Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-11-25

Proceed, l replied, Il am very much
interested, and believe me, L sympa-
thize with your distress !; and here al
low me to assure you that [ use no set
4 phrase or idle expression when l posi-
lively declare that my heart beats re-
spensively to all SORROW, for [ have
had my full share of trouble
Very well, then, he responded, lis
ten, and you shall judge whether l
have real or fan1ied griefs:
My father was planter. This house
and the few acres that surrounded is all
that is left OF plantation nearly mile
| square. The mansion where | was
born was reduced to heap of charred
| ruins in the second year of the Rebel
lion. My father died several previous.
| 1t was well he was not alive TO see the
| havoc, for he was a sensitive man; and
! never would have borne up under the
trials that befell his children. My
! brother Edward and myself were joint
| heirs In the estate. He was my junior
| by seven years. He was thoughtful
| fellow, great book-wOrm. My father
was man who was very indulgent to
| his children, and humOred them in
! everything consistent with their well
| fare. 1t was one of my whims to be
| educated at Yale, and my father accOr-
| ingly took me to the land of pumpkin
kin pies, andleft me at the great in
stitutiOn to complete my educatiOn.-
Now mark how singularly--my charac-
! ter developed as compared with my
brother Edwards. who aftermy return
home. went TO a Southern college, and
staid there until he graduated. L went
to Yale with only moderate Southern
prejndices (my mother was Northern
born, and was very strong IN
her prO-slavery sentiments aud came
out of it the worst fire-eater in the class
No epithet was too bitter for me to
apply to Yankees. / was glad to get
home again, and had no desire to see
the North any more. passed my
time in amusing myself, and OCCASION
ally giving an eye to the plantation
when my father chanced to be alb
sent.
Edward came from college a very
different fellow from his brother. He
was eternally poring over books, and
to my horror, one day discovered him
in possession of q pile of anti-slaveTy
pamphlets. / Will not relate my dis
cussions with him, nor stop to inform
YOU how m0rtifiedlI was when | found
that his mind was deeply imbued with
the perniciOus teachings. / reasoned
with him, but in vain, and when l
found could not produce change in
his sentiments, l gave the matter up
and never willingly referred to it again.
One day he was at political meet
ing, and an inrautiOus expression he
uttered. involved him in a difficulty
=. x.nnn,r ,,lo Dan0pH StvlpS -
Edward was very peaceful dispoSit-
ion, and although he was no coward,
nothing could induce him to engage in
quarrel. Duelling was then fashion,
able among US, but he would never
countenance il. SO when he was chal-
langod by Styles he positively declined
to meet him. The consequence was
that STYLES watched his opportunity,
and made a personal assault upon him.
Edward was robust fellow, and soon
give his antagonist a drub5ing, but
during the melee Styles drew knife
and stabbed my brother in the face,
| leaving scar very much like the one
on your cheek
NV notions were not so straight lac
ed on the subject of the code | went
after STYLES, found him, and SO man
aged to get IL quarrel with him the in
evitable challenge passed we met and
| [ shot him. NOtOriety and satisfaction
| came to me the same day.
NV brother was shocked at what [
had done, and preached me very SEN
sible sermon on the occasion, though
| | didn't heed it ut the moment Ed
ward wasn't again insulted, for the
neighborkoOd considered me the fight
| ing member of the family, and respec-
ted my relatives.
"I'lI skip the intervening years of
our lives, and come down to the period
of my sorrow. 1t won't cost your
memory much to recOllect the troubles
of '6I. Father had not been long dead,
and a heavy gloom rested over our
house when the thunders of civil war
broke upon our ears, and added anoth-
er paug to our hearts.
1--WE had good deal of money owing
us at the North. We lost every penny
of it, The first calamity that we were
forced TO undergo, was to sell one-half
our plantation. From that time it
seemed that it went acre after acre.
until there was nothing left of it save
what you see here and about you. 1t
was in the second year of the Rebellion
that my brother one night quietly sad
died his horse and rode away The
following morning, finding he did not
appear at the breakfast table, we sent
up to his room to ascertain the cause
of his absence. The servant returned
saying his bed had been unused. l
sprang up stairs. and, true enough, it
| was SO. On going to his bureau l found
a note written with pencil, and ev-
identity in haste. 1t ran in this wise 4;
| MY DEAR MOTHER AND BROTHER My country
has need of all her children, and can no longer
| witness her woes unmoved. My action is not the
| res nit of Impulse. May heaven protect you all in
| nv absence. Should / ever live to return to you
once more. | trust uay fad the same affection you
| always bore me.
| EDWARD.
| CVI,iS voc n hiftar b1Ov- tn my rOOth l.