The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-02-08

ments, which, Maggie declared, were as
GOOD as new. Hearing this, l did not
doubt but should soon find place Where
nv services would be gratefully received.
did not stop to think that these people
would be very likely to inquire from
whence I came and what Recommendation
I had. But was very ignorant OF u
world. the reader must remember, naIt's
never been outside the gates OF Caleuou'
scarcely, nor into town or village OF; any
sort, since was ten years Old. IMAA OF
this, YOU children, to whom a Journey o.
hundreds of miles is never thought OF eA-
cept as q trihing occurrence.
I had with me small sum of money which
I had saved by doing odd JOBS for the serV-
ants at Ca!edon; yet the whole sum o!d not
exceed two dollars But was free, SAID
nc walked on; better starve IN freedom
than live in bondage.
I had calculated that the distance 10 the
city could not be over five miles, but IN my
confusion must have taken longer route,
for walked briSkly nearly the whole lore
noon. and still l saw no sign that L was
nearing II. The road, too. grew narrow,
and had an untravelcd look that alarmed
ne. was faint and thirsty, too, from nav-
mo Travelled so far, but disliked to stop at
any of the farm-houses passed, for people,
+hongh kind-hearted in the main, would be
ant to look with suspicion on q stranger
nioddinc alone on the public highway.
But toward noon, unable to endure longer
the pangs Of hunger and thirst, stopped al
q small house on the edge OF held WheTc
woman was drawing water from q Weli' anu
timidlv asked for q drink, and to stop ana
rest for little while. She souTiy compheo
with nv request, glanclng suSplcioCsiy aI
my bundle the While.
I entered the house and sank down on Ihe
chair she pushed toward me, almost TOO urea
70 do mere than breathe. She was pfepar-
;nr di2ncr. and the smell OF the FtctNais
made me raycnous l had not tasted food
since dinner the previous day, aud 1t was
small wonder was faint and hungry. L
co,I1 not starvc, and asked the woman 1or
breakfast. She had not spoken since mad
entered the house, evidently being III NJ
of sulss about something. She spoke now,
though. wondering viciously what l was
t,smpioe about the country asking break
fast at this hour for. I did not answer her,
and she, seeing how pale and wan looked,
nerhaDs relented, for she placed some VIC.
mails and glass Of milk on the table, ano
bade me sit up and eat. I did 50, and nav,
ing finished I offered the woman oit o,
silver in payment, half hoping she would no' ,,
tal,cit; but inthis l was mistaken, her s1naI
gray eyes glittered as she clutched it eager
", and s3c asked, quickly:
"Yc'vc plenty of this suppose, glrl!'' a.
the same time laying her large hand on m!
shoulder.
"Only very littlc,"I answered steadily
though my heart beat nearly to sutfocatlol
so frightened was I, for judged from th'
woman looks she would not hesitate to d. d
me an injury. But at that instant morse
man passed, seeing which I graspcd m,
bundle ard ncd hastily down the road be
hind him. only TOO glad to escape my VICIOUS
looking hostess, but greatly refreshed D.
the nourishuent had taken.
had intended to have made some m
ouiries in regard to the road l must take t
reach Baltimore; out in my fright had !oI
gotten il. So I wandered on, only pausln
to rest a short time in a wooded dell wner