The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-03-26

so deep and remorse so great tina
they cannot, they will not be cas-
out by even a contrition that grovel
at the feet of Mercy in sackcloth ant
ashes"
| | looked at my host with an air o
amazement. could scarcely believ'
that l had heard him Alright.
"What great crime can you have
committed %
The words came SLOWLY from my
lips. I did not know | had uttered
them until l heard bic reply.
Nothing" he said, "buL what al
most every man, woman and child
all over the .rtI- South will tell you
had Alright t" do. Nothing fol
which the law IF the land can lay its
tiuger upon me, and yet God only
knows whether | have done that
which robs me of peace in this life,
and for which the tortures of hell
may be my portion in the life to
come. This. you no doubt think, is
a singular confession for me to make
to a stranger. But when this spell
comes over me land it does so fire.
quently,) l must speak, or think l
should go distracted. Would you
like to hear story ? 1t may do you
no possible good, for it contains no
moral-yet it may answer one end,
and that il, it will cause you to re
member me-"
"Proceed," | replied, 81 am very
much mtel eslei. and believe me, |
sympathIze with you 10 your distress !;
and here allow me to assure you that !
u Il no set phrase or idle expression
when | positively declare that my
heart beats responsively to all sorrow
for | have had my full share Of trou
ble"
Every well, them" he responded,
"listen, and you shall Judge whether
l have real or fancied griefs -
"My father was a planter. This
house and the few acres that sur.
round 1t Is all that is left of a plan
tation nearly mile square. The
mansion where I was born was re-
duced to heap of charred ruins in
the second year of the rebellion. My
father died several years previous.
1t was well he was not alive to see
the havoc, for he was a sensitive
man, and never would have borne up
under the trials that befel his chill
dren. My brother Edward and N.Y.
self were joint heirs in the estate.
He was my junior by seven years.
He was thoughtful fellow, great
book kworm, and very retiring in his
disposition. My father was a man
who was very indulgent to his chill.
dren, and humored them in every
thing consistent with their welfare.
1t was one of my whims to be educa.
ted at Yale, and my father according
ly took me to the land of pumpkin
pies and left me at the great lnstitu-
tlon to complete my education. Now
mark how singularly my character
developed as compared with my
brother Edwards, who, after my re-
turn went to Southern college, and
stayed there until he graduated. l
went to Yale with only moderate
southern prejudices /; (my mother
was northern born, and was very
strong in herpro-slavery sen,iments,)
and came out of it the worst fire eat.
er of the class. No epithet was too
bitter for me to apply to the Yam,
KEGS. l was G lai to get home, and
had no desire 10 see the North any
more. Ipassed my time in anus,
Ing myself, and occasionally giving
an eye to the plantation when my
father chanced to be absent.
edward came from college a
very different fellow from his broth
er. He was eternally porlhg over
books, and to my horror, l one day
discovered him in possession Of a
pile OF anti slavery pamphlets. l
will not relate my discussions with
him, nor stop to inform you how
mortified l was when l found that
his mind was deeply imbued with
the pcrnijious teachings. | reason
ed with him, but in vain, and when |
found that | could not prouuce q
change IN his sentiments, | gave the
matter up, and never willingly refer
red to it again.
"One day he was at political
meeting, and an incautious expires
sion he uttered involved him 10 a
difficulty with young planter nam
| ed Styles. Edward was of very
peaceful disposition, and although
he was ne coward, nothing could in-
duce him to engage in a quarrel.
Duelling was then fashionable am ong
us, hut he would Dever countenance
it. SO when he was challenged by
st, leg, be positively declined TO meet
him. The consequence was that
Styles watched his opportunity, and
made a personal assault upon him.
Edward was a robust fellow, and
soon gave his antagonist drubbing,
but during the melee Styles drew a
knife and stabbed my brother in the
face, leaving large scar.
AL hoSiSuo WCAO uoS 81 bIi dlg u
laced on the subject OF the code
went after Styles, found him, and
soon managed to get up a quarrel
with him the inevitable challenge
passed ; we met, and l shot him.
Notoriety and satisfaction came to
me the same day.
"My brother was shocked at what
l had done, and preached me a very
sensible sermon on the occasion,
though didn't heed it at the mo.
meut. Edward wasn't again insult.
ed, for the neighborhood considered
me the fighting member of the fami
ly and respected my relatives.
"I'll skip the intervening years Of
our life and come down to the period
OF my sorrow. 1t won't cost your
memory much to recollect the troub.
les of '6l. Father had not long been
dead, and a heavy gloom rested over
our house when the thunders of civil
war broke upon our ears, and added
another pang to our hearts.
"We had good deal OF money
due US at the north. We lost every
penny oft. The first calamity that
we were forced To undergo, was to
sell one half ot our plantation. From
that time it seemed that it went acre
after acre, until there was nothing
left oft save what you see mere and
about yoa. 1t was in the second
year OF the rebellion that my brother
one night quietly saddled his horse
| and rode AWAY The following morn