The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-25
A DESERTED HEARTHsTONE.
Editorial Correspondence GreenrIle
1fOuNtdiaeer.

the SOFT DreeZeS .lured me away from |
the bustling activity of life in one Of |
the most progressive towns in South |
Carolina, which was q mere village
when went to itmore than forty years
ago, % stranger yet in his teens who
had been quickly assimilated with the
homogeneous population, where there
were no cnstes or distinctions except
upon lines of integrity and morality.
Looking back to those days there comes
to recollection feature of the COM
munity which did not impress me 80
strongly then as now, and it was the
high standard of personal conduct ex-
acted by the public sentiment which
dominated the inhabitants and per-
meated the whole structure of society.
Churches and schools were more flour
ishing than material industries, and
the village life was influenced largely
by the men and women who were con-
nected with these institutions. A tenn
perance organization included scores
of young men and young ladies, in ad-
dition to u large number of older per-
sons, and the weekly meetings were
numerously attended. The seed sown
in that day by godly men and women
have been bearing fruit ever since.
am depressing from what was in
tended to be written, for the country
rather than the town has attracted me
this afternoon, and have been revel-
ing in memories Of other days con-
nectcd with q family now scattered
here and there, with whom it was my
good fortune to be associated from the
beginning of a twenty years residence
IN Anderson. The lights and shadows,
the joys and sorrows, the eras of pros
pcrity and adversity, come trooping
along as the olden times are recalled,
and in fancy am once again in the
midst Of large and happy household,
where good cheer and bountiful hospi-
tality were the daily ninistration Of
the master and the mistress, whose
kindly welcome never failed to greet
their friends, and under whose roof the
poor and the needy often found shelter
AID nourishment. This latter is not
idle assertion or fanciful description,
but the iteration of facts too seldom
met with in these days.
Two miles west of Anderson there
stands r0omy mansion, now tenant.
less and deserted, where such saenaa
as I ilave described were for many
years being enacted. It was the home
of Mr.. and Mrs. j. e. Keys, and it was
near the exact spot where they began
life together more than three-score
years ago in an humble, unpretentious
dwelling, which gave place after years
of diligent Industry Gld energetic toll
to the stately building that now stands
on the brow Of hill over
looking the surrounding country. This
house was projected on a liberal scale
for the times when 1t was built. The
foundations were laid strong and deep,
and the granite underneath will remain
there when decay has swept off every
timber above it. The broad piazzas on
three sides Of the building were always
cool and enticing in the summer even
ings, and the wide halls were delight
at noon day. The square rooms
were airy and comfortable, the ceilings
were lofty, and the double windows
invited the breezes from the valley of
the Gener0stee which lies to the south
of the old mansion. o, the merry days
Of winter with their great log fires and
the happy gatherings in the summer
season when fruits were abundant.
AS stepped upon the piazza of the
desolate homestead there lay before
me the jogging board, upon which was
rudely carved the names of grandchil-
dren, now broken to pieces aud useless.
PeericS into the phriOr window there
uas the old piano. relic ef earlier ard
happier times, which was 80 often the
solace and entertainment of house
parties when dreary winter and blind
ing snow had shut in the entire house.
hold, and the music from the piano led
the dance, where joy was unconfined
and where Cupid was an active partici-
pant.
Once these halls resounded with
mirth and gayety, and anon have
seen them full of gloom and despair.
Where the piano is now standing was
brought, one bleak Christmas morn :.
ing, the mortal remains Of favorite
son and brother, who had been crushe,l
to death in railroad accident. Once
there was dressed here for burial fair
young girl, whose life went out as the
exhalation of O flower, an adopted
child Of the household then trans
planted to heavenly mansion. These
and other sorrows broke in upon the
happiness and goniality Of its inmates.
The wonted sunshine gave way at an
other time tn the dree-:e-. Ss os 1ays Emu
when father and son were
thruss into Federal prison, tried by O
court martial, and sem
fenced to the Dry Tortugas. They
were afterwards removed to Fort Della
ware, from whence they were finally
by the eintervention Of the writ
nf haf,aass cnrnfra. which resfnrad *bar,,