologize nor answer back
Rev. Sid II. Broaoae, in the Christian Ne'gh6or.
GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA CONTRAST
ED.-The following article is taken from the
editorial columns Of the Augusta Constitutions
alist. D 1t is we'll worth careful perusal:
"It is in no other spirit than that of respect
full sympathy for South Carolina that we aim
Lo<n,