The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-21
Pleasant Pastimes.
lWritttn for tho DEMoCRAT.l

y
young man, SO a2l leeable generally,
became quite formlable-a positive
terror, in fact? If so, we sincerely
pity you, for such recoliections leated
back to us as we pcnned the healing
above. 1t happened on a very pleas.
ant afternoon in the present. charming
month of May, that in company with
q number OF frientls, we were enjoy
ing picnic, the pasLime, you know,
usually INDUCED in on Ascension
day in the country. Yhe rays Of the
sun were lcngthening towards the
western horizon, and we were recln-
ing against friendly tree, comfvrta.
bly, disposed towards all morlals not
80 fortunate, and peacefully watching
gayer party tread the mazes of the
dance. No scene could have been
more picturesque-it was place to
charm poet, situated IN the very
depths of the forest primcval-wc
could gaze down from its sheivin.
banks, whore trailed the lovely arbu-
'tus, to the dark stream below, wind
ing its devious course beneath the
,overhanging foliage. None of the
clamor and clangor Of that outer
world which seemed so far removed,
came to disturb the peaceful tcnor,ol
'thenght, when alas inone fell swoop
the serenity vanished like The mist OF
the morn, and Il cold forlorn image
presented itself before our mental vis-
ion. "The nice young man" did it.
He said only one word, but that was
the open sesame to drrar and dis
NAL prospect. Even now we recall
the calm features totally unmovcd by
our dismay as he ruthlessly suggested
'"notcs." The calmncss Of despair
settled like cloud over our horizon.
rs in imagination we saw Il wuc-hc-
gone individual by the midnight
lamp painfully toiling to construct
from "hard-bound brains" new par
agraph on an old theme; and then
when the light had wanod, and The
weary eyes were closed, there filled
through the vacant reccsscs of the
nind, pale shadow-a wan and
warning ghost, holding alofL in long
spectral arm, a terrible plucard bear
ing the fearful legend, estate Picnic
Literature ]! we cry out, enough no
more! Well we will try and forgive
him, probably he did not mean to in
'timidate. Silently we passed card to
our lclt-hand nei9hbor, with the re-
quest, "Givc us Il notc," to which h.
promptly responded "Cyprcss tree"
But tha'ncNt neighbor proved obsti-
'nately 'unliind, he would not even tell
what be knew about cologne in re-
vcnge therefore, we drew caricaturc.
locating him in the midst Of the
spring ,(wherc we generously con
signed him in ou: acknowledgements.
.ously, because the day was warm md
the water cooD wearing rather sur
.prised expression as if wondering
what sudden forward Impulse had
,prccipitatcd him there.
The visions had stopped, and the
.plainlive notes Of tile urganetlc
'chimed in with our altered mood, but
we must hasten TO accord Justice
to the only one who favored us with
the right kind Of note. 20 do so il
is necessary to begin over again.
"Io the woods, TO the woods !" was
as usual the cry on the 9Th instant.
regardless Of the kings English.
which says the letter s of scrpcnlinc
form, should never he permitted ,oi
cncroach upon is sylvan territory.
Therefore, we did oul selves the pleas
ure of attending picnic Oh that day
at Ridge Spring, above Pope Spring
Bridge, near the State road. Tn.
spot selected is situated in piclu-
rescue grove in the very heart OF
-Four Holes Swamp. Notwithstanding
lts-secluded position. however, it has
for several years past witnessed smi.
lar scenes to that which greeted us or
our arrival. The morning passed
quickly in the pursuit OF various
games intcrspersed with music and
songs, ny the younger po:tiop Of the
pleasure-scekers, the Children amusing
themselves swinging ami playing in
the boats, while the older and wiser
folks dispersed in sociahlc groups,
viewed with lenient glauccs The giddi-
ness of young heads in remembrance"
OF their own youth, convcrsing in low
tones among themselves. Refresh |
ments having been parlaken of at an
early hour, two boats were put in
navigable order and in company with
'tt''our cousins" Sisters and aunts be-
ing supesduons) we set out to explore
the unknown waters. Despite the
marrow channel, intercepting boughs
and unexpected curves, Mcssrs. ID. !
~. j. f., j. S., anti b. f. proved
equal to all emergences, avoiding any
immerslons, and banishing the disa-
'greeable little "ontre temps familiar
TO all young ladies who venture out
an bateanX, and to their skill we
were indebted for most pleasant cx
'cursion. After ascending The stream
about half mile, passing en- route
through romantic little lake set Ike
"a gem in the tangled wildwood, we
penetrated for some distance q tribn-
tary stream, and reached the turning