Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-08-15

off thst very day, there was no escape but bu.
onifoot.
Suddenly a ball oame crashing BY them
through the treesl Then charge Of Crane
shot cut tho boughs overhead. They were
10 range OF the grnsl It was evident they
had taken tho worst direction, but .heie
was no help for It now--it was too late to
turn back. In her agony, the mother
cried aloud on God to protect her family.
Mary hugged closer the child In her arms,
aud trembled SO she could hardly keep up.
Another orashl The shot shrioked past
them, striking trees in every direction.
The assault was fierce, tho roar incossaut.
The frightened family rushed on as swiftly
as possible toward friends plantation, far
back from the shore; but it wss soon seen
that that thoy would not have strength to
reach it, even if thoy wore not struck down
BY the flying shot. Tho Americans were
pouring their Gre iuto these woods, thiuk-
ing the enemy. would seek refuge there.
The wretohcd fugitiyes expected every
moment to be the last. On they
pushed through mud and rain and scream
Ing shot.
Soon they found they were getting moro
out of the range of the guns. They began
to hopo; yet now aud then ball tore up tho
trees around thom, or rolled fcarfully
across their path. Thcy reached ono Of tho
houses where their fold hands lived, with
no onc hurt; they woro over a milo from
the mansion, and out of range. The DC.
grocs said no shot had come that way.
Unable to flee further, tho family deter
mined to stop here, AS soon as thoy
entered Mrs GibbcB felt her strength leav.
ing her, and sank upon low bed. Chilled
to the bone, drenchcd, trembling with ter
ror and exhaustion, the family gathered
around her. She opened her eyes
and looked about She sprang up wildly.
ooh, Mary" she cried, where is
John7"
Tho little girl turned pale, and moancd:
COB, mothcr mother! he's left!' She
broke iuto crying. The negroes, quickly
sympathetic, began to wiring their hands
and wall
"Silcnoe!' said Mr.. Gibbcs, with stern
but trembling voice. Tho tears were 10
his own eyes. The little child now missing
was very dear to them all, aud moreover,
was deemed a sacred charge, US he was one
e the orphan childcren of NIr. Gibbcs
sister, intrusted to him on her dcatl-bcd
The wailipg ceased; there was silence,
broken only by sobs, and the master asked:
"Who is willing to go back for the
ohil3?"
No one spoke. Mr.. Gibbes turned to
his wife for counsel AS tho two talked
in low tones, Mrs. Gibbcs called her hus-
bands attention to Mary, who was knecing
with claapcd hands in prayer, at tho foot
of the bed. In moment, the little maid
rose aud came 10 them, saying calmly:
Smother, 1 must 60 back after baby"
"Oh, my child," cried the mother, in
ogony, II cannot let you!''
"But, mother, must" pleaded Mary.
"God will care for me-"
1t was a fearful responsibility. The
guns roarcd constantly through the dark
ness; tho house might now bo in flames; it
might be Gled with carnage and blood.
Mrs. Gibbes turned to her husband. His
face was buried in his hands. Plainly she
must decide it herself. With streaming
eyes slo looked OF Mary.
"Come here, my ohild," eho called
through her sobs. Mary fell upon her
mothers neck. One long passionate en-.
brace, in which all mothers love and
devotion were poured out, and the oingng
arms were opened without word. Mary
sprang up, kissed her fathers forehead.
and spcd forth on her dangerous mission of
love.
The rain had now ceased, but tho night
was still dark and full of terrors, for through
shc trees che sew .be frequent aaahee of the
great guns. The woods were filled with
the booming echoes, so that cannon seemed
to be on every hand. She flow on with all
speed. Soon she heard the crashing trees
ahead, and knew that in a moment she
would bc face to face with death She did
not fauter. Nov she was again in the
fierce whirlwiud. All around her tho shot
howled and shriekcd On every side
branches fell crashing to tho earth. a
cannon ball pluugod into the ground close
beside her, cast over her heap of mud, end
threw her down. Sho sprang up and
pressed % With redont!ea visor. No.
even that ball could made her turn back.
She reached the bousc She ran to the
room where the little child usually slept.
The bed was empty! Distracted, shc flew
from chamber to chamber. Suddenly she
remembered that this night ho had been
given to another nurse. Up into tho
third story she hurried, and as she pushed
open tho door tho little fellow was sitting
up in bed, coocd to her and put out his
hands.
With tears raining down her checks
Mary wrapped the babe warmly and started
down the stairs. Out into tho darkness
oncc moro; onward with her precious burden
through cannon roar, through shot and
shell! Three times she passed through this
ron storm. Tho balls still swept tho
forest: the terrific booming filled the air.
With the child pressed tightly to her