The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-14
+ A. Recollection.
BY cLAurE DE HAVEN.

Deep within tho curtained vale of
green verdure ran the limpid stream
known to us children as "Ox Greek. :"
Low underth hills like channel were
broad pastures, wherein grazod the stock
belonging to "Sidney Place." ackno
lodged throughout the parish AZ being
the most beautiful and productive farm
in the whole region.
The main road rau through the
"Flats," parallel with OK Creek, only
once crossing it, aud that in such a
manner as to beautify the landscape.
Hew my mind wanders back to the dear
old bridge, deprived of the romance of
a grist- mill, as in the case of Ben Bolt !;
but the enjoyment of fishing for bull.
heads" compensated for the lack of ro
manco.
Ok Creek bridge could bo seen ror
two miles on either side, rs it united
the Flats half way fsaisi Sidney Place
TO the school hovsss and Post Office,
where we received our mail once week
and that on Wednesday, We knew the
exact hour that John NJ oore would pass
tho bridge astride Of the little donkey
he had ridden for eight years, with the
mailbag carelessly thrown across its fore
shoulders. occasionally the mail-bag
presented pIethoric appearance then
we all imagined there were letters for
the whole country but when the bag
prssented collapsed appearance our
enthusiasm melted considerably, and
our journey to the Post Office was not
accelerated by the hopes of getting my
thing but che weekly paper, which WIS
published mt the shire town, fifseun miles
off.
Sidney Place was : happy hom., for
1T cssszined tho warm hearts ef our pa
rcpts-a,eavrn bless them-and four
'child,cn. John was the Oldest, Mary
ureSt,, and Harriet, three years older
thnn myself. Two boys and two girl,
with "A place of siMty nine highly i'm
proved acres, well stocked with cows
and sheep, and the finest span of horses
to be seen in days travel. Two men
attended TO the place, while Mary and
Harriet assisted mother in attending to
The household duties, and father attend
ed TO reading the newspapers and keep
ing the public road jim repair, huSins
been Path Master fur years, and knew to
cent the amount of taxes each resident Of
the parish was compel lied to work out
yearly His .cIoso application to the
highways Gept them in good repair,
which served to keep him in Office. The
cmolument were light, but the honor
great. Everybody called him the
Squire" although he never married
TWO silly people 10 his life, or decided
case Of arbitration. His Judgment was
relied upou, and l am not positive but
his premature opinion was strictly al
hered to in eases OF controversy, for the
actual Squire" was great admiser Of
father, and frequently consulted him
upon kno'ty points.
sly father was looked upon as great
man. The opinion of esquire" Sidney
had more weight in public opinion than
all the people in the comfy. The bare
expression of his mind. moulded the
sentiment of the entire community aud
why not2 My father had lived amongst
them for years, had accumulated a
eompetence by honesty, temperauce and
humanity, treating with just consider
alton the wants and claims OF all who
came ito consult him. and with hand
ever open and q household welcome to
aliesiate the wants Of suffering humanity
his motto being, "It's more blessed to
give than Tte' receive;" always incul
eating tho principle of thrift aud pru
dence, and looking ahead to that inevi
table "rainy day" that all have heard
so much about.
How neat, comfortable and happy was
our home. What a large front FOO N We
had. This, Of course, rs tho "sparc
room," but is vas Rayer spared when we
had occasion to occupy it. In fancy the
bright roses Of the thrce.ply carpet up
pear before me. The chintz sofa. rose
wood centre table covered with books
spd- daguotreosype of family and friends,
and the big oil lamp that usually occu
pied promipant position on the bureau