The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-12

bic home, and the hard, humiliating work
which saw no way to prevent your doing:
but now that you have a husband. and po-
sition to sustain in society it is fitting that
you should know who you are, and that not
a drop of my humble blood runs IN your
veins''
s'You are good and kind, and have been
true mother to me; you shall not under
rate yourself" said Isabel, warmly; "but,
OH do tell me of this stran ge thing"
"We were just married, John and I.
Isabel, child, pardon me if continue to
name you as relative"
"Auntte.r" interrupted Isabel, deprecat-
ingIy.
''You can not realize, perhaps, that John
was kind husband, and that I was one Of
the happiest of wives. We lived in large,
handsome cottage then, and were quite well
to do at the time you were born. The first
shot mad been fired at Fort Sumter the
previous January, and a young Southern
gentleman came mere with his young wife.
who was an invalid, and he had brought her
North not only to escape the fierce heat OF
Southern sumner, but to avoid the ex-
citement of the troubled times which she,
LII uSI "Sda SCetC, was pVOiA 1o1S w oSe&A'
He was of rich and influential family, or
he could Eot have passed the lines, even in
that early stage of the National troubles,
and nothing but the devoted love he cher
isheo toward his wife would have kept him
out of the fray.
sThey were accompanied, Of course, byan
old black nurse. Maum Chloe. who had
nursed and waited on your mother since her
infancy; but in spite of the tender care
which she and the tender young husband
mad lavished upon her, the young wife con-
tinued to fade, and he stopped here on their
Wav to the South, and decided to remain
here until after you were born, hoping that
she would then be better able to travel, and
to face the excitement of the war times at
home.
Searching for quiet boarding place, Tor
the hotel was far from being a pleasant
home for an invalid, he happened upon US,
and at his earnest solicitation consented
to furnish them rooms and board Tor lew
months, and in nine weeks from the time
they came you We're born"
"Then am Of Southern birth?" said lsa-
bel, who was listening to the story With
earnest eagerness.
Yes, and your name was Isabel CARING
ton. Your father was an ardent sympa-
thizer with the South, as it was natural ne
should be, and we kept our lips tight closed
TO repress the words OF patriotism when
burned to come out, out Of Difference to our
guests. 1t was not for long, however, Tor
YOUR Door mother, poor young thing, was
not strong enough to rally after your blrtn,
and in our intense anxiety for her all: 'c-
,;onal differences were forgotten for the
time, and we watched over her as II there
were no interests outside her sick cham
Der. She only lived few weeks, and the
war was fully under way, and though your
father was almost distracted with grief
at his loss and the necessity OF leav-
ing her here. he saw no better way
than to burr her in Northern soil, until
such time as he could come back
and remove her to his home, which think
was on a plantation near Richmond: They
were wealthy, knew, from their conversa-
ton, though they did not show 1t by assum-
ing superior airs, as so many people do,
an, ,l.c lc-c y-c:.- c ;.cs.1 ouns mamma
very much. After she died your father
was more than ever anxious to throw HIM
se!f into tie war, but, of course, 1t was not
10 be thought OF taking tender babe like
t>~S~~N
the lines with you in safety. So, with
fathers natural feelings at parting WIN
you, he left you in old Chloe's and my JOINT
care, leaving with me an ample sum OF
money to care for you both, expecting WIN
The sanguine folly so many were guilty OF
that the war would soon be over, and tnat
he would return and take you South. Poor
old Chloe pireG and mourned for her young
mistress, and grieved over her home untl!
she was a mere shadow Of herself and an
easy prey to the severity of her first Win
Ter in cold climate, and she, too, died, ana
you and were left alone"
My poor, darling mamma" said Isabel,
with a tear of pity for the young mother
she had never seen, land my father-my
| poor, brave papa
sNevcr came back, and we never heard
| from him after that day, when he left US so
heart-brokcn at leaving you, his little
| Esabe! (you were named after your grand
mo,her), and the grave of his Alicia, whom
! he loved with an almost idolatrous passion,
| and vet so eager and earnest to JOIN his
c untrvmen IN their struggle. 1t IS prob
| able that he was killed in the first battles OF
the war, and that his letters to his people
| r!iscarried in the excitement Of the times,
| for I have never heard word from any OF
them
sit may be none of them survived the
| fortunes of war" said Isabel, thoughtfully
but please tell me more of my parents,
| have so longed to know Of them, and though,
| it strange that you were so reticent concern
| ing them, and now my interest is re,
[ doubled" -: -: =. =. 4-.43' IS, -.