The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-08-26

- 0GOU W. y cayed relic of the
year 1S10-so unlike a modern house
that people gaze at it curiously as they
pass along the fashionable thoroughfare
upon which it fronts. A mansion of gray
sandstone il stands in the midst OF extern
sive grounds, shaded by noble oaks,
elms, pines and sycamores. Such elms
there are in various portions Of New
England; such pines over Fenimore
Coopcrs grave at Otsego Lake; such
oaks near Niagara or in the bluegrass
region of Kentucky; such sycamores
along the Ohio or the Wabash; hut there
arc few places where one finds them
grouped together. They give the place
an air OF scclusion such as broodcl over
kenilworth. Close inspection Is required
to determine that the house is built of
stone. Vines cover it from foundation
to roof, half concealing doors and win
doWs, and massing up under the caves in
-'rrear swrYfs OF vendurc. There are ivy,
Virginia crecpers and trumpet vines, and
| would gladly have more were there
space for them to grow.
1t is just such home as a retiring old
bachelor like myself loves.
need scarcely describe the interior.
l call it comfortable; tidy housekecpers
(IIcaven defend me from them :! would
call it sovenly. My aged housekeeper
is not ambitious. She tries to please me,
and does so; but she is not tidy. My
occasional visitors assure me that the
rooms are not we'll aired, that there is a
musty odor in the parlor, that the Ii
blary is quite damp. l confess that such
remarks amuse me. The dampncss and
mustlues' have never been apparent to
me, aud my housckeeper has never men
toned the subject. therefore conclude
that the trouble lies chiefly in the fancy
OF certain rrying and otficious women,
who have not enough at home to keep
them busy.
Up in my attic, opening toward the
main street IL n avail o;--i-- .-f.es0u,
which swings back on hinge Vines half
exclude the light. Birds come there,
mostly sparroYs-a truly detestable bird
but robins and bluebirds also visit the
place at intervals. once had robin
stand on the cave within a foot of nv
lace, pcerInS ut me curiously. He
W!nlcd and ro!le1 his pretty held in a
most diverting way. ] half believe he
thought me some gigantic species of bird
"a gigantic cousin he had not seen
before.
often peer shyly at the outside world
through this little window, standing on
my feet the while, as the opening is
higher above the floor than common.
The attic i, rartly i!hts is seldom used
GA furniture, boxes, pictures, papers
ok
copwebs and SCOT are omniprc.cnt. There
arc dark angles and corners into which
ncbody but myself ever peers. love
the quiet OF the place, and its utter ack
OF order Sometimes | take up one of
my old vloins and discourse q half.for.
cotton air in so low II key that even the
sp;dcrs arc not disturbed.
A recent warm evening in July found
re i'll the attic. \ breath Of sultry air
came through the vine checked window:
the leaves OH my old trees were motion
less. Many people were moving on the
street, brought out Of their homes in the
hope Of finding cooler air. One young
lady singled out walking alone, n tall,
stately womcD, vino face, while dimly
cen at quite distance, could imagine
to be handsome. l grew retrospective
rs watched her. am not given
to sentimentalty-indeed, l know
women too we'll to love them;
but it cannot DC denied that it IS very
natural for man TO lei them bamboozIc
him. l am well aware that tho word
tambooze is not elegant; but no other
word will convey my idea. Women are
Eatu:al deceivers; what use have they
:or sncerity2 How well they know the
power of handsome figure, a bright
eye, or pretty teeth With what ad-
mirable art do they add to and improve
upon natural attractionsl The sweet
smile Of girl in her teens is hard to
resist, grant you; it overturns reason
and philosophy as the great wheel OF the
wind mill overthrow Don Quixote; but
if this self same sweet smile fails to cap
tivate you, it is not soon turned upon an