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

Deep within the curtaincd vale Of
green vcrdure ran the limpid stream
known to US children as cog Creek. u
Low under the hills like channel. were
broad pastures, wherein grazod the stock
belonging to Sidney Place." ack now
lodged throughout the parish as being
the most beautiful and productive farm
in the whole region.
The main road ran through the
"Flats," parallel with Ok Creek, only
once crossing it, and that in such a
manner as to beautify the landscape.
How my mind wanders back to the dear
old bridge, deprived of the romance of
grist mill, as in the case Of Ben Bolt !;
but the enjoyment of fishing for bull.
heads" compensated for the lack of 70
nance.
Ok Greek bridge could bo sean for
two miles ON either side, rs it united
the Flats half way from Sidney Place
to the school. horss and Post office,
whore ne received our mail once week
and that on Wednesday We knew the
exact hour that John NJ Moore would pass
tho bridge astride Of the little donkey
he had ridden for eight years, with the
mail bag carclesay thrown across its fore
shoulders. Occasionally the mail baS
presented pIethoric appearance then
we all imagined there were letters for
the whole country but when the bag
presented collapsed Appearance oar
enthusiasm melted considerably, ana
our journey to the Post Office was not
accelerated ty the hopes of getting my
thing but the weekly paper, which WIS
published mt the shire town, fftee1 miles
off.
Sidney Place WAS happy hom,, for
It cs,e3iued the wurm hearts ef our pa
rcpts-heavrn bless them-and four
'childlcn. John was the Oldest. Mary
nSext, and Harriet, three years older
than myself. Two boys and two girl, :,
with "a place of SIXTY nine highly i'm
proved acres, well stocked with cows
and sheep, and the finest span of horses
ito 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 i'm repair, having
been Path Master fer years, and knew to
cent the amount of taxes each residen. Of
the parish was lied to work out
yearly His close application to the
highways sept them in good repair,
which served to keep him in Office The
emolument were light, but the honor
great. Every body called him the
Squire" although he never married
TWO silly people io his life, or decided u
case of arbitration. His Judgment was
relied upou, and am not positive but
his premature opinion was strictly AL
hered TO in easos OF controversy, for the
actual Squire" was great admi,ar of
father, and frequently consulted him
upon kno'ty points.
sly father was looked upon as great
man. The opinion of Squire 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, temperance and
humanity, treating with just consider
alton tho wants aud claims OF all who
cnme to consult him. and with hand
ever open and q household welcome to
alleviate the wants of suffering humanity
his motto being, "It's more blessed to
give than to receive" always iucul
onting the 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 large front roo We
had. This, of course, Ms tho "sparc
room," but is vas never spared when we
hnd occasion to occupy it. In fancy the
bright roses of the three.ply carpet up
pear before me, The chintz sofa. rose
wood centre table covered with books
and daguerreotype Of family and friends,
and the big oil lamp that usually occu
nied n prnminant onsitiop on Tho huro,n