The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-01-23
" with the hope Of hearing steamer

but none came. Next morning was Christ
mas The folks in that section were as kind
and hospit.ble to me rs heart could wish.
They gave me with free good will plenty to
eat and Clr;iUc, but having been for many
years worshiper ct the shrine of '1erpsi
chore" I decided to go down to Waco with
the view OF eftctiag an earlier crossing, rs
was one OF the main actors in several
Hops" to be given in Clarendon during
Nmas. Though only fifteen or twenty miles
from home was e perfect stranger IN that
part OF the State. I remembered having
met very slightly Mr.. Hazard Bardln near
"Pincknev's." In passing lis residence I
re!ned up at the gate: "Halloa!" Mrs. 3. on
the porch. I made some technical excuse
for stopping as will always come to
''traup' when hungry and tired. 1 no
doubt excited the sympathy of the good
lady, tor she without hesitation asked me
to come in" was soon in the hands of
her handsome brother, that prince OF good
fellows, Mr.. Culpepper Exum, who soon
ushered me into q Christmas dinner. ''Oh,
hour Of all hours; the most blest upon earth,
blessed hour Of our ,Iinaers." l will say
right here that the only Lsat,,l q Friendly
and hungry traveller may take in dropping
in at Mr.. and Mrs. Bardiu's is the risk of
eating too much turkey, pig, sweetmeats,
fruit cakes, &c. While memory holds "a
seat in this distracted globe" III neer forget
their kindness. Here met two young la
dies who kindly asked me to little sur
prise party" at Mrs. Mcks. 1t proved in
deed quite pleasant surprise to mo, for
right here met my party Here II re-
corded in the book and volume ofmy brain"
friends that shall neer be forgotten. After
o most delightful hop l accepted an invita-
ton to spend the night with that hospitable
and kind hearted old nero OF many a hard
fought battle, (as member OF the End S.
&c. Reg } Sergt Roland Moorer, at his ele-
CANT mansion home in the beautiful and
growing little willie" Of "Parler'S" Mr..
Moorer showed me the roll OF his old COM
pany, 'sThe Brooks Guards, if my memory
serves me Alright On this roll saw the
name and record Of one Of MY brothers
who volunteered at seventeen, and was
known as the smallest boy II tho End Regl-
ment. It was gratifying in the extreme to
note his heritage Of boyish g'llantry. The
next day went down to the beautiful little
town Of 'Vance's" where 1 wired Capt.
Cordes, and was informed that 'tEutaw"
would be at Waco Saturday after. then
engaged board with very handsome, kind
hearted young widow with two charming
daughters. This place compared with the
hard bachelors life that had been accus-
toned to proved to ne q perfect little para
disc Ny advice to all travellers on that
side of the Sa2tee is to try and secure board
with Mrs Thompson at Fance's. don't
think III all my ramble through life ever
struck more mischievops, moral, hospita-
BILE, big-hearted, whole-souled lot Of young
men than did at Eance's. On Thursday
set ont accompanied by my newly made
friend, Mr. Selvin Williams o prosperous,
handsome young merchant OF Fance's, to
attend missionary entertainment gwen
under the auspices OF Miss Nealie Fielder,
at Felderville, aided by the young ladies
and good matrons Of that charming COM
munity. On my ascension to the 'HalI'
the battery of bright eyes, beautiful array
of lovely flowers artistic needle work fash
ioned and presided over by by fair woman
with her noble smiles would have dazzled
the aesthetic eye Of !. Wilde, or have charm
ed the poetic imagination OF Byron. Here
I fear met my euI qs,eius, Tor while some Of
the young men were off some distance at
target practice, Little Cupid seems to have
mistaken my old heart for bulls eye, and
pepperedit all day with unremitting cru
city. l Iindulged in every amusement from
an effort to pin the donkey's tail on, to
dancing the german with another fellows
sweetheart. 7 enjoyed the calisthenics drill
by the young ladies hugely; all did well,
but shall never forget the elastic step and
exquisite grace Of their charming captain,
Hiss S., from your city.
"Grace was in her step, Heaven in her
eye; IN every gesture dignity and love-"
1t the close of the dri!l dancing ruled the
hour
Here and there threaded the bewitching
mazes Of the w,.:tz. On Friday I attended
another entertainment given under the aus
pices of the charming Misses Wells near
Vance's, for the purpose Of augmeating the
Corinth Baptist Church missionary fund.
1 enjoyed this if anything, more than that
at Felderville, and it needs as much or more
praise, but have exhausted my vocabulary
Of praises on the other. II proved indeed
a social ana financial success. On Satur-
day accompanied by my no.o young friend
from Nance's, we met several yonng ladies,
chaperoncs and children who had gone down
to see the railroad bridge, river, &c. Mr..
Pregnal, the bridge construction companys
Boss" very kindly furnished Us with bat
teaus. The day was all that heart could
wish, and right here Clarendon scored one
victory on orangeburg. I drifted out in
the stream, my boat freighted with one of
the fairest of the fair maidens for which
your county is peculiarly noted, forced the
passage of the piers underneath the railroad
bridge, and leisurely rowed my boat sever
al miles up the river. One or two other
couples started to follow but failed to enter
the passage of the pier. Our drift back to
the bridge was perfectly delightful, in the
middle Of the current, basking in the balmy
sunshine Of lovely winters day, engaged
in 'ssocial converse sweet" Methinks that
if could effect an arrangement with some
such charming companion to accompany
me on ifes journey, may glide smoothly
down the stream of life. without the ripple
of a single wave on its silvery tide, and be
happy get. On Sunday morning I enjoyed
an elegant breakfast with Capt. Adair and
mate Ferguson on the steamer "Eutaw,"
and landed at Wrights Bluff with heart
brim full Of gratitude to the Orangeburgers
for having given me one Of the most enjoy
able Christmases OF my life r. F. ".