The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-03-02
BERKELEY HALL. Dec. a5. 1864.

Marion Maham to Capt. Harry Maham:
DEAR HARRY-I am alone in our IA
vorite room, the old library, this my last
night at Berkley Hail. "Old Gendron"
has just struck twelve, and the echo of
his last tones have scarcely died away.
It is the hour WREN fairies are said to
keep their revels, but fear no hobgoblin
tricks tonight, "sweet Puck" will scarce
ly care to venture out, SO frosty, so dismal
and so black is the mantle with which
dark Nox has robed the earth. She has,
indeed stepped forth in rayless majesty"
The heavens are clothed in the very
"blackness of Darkness" but in this our
sanctum, in spite of the grief which to-
morrow brings, all is bright and home
like. Irving looks as merrily at me from
his gilded frame as if he was telling for
the first time his funny history of New
York and her old Dutch worthless and
heroes. On the other side our patriot
seer, the great Calhoun, gazes grayely
and sadly; and I can almost feel his
gentle hand upon my head, and hear
him say: "Weep, daughter, for the desc
lation that cometh on our fair, loved
land" But I will not heed those low
sad tones, for yonder stands Jasper with
the "saved colors" in his hand-the cloth
of blue and silver crescent-and 1 know
that Jasper's spirit still dwells in his
countrymen, and We will yet be free!
My fuchsias are looking splendid, Har-
ry, and the fragrance of the heliotropes
and violets is delicious. I wish you
could enjoy them with me, you were ever
fond of flowers. 0, I must not forget I
have a sprig of jessamine for you. I
found it blooming in the thickest part of
the "bower," where it had found shelter
from the cold and frost; your fayorite, I
remember, of all the garden beauties.
All, Harry, does not the name lend it its
dearest charm? Do not think to cheat
me; remember how fairly caught you
one day murmuring, "Jessamine, bright,
golden blossoms, pride of Carolina's forest
bowers Jessie, sweet Jessie, loveliest
and fairest of Chicora's* fair daughters p'
But have so much to write you of our
sadly anticipated departure from Berkley
tomorrow, and so little time for writing
that may not linger over the pleasant
pictures and beautiful flowers of Berkley,
or the sweet memories and pleasant bye
cones of dear Jessie Ferguson, but will
just take little moment to tell you that
I received long letter from Jessie a
week ago. They are now in Florence,
where they anticipate remaining several
months. Her report of dear Annie's
health is sad, indeed. "Our darling An
nic," she writes, "grows daily more fee
BILE. Even my poor uncle dares not fat
ter himself that she is improving But
as her strength becomes weaker, her
spirit grows stronger and brighter. II
is touchingly beautiful to see her trying
to comfort her distressed father, and seek
ing to lead him to the only Comforter
for such sorrows as his. She is ever the
same unsel6sh, thoughtful cousin to me
insisting upon ny uncle's taking me to
visit every object and spot of interest
within reach of this delightful city, which
we'll deserves the admiring appcllation o.
its people, 'Firenze la BELLA Annie has
taken quite fancy to our soubrette,
petty little Swiss girl of lively, modes
manners, who has love story in which
our gentle Annie takes a wonderful in