The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-02-16
NUMBER 6.

Twelve years this very day-his birthday
he perished, Heaven kcns how He
went out from our sight, like tho cloud that
| passes over the hills-neyer-Dever to re-
turn. And, . Sir, spare fathers feelings!
for to see it filled wrings the blood from my
heart"
'Give mo your hand, my worthy soul y
exclaimed the seaman, IL rcvere-nay,
hang it would die for your feelings :
But Tom Elliot was my friend, and cast an-
! chor in this chair by special commission
know that sudden broadside OF joy is
bad thing but, as don't know how to
preach sermon before telling you, all 1
have 70 say is-that Tom ant dead"
7xxsss BynpmG--s
hand OF the stranger, and speaking with an
eaSerncss that almost choked his utterance;
'Oh Sir /! Sir tell me how how Did
ye say living us my ain Thomas living"
"Not dead, do you say!" cried Mrs.
Elliot, hurrying towards him aud grasping
his other hand" not dead ! Aud shall
see my bairn again? Oh may the blcs-
sing O broken hearted mother be upon
the bearer o the gracious tidings? But
| tell me-tell me, how is it possible! Asyc
would expect happiness here or hereafter,
dinna, diuua deceive me ~
deceive you!" returned the stranger,
graspiug with impassioncd carnestness, their
hands in his-"Never never and all
can say is-Tom Elliot is alive and hearty"
"No, no" said Elizabeth, rising from
her scat, "he does not deceive US there ID
that in his counteuancc which bespeaku
falsehood impossible" And sho also en-
dcavorcd to move towards him, when John
san Ah.~s- L:------ --~--l-L~- 80 .":thh.,l-'
her.
Glands off, you land lubbcr" exclaimed
the seaman, springing towards them, cor,
shiver me III show daylight through your
tin,bcrs in the turning Of a hand .spiko."-
Aud, clasping the lovely girl in his arms,
Betty! Betty, my love!' he cried, "dou's
you know your own Tom Father, Mo-
ther, don't you know me? Have you real
ly forgot your own son? c? If twelve years
have made some changes on his face, his
heart is sound rs ever"
His father, his mother, and his brothers
cluug round him, weeping, smiling, and
mingling q hundred questions together
He threw his arms around the neck of each,
and, in answer to their inquiries, replied
swell well ! there is time enough to an
swer questions, but not to. .day-not TO- day."
mo, my BARN." said his mother, well
ask you no questious-nobody shall ask 20
from us, my love ioso7 And o kinny! where
where hae ye been Z"
1t is a long story, mother" said he,
" aud would take week to tell it. But,
howsoever, to make Il long story short, you
remember when the smugglers were pur-
o1 IN IN,
our house, my father prevented them they
left mutterng revengc-and they have been
revcnged. This day twelve years, l went
out with the intention of meeting Elizabeth
and her father, when came upon party
of the gang concealed in Hell's Hole. In
a moment half dozen pistols were held to
my brest, and tying my hands to my sides,
they dragged ME into the cavern. Here
had not been long their prisoner, when the
snow. rolling down the mountains, almost
totally blocked up its mouth On the Sec
ond night, they cut through the snow, and
harrying me along with them, l was bound
to horse, between two, aud, before day
light, found myself slowed, like piece Of
old junk, in the hold of a smuggling lug
ger. Within week, / was shipped on
beard a Dutch man.o of.war and for six years
was kept dogging about on different stations,
till our old yawing hulk received orders to
join the feet which was to fight against the
gallant Duncan at Camperdown. TO think
of fighting against my own coputrymen, my
own flesh and blood, was worse than to be
cut to pieces by cato -nine-t tails and un-
der cover of the smoke of tho first broadside,
l sprang upon tho gunwale, plunged into
the sea, and swan for the English fleet
Never, never, shall l forget the moment
that my feet FIRST trod upon the deck Of
British frigate! My nerves felt as firm as
her oak, ond my heart free as the pennapt
that waved defiance from her masthead =
was as active as any one during the bat
tie; and, when it was over, and / found
myself again among my own countrymen,
and all speaking my own Language fan;
should meet my father, my mother, or my
dear Bcss, on board or the British frigate.
expected. to see you all again 10 few
weeks at farthest but, instead of returning
to Old England, before was aware, it was
helm about with US. As to writing, never
had an opportunity but once. We were
anchored before French fort; a packet
was living alongside ready to sail had a
half side written and scratching my head
to think how should come over writing abb
out you, Bcss, my love, when, as bad luck
would have it, our lieutenant comes to me-,
and sayes he, Elliot, sayes he : know you
like a little smart service come, my lad.
take the head oar, while we board some OF
those French bum boats under the batteries.
1 couldn't say no. We pulled ashore, made
q bonfire of one Of their craft, and were set
ting FIRE to a second, when deadly shower
| of sm,ll. .shot from the garrison scuttled our