The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-10-16

anu call up III imdSiuatou 'tu0 PEioo esS
pleasure with which that bright girl, in after
years, then matron, entertained the great
Washington in her southern home. There
are others on these walls who bring many
memories to some of us seated there, and
two sweet little girs, painted by loving artist
hands of the same family thrill us with
memories of two generations, as We gaze
upon the "blonde and brunett; but to the
feast. We need not tell of the beet, mutton,
pigs poultry, fed upon such fields and pas
tures-in richest profusion they are there,
graced on every side by salads unrivalled in
dressing and appearance, or in taste. When
you have done justice to mutton and ham,
or beef, and pig and pies and think you
have dined, and: are in that happy frame OF
mind to admire the china, glass, flowers, &C.,
Just draw to you any one Of those little en-
tremens that flank every dish. It may b
but giblet lie, or dry hash Of mutton, or .
mutton stew seasoned with celery, but, our
word for it, you will linger with delight over
it. Just here we must give two pieces Of ad-
vice to all who dine where southern ma
tron has supervised feast. First, always
try with the entremets, second, always select
one you do not recognize; you will always
find it a little better than what you thought
it might be.
Conversation has not tagged during all
this while. Sometimes it or its results would
roll boisterously from the head Of the table,
where sat the president host, down to the foot,
where the vice-president bore sway, to bs
banded back by ready hands, sometimes dy-
ing away among little confidential knots, un-
til burst of laughter would cause general
participation. The ices, pine apples, lemon
land peach sherbets are dallied with for an
hour ere we leave the table and resort
again to our sylvan drawing-room, some,
however, lingering in the mansion, perhaps
with view to visit again that dear old
library, perhaps with the hope to meet the
ladies there. Some lethargic souls are con-
tent to seek again the arm chairs, the shade
and the whist table others wander of amid
the groups of noble trees and follow tho
winding course of glen and dale; others
stroll of to watch the sheep and Devons
lazily browsing the grass others, and we are
of them. stroll of to the hill, where stood the
home of the founder of this house. As We
stand there and look upon all these beauties,
we sigh for the baronial days and wish they
were back and we were of them. We walk
over noble field of one hundred acres. just
above the vain threatenings Of the angry
Wateree, whose rich harvests laugh ct it,
muttered curses, field Of beautiful red land,
old in the Indian days, still called 'Ths
Indian Field" where ninety years since,
when the proprietor was doing good service
as ssrebel" officer, Tarleton fed his legions
on the autnmnal corn. Now field Of cotton
grows there as tall as your head, with ito
branches all entwined and the grown bolls
bending it down to the earth--good for Q
bale to the acre; but the host tells us, 81
show you the worst first, you would not believe
the best if suddenly presented to it," and
we 20 to a field of black land north Of the
house and do find it better. surprising belief
save to him who sees it; are told Of ''The Red
Fiold" a little farther of, and are invited to
it, hut the shades of evening are drawing clo-
ser the curtains of retiring day, and We draw
again to the mansion where, drivers having
Jared as we'll as their masters, buggies, car
ciages, &c., await us for drive homewards.
ali have had delightful day and do not
hesitate to say so. There are Of these guests
many whose ancestral halls are owned by
strangers; many where decays efacing fin
gers" are destroying homes loved for genera
tions many whom toll and care follow in the
pursuits of life, yet none envy the noble
possessor of the lordly halls and plains, and
goodly fields and forests. A hearty grasp Of
the hand from each guests tells to the host
of appreciation of the day and him. One
goes with "May your shadow never be less"
another "And the sun ever shine on you a.
brightly" another, "May you ever possess
your soul in psace;" and one drives off with
General, call on me again, when your sheep
need sharer.
Our summer club draws near the compile.
ton of its circle; it has been q source Of hap
piness, and, we trust, of great good. Be-
yond its agricultural and social features, it
tends to draw and keep near together tho
old and the young of the community, to tenn
per the energy Of youth with the experience
of mature years. There are among these
veterans men who know that their day is
Short their opportunities few, complications
with the past entangling, perhaps conclusive;
but they are content to look back upon du'
ty done, to struggle manfuly with the pre-
sent with such reward as may be vouchsafsd;
but they earnestly hope through these young
men to redeem the material prosperity OF this
section, and to preserve the tone and charac-
ter of society. We would be glad to enlarge
the circle of our club by scattered golden
links of northern allies in the work OF recon
struction. We turn now to our approaching
harvest, harvest abundant to those who
have lsbored skillfuly and intelligently, as
ali the "Rurals" do. as ever fortune has
smiled vigilanti5a and frowned dorm'ena.
HoBKIRK.
Camden, s. G. Aug. 25, 1873.