Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-03-05
A MOTHER OF GOVERNORS.

Europeans brought out phases OF life
which never occurred before, and can
hardly exist again. Many pleasing
romance has sunk from our view in the
waters of oblivion only here and there,
like Ararats above the food, brief pas
sages, startling in their suggestiveness,
are still occasionally to be lighted upon
by the brooding doves of the imagina-
ton. In this simple sketch I propose
to relate some passages in the life Of q
parsonage who played an important
part in our early history. Whatever OF
that life is covered shall not pretend
to reveal; but the imaginative reader
has full liberty to reconstruct from the
facts here made known what must have
been a remarkable career.
It was in 1723 that ship laden with
merchandise, and bearing also a goodly
number of emigrants, left Cork, in Ire
land, for the shores of New England.
Though continent was to be settled,
emierants were not 80 numerous as at
present yet, among those who came,
Ireland, then as now, furnished its pro-
portionate share and in general they
were class equal to the best who have
sought our shores from the Green Isle
in later years.
Wandering lonely among the gossip
ing groups on deck was man OF supe-
rior appearance to the others, both in
manner and figure. He held no con-
versation with any, further than brief
but courteous replies to some question
or remark concerning the voyage, the
rare sight of sea-bird in mid-ocean,
or the wide, the vast, the awe-inspiring
sea itself, beating increasingly yeasty
waves along the curving bows OF the
sturdy vessel. His dress, his carriage,
his preoccupied look, forbade fanili-
arity, while his entire unacquaintance
with the other passengers indicated that
the voyage had been undertaken for
some pressing purpose and In much
sorrow. It will not be foreign to our
subject if We delay the narrative q
moment longer to relate his painful
story.
He was member Of an ancient and
worthy family of the Irish gentry, a
native of Limerick, whittier he had
been recalled from his studies on the
continent few years before. Left
alone by her other sons, who had joined
the armies in one country or another,
his widowed mother desired that John,
who was more given to study and quiet
than the others. should remain with
her at home until, at least, the present
commotion had passed. But children
always will be doing something not Gp-
proved by the parent; 80 John, not to
be an exception, fell in love with a
Young woman somewhat below his
rank, and, honorable man, as he was,
desired to marry her. His mother was
80 bitterly opposed to the match that
she not only refused her consent, but
declared that il he married the girl he
should never have any portion Of the
estate. This threat, if persisted in,
would effectually prevent the marriage,
as the girls relations would not consent
to her union with a penniless man.
Neither were the lovers able Of them.
selves to commence life without the aid
of their families for he had not been
trained to any profession or occupation,
and he knew not how he could make
even his own living. Mother" re-
piled he, with passion, eff you do not
withdraw that threat and consent to
INV marriage with the lady of my choice,
will go where you shall never see me
again."
His mother persisted in her purpose.
Pale and trembling, he besought her to
take till tomorrow to consider. The
next day the cruel woman repeated the
threat
At the evening meal John was miss
ing in the morning his bed was found
to have been unoccupied and from
that day his native country saw him no
more.
Instead, however, of seeking surcease
of sorrow in the world of spirits by an
easy leap into the friendly waves OF the
Shannon, as others might have done, he
projected himself upon the unknown
regions in the present state of being ;
thereby showing that there was an un-
extipguished spark of health within him
still.
With heavy sorrow at heart, it is MT
strange that he sat apart, wrapped in
silent gloom, or paced the deck unre-
gardful of the babble of the light heart
ed emigrants. Self-expatriated, with.
out hope or interest in the future. and
in the recent past a great pain which
smothered all pleasant recollections,
there could be nothing in common be-
tween him and the moving forms who
stared at him askance, save the usual
matters of physical sustenance and COM
fort; and even in these the conditions
of his life had caused wide difference
of feeling. One person alone attracted
his frequent attention, as her bright
blue eye caught his own, or his ear was
arrested by her cooling and prattling to
the several babies on board, her musi-
cal snatches of song, or her sweetly
plaintive voice, when the loneliness of
her situation, and the recollection of
friends she had left behind, seized upon
her thoughts.
John had watched her with some in
terest, partly, perhaps, for her beauty,
but chiefly for her peculiar relation or,
rather, un-relation, to any on board.
Seeming stfirst, like himself, stranger
to the others, she was soon mingling
freely and familiarly with every family
in the ship yet he was unable, watch
ing with increased interest, to discover
any relation or connection whatever,
other than the most casual hetveen