The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-03-12
Timrod's Last Days.

observing that among the notlce
of the poems s~of the, late Henr.
Timrod emeaating from the Nol
thern press, there have been few
if any, which have not touched witt
peculiar emphasis upon$he mourn
full fact that this gifted son of gen
ius should have died in want, som
Indeed, having gone, SO far as t,
state that he died Of starvation, ant
the exceptions have been very few
where some ungenerous taunt hal
not been thrown upon the stricke,
land where Henry Timrod lived
wrote and died, and the crushed
State which he loved, so -weAsv Be
]ievingStbatg garbled truths al d: un
fair statements must have caused
the impression which seems 80 gen
erally,to prevail in regard TO this
matter, and as the veil has already
been ruthlessly torn aside from the
sacred scenes ofnthe freside and
the death-be ofzthisa sweet singer
of the South, I venture to ask you
to publish a few facts in connection
with his history, whiehYare directly
withiarny own knowledge. z : -
In 1867 there was famine in South
Caroline, and the utmost horrors
which that word can convey it was
then our fate to know, ]. will not
trespass upon your columns for
space enough to relate the causes
which induced this calamity; sur
fee it to say it was here in our very
midst. .o1' 2, -"
One cold, raw afternoon, the
snow falling heavily, my father, a
clergyman Of the : Methodist Epis-
copal Church South, had just re-
turned from a visit to a family,
oucesone of the wealthiest in the
State, the mother Of which had
burned her cradle to make light
and heat by which to watch her
dying child, when General Wade
Hampton called to see him and the
following conversation took place
II have just Aheard," said the
general, .that among the most ne.
cessitous cases in the community
is Timrod's; lhe-is sick and unable
to work, and the ouly man in a
household Of dependent, women.
1t is very delicate case, but some.
thing must be done for his relief
You, my dear sir, in virtue of your
holy Office, can best undertake it,
SO l have brought you. Q sum Of
money to be appropriated for his
comfort as, you may think best.''
My father replied, II will 60 to
to see him at once, aud what I, can
I will do most gladly, but all bis
surroundings. make it a most en-
barrassing mission. However,
when he knows the motives which
prompt me he cannot be offended"
Immediately he set out for the
visit and returned in about an hour.
Accustomed as he,. an old and ex-
perienced minister, was to scenes
of suffering, he appeared complete
ly unnamed. 1'1 have had most
distressing interview" he began,
7 found the poor fellow looking
avery sick, but up. He came into
the parlor to meet me, and showed
some surprise at my visit. After
talking asfew .miautes on different
subjects, I asked after the health OF
the family. He'told me there were
several members of. it sick. sThen,
said / lin these trying times and in
your feeble health YOU must find
the burden of their support very
heavy, and some Of your friends
desire the pleasure of assisting you.
They beg thatIyou will accept the
inclosed sum- The dark blood
mounted to his forehead, and the
hectic burned yfercely on his cheek
as he exclaimed; I cannot think of
accepting it. I shall be quite we'll
again in a day Or two and able to
work for myself and family Come
come,' l answered, don't feel badly
about it; you know we Confeder-
ates have nothing to be ashamed Of
in our poverty, and at least take it
as a loan until syens are able to work
again, aud then you can pay ii
back to someof Gods roor' NeH'
er shall + forget the look with
which, catching both my hands, he
in a broken voice exclaimed, oh,
sir, 1 will tell you the truth! God
himself must have sent you here,
and I will take the money as from
him, for without it'll do not know
what would have become of u.s.
Shaking his hand heartily, I replied
"Well, take It them, as from the
Master, and remember it is only q
loan, and you Arel to- pay 1t back
to him doubie whsiryon finish that
great poem you are going to write
and become q rich man."
Naturally, after such abeginning
my fatherswas acquainted with all
TiInrod's circumstances, and that
he was never in want again is a
matter beyond doubt. On the con-
trary, the, remainder. of bis. life e'was
sustained and soothed by: every