The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-07-12
A Tight Place for Two.
"REMINISCENCES OF ABBEVILLE
BY AN EX-ABBEVILLIAN OF
OVER FORTY YEARS.

OVER FORTY YEARS.
1t was no part of the original inten
ton of the writer in his "dottings' o
the golden age of Abbeville to say all.
good of himself, if he knew of such
and in truth it would require such
long and wild hunt to find it, if to b.
found, that he does not propose to i'll
stitute search; yet when he Know
of good thing on himself he is aware
of no law human, divine, moral o.
social, to which he is amenable TO
exposing it. Confessions are Away
in order. :.
Miss Jennie lived alone, would live
no other way, several miles east o
town. She sold eggs and butter. Sht
did her own selling. She travelled OF
foot. She was reported to have beel
born in Ireland and which was cor
roborated by her vernacular. Wher
first I saw her it was said she had seel
near or quite seventy fourths of July
and her appearance indicated the
same. The special and peculiar fea
ture in the character and conduct o
Miss Jennie was her dislike, abhor
renee and aversion for men. Whether
it was natural or acquired, l coulC
never learn, nor without any particu
lars could [ dispute the justice of hel
status to these wards. Adam the
First disgraced and discredited him
self when he tried to escape the just
consequences of his own voluntary
act, by throwing all the blame on his
wife, and his sons, with rare eXcep.
ton, are "chips of the old block" ."
He wasn't the man he should have
been or he would not have attempted
such a dodge. Mrs. Adams statement
was truthful and honest, but his was Q
fraud and subterfuge. I have heard
it said, and do not doubt the truth of
the report, that his wife had con-
tempt for him, and in the latter part
of their conjugal state expressed her.
self dissatisfied with the match and
often regretted having entered into it,
The point and pertinency of this
is tojustify Miss Jennie in
her conclusions and conduct, as fail
and legitimate. She hadn't particle
of use for any of them. She used
female friends to purchase her "tag''
and other needfuls to avoid meeting
them. She sold her eggs and butter
to her own SEX Whoever ate at Mrs.
Aliens in the latter "thirties" and
early "forties" tested of them, besides
at other widows I could name. Miss
Jennie travelled on foot, literally. Be-
fore she reached town she turned to
the left and followed up the spring
branch. at the spring she washed
her feet aud wiped them with clean
and separate towel and put OH her
shoes and stockings. She entered the
square at such point, or side of the
Jail, as best avoided men and crossed
to Mrs. Aliens between the Market
and Court House; and if any man or
men were sitting in the front there
were numerous points of entrance to
avoid them safely and with safety,
and of which she availed herself.
She returned in the same way taking
off at the spring her shoes and stock
ings and placing them in the empty
egg-basket.
Prior to the incident hereinafter re-
lated had seen her at distance, and
WAS somewhat aware of her idiosyn-
cracy, "unsounduess" some would
call it, Oh the imam question:" but I
had an idea that it was special rather
than general, and I felt kindly for
her sex in general and rather melting
ly towards one or two of the Juniors.
had never harmed one knowingly,
had a conscience void of offence and
was not afraid of any of the-elder
ones. I was just independent twenty
one corresponding to "sweet siXteen")
and "belonged to myself" but with a
strong presentiment that it would not
be always that I could say that. l
had made short drive out of town in
q buggy and was returning alone.
A rain the night before had overflow
ed the Block House branch banks and
bottom the water had fallen until
The walk-logs were visible but 50 COW
cred with mud as to be too slippery
Tor use. On entering the lane near
he one mile post east of town 1 OBJ
served ahead of me two women (both
white OF would call them "ladies,")
moving in the same direction one
vas on foot bearing in one hand q
Ncket and in the other basket, and
he other woman was Oh horseback.
Said 1 to myself, collins Tor some
hing else, you ought to invite that
I'D lady to q seat across the branch
md bottom" On nearer approach
discovered the foot-woman to be l
was not certain who, and the horse
woman Aunt Nancy LatlIers, (uncle
Jackey's guide wife and good friend
Of mine, each). AS I reached them
the foot-woman turned to left and the
horse to the right to let me
pass. reined up between them and
said to the one on foot: MADAM, the
swamp ahead of us is muddy and the
logs slippery and I will be pleased to
give you with what you have a seat
across my horse is very gentle.n At
this she dropped her bucket and bask-
ct, (playing havoc with the eggs) and
retreated backwards into the fence
corner, exclaiming: II thank ye, I
thank we, but I'd rather walk, rather
walk, oh! oh !! oh !" her arms and
hands all the while giving otf'ward
motions. Turning my face to the
right I discovered the woman on
under great excitement,
and had I not known her would
have supposed her fumbling about
her waistband was for dirk or pistol,
but finding the object of her search
she placed them on and gave me a
glance through them, demanding my
name. I gave the surname; she ask
ed for the full name and 1 gave it.,
when she exclaimed: "Miss Jenny,
Miss Jennie, I know um, I know, an
thar amt dacenter u cevelur by-ee
nur all the toon. Do ride with the
yonng mon, Miss Jenny, and I'U go
his securely M0t lie aOon't harm ye, l
will" But this did not remove Miss
Jenny's fright, for she stood as far
back as the fence would permit, pale,
out of breath and motioning. And
And there sat and breathed this wri-
ter, too proud as we'll as too powerless
to run and too bashful to attempt de-
fense. In the language of my friend
and neighbor Parson J.-"I never in
all my life was so tuck aback." 1t
was some relief to believe that Miss
Jenny's adherence of me was not
personal to myself, but a sex issue,
and / was not then or since a defend
er or apologist of mine against hers.
But II longed to be away" and fortu-
nately Dobbin moved off of his own
accord, and as recovered my breath
and use of my muscles, / aided his
movements until I reached town. ]
navor hraathed in Abheyille this Incl