The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-10-02
Sickness and Death.

The Washington (Ga.) Gazette makes the
following touching allusion to the presence OF
the great destroyer, which will be appreciated
by all whose households have been darkened
by the shadow of his wing, and whose loved
ones are gone before:
From all sections of the State indeed from
all sections of the country, we hear and read
that it has been year of great affiiction. Dis
ease has devastated she whole land. From the
first day of January to the present time sick
ness has prevailed to an extent unknown for
many years, and the cold hand of death has
been laid upon many a young life, and the
grey hairs of the aged have disappeared under
the sod. The reaper, whose blade will sooner
or later cut down all, has been busy this year,
and has gathered into his garner rich har-
vest of all kinds and classes. The rich have
given up their wealth and their pride and their
pleasure and have gone and laid down in the
dust by the side of the pauper; the famous and
distinguished in mems eyes have gone to rest
by the side of the unknown and obscure. The
great leveler has regarded no worldly distinc-
tions, but has called many to couch where all
distinctions cease.
During this year, long to be remembered for
the number of public and private Affections
which have been sent upon the people, our
community and our county has not escaped.
Death has called home, during the past months
of this unfinished year, many of our best citi-
zens Tie cold hand of the destroyer has been
laid upon the high and the low in our midst.
The rich and the poor have been called to lay
aside their daily rocations, and join the great
host whose work is done, and who are only
waiting for the final judgment of the good and
evil done on earth. Many homes which we're
bright and happy few short months ago are
now desolate and made lonely by the absence
of well known and dearly loved face, which
will be seen on earth no more. Many houses
which were joyous are now hushed in grief and
sorrow, and each room, once 80 bright, is now
desolate for the want of q presence gone for
ever and voice to be heard no more
And still the hand of death is not yet stayed.
Sickness still prevails throughout the land, and
disease is still rackiug and destroying the peo-
pie.
War, pestilence and famine are the three
great curses of the human race. We poor
Southerners have bled freely by war, and we
are now silently swept away by pestilence,
must we yet suffer from the worst of all must
we see the gaunt apparition of famine stalking
through our country? must we yet be called
upon to hear the cries of starving men, women
and children, and be unable to help them is
this last and greatest curse to be sent upon us?
If so, when will our suffering end, when will
our penance be done7
And are the people any better for all the
Affections sent upon them? We fear not. 1t
is time for all men to pause and reflect, and to
try and stop in their mad career. 1t is time to
look backwards. 1t is time for men to cease
their struggle for self, it is time for them to
stay their inordinate greed for gain and gold
for moment, and to look, if they can, where
they are rushing to. 1t is time they recognized
a power above this earth, and one who is richer
than gold and mightier than gain. 1t is time
to be more humble, and to bow down and ask
for forgiveness, and to plead that the hand of
the destroyer be stayed, and to implore that if
he must come, not to come i'll the shape of
hunger and starvation.