The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-25
1'eeial Correspondence Of the Courier Journal.

| .Yte'ut correspondence ~ IHc courier journal.
VANcEDURG, KY, Oct. 25.
stopped TO- day and asked for dinner
at the door of neat little log house.
1t was near tho division line Of Lewis
and Carter counties, but in which of the
two am nnprepared to cay. 1t was q
very. hospitable. looking house, with a
neat front yard, surrounded by paling
fence. There we'c flowers in the yard,
and O green viro clambered over the
porch. All the outbuildings were COM
Portable, and the fields stretching away
in the rear of the house bore evidence OF
careful cultivation. There were on un.
slightly brush heaps, brier patches or
stone.piles, and the fence corners were
clean. A trimly-clad little woman, in a
dress of sume light material, responded to
my summons and invited mel in. Il broad
shonldered fellow came up from the stable
aud took my horse. The young woman
| supposed they call the dining ROOM"
1t was very pleasant room. 4 bright
rag carpet was spread in front Of the
hearth, table under the window was
covered with books end papers, and there
was shelf filled with books in little
niche beside the chimney. A cabinet
organ filled the other corner. A baby,
chubby faced and ired. checked, slept in
a cradle which was gently rocked by an
old man. This old mans face was scanned
and furrowed and his hair and beared
we've white, but he did not seem to be as
old rs one would at first judge. The lines
deep-gravcn in his face were care lines,
and sorrow or sickmess had whitened his
hair ard beard. Dinner was on the table,
but the little woman who had invited me
in brought out jar of preserves, dish
Of fruit and some cake, and arranged
them among the substantials. The broad
shouldered man came in directly and
was introduced to him. He was the hus.
band of the pleasant woman, nud
the old man rocking the cradle was his
father. Two boys came into the room as
we were sitting down to the table, and
they called the little woman mother. 1t
seemed to be n very agreeable family, and
l was glad stopped. The old man took
the head of the table, opposite leg of
mutton, and was placed on his right
| Opposite me on the wall hung fine steel
portrait of Andrew johnson. There
were other pictures, but this one stood
out prominently. The frame was gilt,
very heavy, and protected from the flies
and dust by gauze, Itgrcw in proportion
|
and it finally became the only object in
the room After dinner 1 stepped close
under it to make better examination
1t was certainly fine picture, and the
bold signature of the great commoner was
not Autograph fac smile, but written
autograph.
THAT is fine picture" l remarked.
"YEs, THAT'S ANDYp
replied the old man, and he walked up
beside me and ran his hand lovingly over
the face of the picture.
"You knew him, then p I again asked
beginning to get curious.
Knew him." answered the old gentle
man. stepping back to give the reply more
emphasis, "why, stranger, Andy and 1
worked together on the tailor's bench. in
Raleigh, forty-odd years ago, and he was
the best friend 1 ever had.3'
"He was the best friend he ever had. !"
was the refrain echoed by the two boys,
| the broad. d.shouldered man and the pleas.
ant-faced woman.
felt confident there was an interesting
story behind this, and begged the old
gentleman 10 tell it, He nodded his
head, and drew my chair up besides
his. The boys and their father and moth
er drew up their chairs also.
II knew Andy" he began, waving his
hand towards the picture, "a good many
years ago, when he was ragged little
boy running around Raleigh. His IA.
ther was poor man, and got drowned
when Andy was about nine years old.
lie lived with his mother, and was good
sou. although he was very little and
couldn't do much. He used to come to
our shop great deal. That was in tho
good old days before they made shoddy
cloth or ready-made clothes. We had
nigh on to forty hands in our shop, and
there were thGee other shops in town fully
rs large. Raleigh was not as big then as
it is now, but / doubt very much if one
tailor could make good living there
these days. We'll, rs was saying, Andy
used to come to the shop every day. I
was, always great reader, and. although
Andy
DIDN'T KNOW ONE LETTER FROM AN
OTHER,
He was always pestering me out of work
hours to read to him. He was pert sort
OF boy, and always told him he would
be great man some day. One fall busi-
ness was brisk and the boss wanted o
prentice. Ho took in Andy, and the
boy was right glad to get something to
do TO help along his old mother. A
prentice usually worked the first year
for his keep and clothes, but Andy
couldn't leave his mother, and the boss
agreed to gi:e him what it would cost to
feed and clothe him in money. In them
days prentice served seven years, and
Andy worked out his time. The day he
was free he come to us and says; Boys,
| know it is the custom to treat when
you get out of your time, but 1 haven't
got the money and you'll nave TO excuse
me- You see he gave all his money to
his old mother, aud we all knowed it. 1
said to one Of the boys that day, says I.
Andy will be great man one of these
DE- d., So. .hc:' i::s- le.sl:ea =. :,c Ar
dy worked about month in our shop as
q Jour- and then he went away 10 Abbe.
vile and worked five or six months.
The boss wrote for him and he came back
and worked steady till spring. He used
to talk great deal about the West, and
one day he says to me, tom Lornade.,
Pm going TO quit Raleigh'and 20 to Ten.
nessee.' l said, 'all right, Andy, do what
you think best. but you are bound to be
a great man some dav He laughed,
but the next day lie caA.ed for settle.
ment from the boss, and that night he
left Raleigh. can SEQ him now. He
was gawky sort of boy, and his clothes
never did ft him. He had on a.little cap,
and bundle Of shirts and socks thrown
over his shoulder. It was bright moon
light night, and 1 walked out of town
with him matter of Two miles. He was