The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-14

| .ho luTee ply HOulu not last tDOn.n In
the dining room, where so many pcoplo
walked
The long rorc', that ran around three
sides of the house shaded tho windows
half the day, and the creaping vines on
the other side defied the hottest rays of
summers heat and then at night, when
the lowing COWS have been placed in the
pasture. and the duties Of day were
done, mother and sisters sit on the front
porch and sing an evening hymn, ac
companied by the guitar, played by
brother John; father, in his stocking
feet elevated to the railing Of the porch
with pipe in hand, directing the har
mony, for father in his younger days
had played the violin with con,ile .able
.kill.
Old Tower and | would be sitting
near tho edge of the porch IN mute
rcverie, listening to the low gentle tones
OF Mothers sweet sophrauo, the mezzo
OF Harriet, and tho contra!to of Mary.
Johi occasionally assisted with n we'll
cultivated bass, which completed che
quartette. Then we would all ask
mother to sing love song when,
placing her hand in fathers open palm,
she would sing about the loves of youth,
unbrokeu affections. the ordeal Of life,
aud deaths separation. Oh, how the
mild, bright, sanity face of n,othcr up
pears belorc me as wrtc-appcars be
tore NE as in days gone bye, before the
fro4ts OF sixty winters hid left its time
mark npon her raven tresscs, and us the
lingering tepes Of the song dscd away,
father would press her to his .osom, and
imprint loves token up,p her cheerful
face. Is MT this pretty picture, nj
though ho.sel y drawnY but fancy will
not allow me to oyerdu it,
Those were happy days, ynd my heart
| lighteus wltea lcyert t.. them. Often
ia manhood when struggling with the
world, will my mind go back to the dear
old home on the Ok Creek, u3d count
the days dclore aakssiyiug, ior
never allowed one to pass wahout going
home. ANthirs caull prcSent me FROM
meeting father mud III ,thcr once ycur.
ii not 'eiteucr. Mary is married to il
| good mam. and llurrict remains ut home
the comftrt and solacc Of our agcd par
ents- dLow it liShtcps my daily dutie,
to receive letters from Harriet, telling
asse all about the place" and what daily
occurs, and how my heart warns when
open little piece Of paper always
peculiarly folded, enclosed in lIarriets
letter, which invariably commences My
denr child" u..1 closes with Your
loving mother" My heart ,hrobs God
bl.ss my mother" aud when | do 20
home and Iold my loving mothers form
to n'y breast, aud cover her cheeks with
kisses. nm mo longer a man calloused
with the tolls of life, but little child
again . tin on O., knee
And when tell her of my adven
lures, of the cares am daily subjected
to, how her loving eyes look upon me in
all compassion, and pity my sorrows aud
when at Thanksgiving We all gather
around the family table, seated at the
head is father, Mary, with her good
husband and two tie boys, mother sits
opposite father to pour tea, while IIar
rict aud occupy the side, looking to
Mary and her family. | am always
clected,to do the honors ofthc table, and
| feel rs highly honorcd as if were
carving ut tho Presidents banquet No
national dinner evel can have the relish
to me that does the dinners at home on
the Sidney Place. could not tell you
all that mother and sister have prepared,
but their catalogue could not bo surpass
ed.
shall visit home again this Thanks
giving should providence spare my Lille.
and if Heaven extends its blessings to
US, shall again kiss my dear parents,
shall talk over tho past and calculate
upon the future. shall fad Ilarrc,
and Mary with her little family shall
SEQ father and mother at each end OF
the table, and l shall again carve the
turkey and when the visit of tho day
is over, we will sing our evening songs
together, thanking lim for His bless