The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-09

compared to whatI saw on this trip. had
made no calculation on going until the day
before starting, but was not long in making
up my mind, getting new grip. paper col
aH Ioed% Pig n D
had my ticket and baggage ready to get
aboard with the boys.
Well. that trip to Birmingham was the big
ried. 1 heard that Capt. Tom Maffet OF New
berry was on hoard and wanted to see him,
but could not for the press.
1 SO " more land TO the acre than ever be-
fore, and lots OF 1t as poor as my mullen
farm. Ialso concluded that there is heap
Of people this year. Nothing eventful occur
red en- route to Atlanta. managed to keep
clear OF the barber. electric wire, telephone,
telegraph and other poles, and landed safely
in Birmingham on time and In fine shape. :
Here 1t was We had q genuine love feast,
commingled with Joy and sorrow, and join
GORDON s dom could take that crowd s Of veserans na
and whip any State in the union. When
the cannon fred-which was the signal for
the meeting In the wigwam-I just felt like
long rebel yell for Hampton, though some
fellow in the crowd yelled out "here comes
the Palmetto boys" and such yelling never
heard. After awhile We all got inside and
and chivairy, joy and gladpess, sadness and
weeping as am incompetent to describe, and
1t Is too serious to attempt;them all.
The opening ceremonies were peculiarly
affecting. While the Governor was making
TO feel most about the forehead. When the
Mayor WAS welcoming US to the city, began
70 moisten about the eyes, but when General
prayer D Rear % %stsd ss RIG ss aoWn
looked around to see II any one saw me and
Louis and nearly every body else except Tom
was crying, 80 just let her roll, could not
help 1t, it was In me and had to come out.
Tom n 1nrpn
II ke pump. He was as deeply moved as any
Of us, but be could not get relief by crying.
deeply sympathize with a man who can't
cry when he feels likelt.
Again when the Yankee General was pre-
sentipg General Gordon with gold headed
cane, / swelled up and Louis and cried some
more. just fell all to pieces and didn't
gether or not my wound has ssrdIy healed
yet and many Of the boys continued to cry
long after we broke up.
There were some women present whose hats
were awfully In the way, one Of them kept q
perpendicular position between me and the
stand. think 1t was the largest hat ever
saw. l followed hurrah for Hampton, down
In front, but it was no good said please sit
hat at the day of judgment.
When the band Of fifty TO one hundred in.
struments struck Dixie, the crowd literally
went wild with enthusiasm ; II they played It
no one ever heard IT,
Among the prominent persons present was
the editor Of the Veteran, tell you he 10 q
fine looking fellow and I'll bet made q good
soldier. I would like the Veteran better II It
had more levity. its too sad-an emotional
man will cry himself to death reading II,
however hope to send him twenty new sub
scIibers this year and as soon as my mullen:
is laid by I am going TO running tar, to get
able TO 60 the reanlon next year. Our boys
behaved themselves very we'll, handkerchiefs
got scarce during the weeping performance
and one Of them took a doiley from the Land
lady, but he afterwards carried IL back.
We all have q few jokes but I won't be the
first to lbegin to tell them. concluded TO
carry out the struggling feature Of an old col
dier and 20 bought cut rate ticket TO Selma
for 81. Just before the train arrived gentle
man who was not going back offered to give
me one. He just took all the wind out Of my
sails but went on and spent few happy
days, with my daughter Annie, her husband
Sam Gilmore and my grand children.
Though somewhat longer. Saturday even
Ing In Selma reminds me very much like our
Carolina towns. you can see all sorts OF ve-
hicles going out with q bale OF hay, piece Of
bacon, sack OF flour and Jug Of molases.
saw q dead match to my steer, and more
crooked road than the one farmer Jordan
told us about.
Yes, am home again, safe and sound and
the only thing that's gone wrong is they neg
lected my possum dog and he Ia so poorly. L
will have to do without meat until he recup-
crates, but its time was making my round,
$50 good night and he disappeared Ia the
darkness whistling Bonnie Blue Flag
8.