The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-01-08
TliE MOCKING BIRD.

Achh., may sec, ns LII
f"'"' approaches tho town, a laro
ochre'colored mansion, whose statol,
portico and high blue-curtaiped win,
''"s look down bonignly from q
"oooed hlll. A well-kept country
,o"o' winding along, under green
'o"shs between fertile fields, comes
10 an end at n largo stone ratewov
through which. upon n closer approach
""y dc seen an oak-shadcd drive and
sr"vci footpnths. Pines, hemlocks
Popiars, oaks and numerous foweriro
bushes surround the house, which
'RoShiy painted and in thorough re.
P"ir' bcspcaks the atfectionute car, y,
prosperous owner.
o' more than half n century pre-
e'"ihS the outbreak of the Civil wor
'his mansion and the 900 fertile ocrc,
"'o"no Ii were the property of tho
Hyivestcrs--a family no less notoJ ,o
inc culture and physical accompl,sb.
i"ehts o. Its members than for tbo
Ehero"s spirit of hospitality that had
Always distinguished it.
At the close of the war, however
""rh cloud had settled upon tho for.
'r'hes OF tho house. Its folds ,vo,,
devastated by tho raids of contondiro
armies. Horses and cattle no lonpor
'cn"htcd the roomv barns, the former
having been led away for service in
me Confederate cavalry, while tho
latter had been appropriated e., f,
ny Aankce raiders. The silver pinto
anu 'he i"m'ly jewels had been sent to
Richmond as patriotic contributions
10 the depleted TREASURY ~
inc Confederacy. Many of the slaves
mat gone to seek their fr..,, A.. mo
inc cooIcr climate of tho North. and I,
'nc lew who now remained behind bod
'e", nc" that they, too. would have to ,
iii" MONIES elsewhere, for with the :,
'e"'h OF the young mastor on tho !,
pIoody field of Antictam the male is- :,
ne OF the Sylvcsters had becomo
'"'' "'it tho fortunes of tho family l.,
iah been lost beyond repair. At first
helr fnith III their young mistress
Anho Sylvester, impelled them to 80
''"'' 'Ho f"mor. Anne, beautiful .o
.o"hS woman Of %, was the only SIR -
wing sister of the former mnster Ur
'l'c'ion for the old place and her
't''t"rS was unmistakuble; but it ii
'oh became apparent to all that tbe
hhappy girl was indeed face tn foc. -,
ith ruin and was powerlcss to obev w
ic dictates of her heart.
for utmost = year after tho sur- l..
h"er OF Lee at Appomattoy Anna -,
''eS'er Dravcly tried to fight against ha
tc Then reluctantly copf.ss;no L
'Po'chcy' She rclinquishcd the -;
r"S@lc and prepared to bid farewell
'he scenes md friends of her Girl. =,
od. distant relation in Noshv;uo ,
- o"erc" her home, and in the
ring OF 1866 sho began to moko Hus
operations for her departure. wha
'h the evening Of the dny urccod- his
haf e-taking of the old bouso losi
lie went into the garden to sit for q him
'io among tho shrubs and howcrs fess
zen had only lately opened tbeir his
'"'io" Pe'ais 10 the warm spring true
ono was accompanied by her sciel
Sin' Mary Elgcrton, who was indie. to m
gable in her efforts to allcvio,c tho A,
row OF the unfortunate girl. Anne. utes
'c'er' though striving to assume an 81
t""c OF patient resignation. suf. said
"a most OF her friends encouraoino was
RANGES to pass UNDECIDED. that
pom arriving at n rustic bench bo. the &
'no trunk of lofty oak they after
ed themselves, and for several melo
'.o' 'o'h were silent. gard
! icp8th half-smothered sob ia. MI
from the breast of the unbapnv at fin
@, and her cousin, rousing herself had 7
i''cr'o into which she, too. motto
''i'"' P'nced an arm around her had v
drew her closer. tovo,
o'' "c"r' DC brave. Perhaps their
'heHo 'hih8S you love 80 fondly advar
'ho ""y DC yours again. Thero drew
surely come a time when all exten
ravnges Of war will be obiterat. al
non Prospcrity VIII come back to the st
'o"'' once more. ierhaps--" long ,
IN not thinking of that. dear" the Sc
ned Anne, sadly. ,Io..;