The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-21

six years ago. / was then young man
looking about to see what there was in
the world, and what kind of people went
to Conferences, for that was Confer
enee occasion); and especially, I guess,
to see a certain girl 1 expected to find
there. At any rate, in the fall of 1858
was at New Bern in attendance upon
the North Carolina Conference of the Nj.
E. Church. South. After / had seen as
much of the Conference as I cared to,
concluded to run down to Beaufort and
spend a day or two; so to the station
went. There l found quite number of
persons, gentlemen and ladies'. who were
also going to Beaufort. They We're
strangers to me, but all good looking peo-
pie, and l was glad when l heard them
saying they We're going to Beaufort, as
observed there were some pretty girls in
the company. 1 soon discovered that
the crowd consisted of two parties--that
some were from Guilford county and
sc me from Granville. In the Guilford
party there was very beautiful young
lady, while IN the Granville crowd there
was fine looking young gentleman, dress
ed from head to foot in
fanltless style, wearing kid
cane, who, / soon discovered, had had his
heart pierced by an arrow from Cupid
bow, the penalty imposed for looking into
the eyes of that pretty young woman
from Guilford. He couldn't keep his eyes
off of her, and of course she couldn't
help casting glances at so good looking,
well-dressed gentleman as he was, espe-
cially as she saw that he was interested
in her. He asked this one. and that one
who she was, but no one could tell him
He was restless, yea, in a state of un-
bearable anxiety, for having accomplish
ed two of the feats accredited to Caesar,
he was impatient to add the "Vici." With
him it was ''shoot Luke or give up your
gun" so he concluded to shoot Advanc-
ing toward her with hat in hand and
making a profound bow that Chesterfield,
in his best practice, could not have
1equalled, he thus addressed her:
Il beg your pardon, Madam, for my
seeming rudeness, but / am so anxious
to know whether you are single or mar
ried."
II am married, sir"
Happy the fortunate husband. 1t is
a good thing for him the marriage took
place before / ever saw YOU.
Thank you, SIR she said.
Madam" he asked, have you a sister
as pretty as you are?'
l did not hear her reply, for by this
time all in the room were laughing: the
husband of the pretty young woman
made his appearance, and introductions
were given until all who were present
became acquainted, and right jolly
good time we had on our excursion to
Beaufort. Hon. w. H. p. Jenkins, one
Of Granville countys most distinguished
citizens, was the young man, the hero OF
that very thrilling incident, which result
ed IN giving to a party OF a dozen or
more people, hitherto strangers. to each
other, most delightful time at Beaufort
for a day or two, besides making friends
who for fortysx years have rejoiced in
the good fortune that threw us together.
do not know how many of that party
are living. Some are dead / know, and
all of us are getting near the border
land
At this Conference Benjamin F. Guthrie.
John C. Brent, William A. Wheeler Gall
dead, r. A. Willis and ]. W. Jenkins
Qiving) were admitted. Bishop H. H.
Kavanaugh presided and Rev. William E.
Pell was secretary. The number of mem
bers in the State, reported at that con-
ference was, white, 27,997; colored, H.
10; total, 80, 767. Now there are 145.
972 white members, gain in forty-five
years OF 196,2O5, an average of 1850 a
year. The colored members belonging to
other branches of the Methodist church
are not included in this statement.
w. n. Fuller, Esq, of Mapleville,
Franklin county, the steward of Cookies
Chapel church, as well as the best sur
veyor and readiest calculator in that part
of the country, was one of the party
that went to Beaufort from the New
Bern Conference, and is daily reader
of the News and Observer. If he will
axe the time to write some OF his re-
entrances Of that occasion l will be
oliged to him for them. I would like to
now how many OF those who took that
erilous sail from Beaufort that stormy
corning are living. That was indeed a
lost perilous sail AS think of 1t now,
is mystery to me how that little
oat lived amidst those waves and break
rs.
In after years l made another visit to
BEAUFORT; this time my wife accompa-
,ie6 me. We had not been married very
ng, therefore we mingled with the
Dung people and had just as gay a time
any of them, boating, fishing and 9th
arwise. Among the many others there, q
,ost conspicuous character that was seen
n every sailing or fishing party, was a
ch widower. He was not only seen but
heard, for he was a great talker; said
many things and had the gift of being
able to laugh at his own jokes, and make
others laugh. He spent his money free
ly, standing treat on all occasions. o.
course he soon became quite lion, and
while the girls did not care specially for
him, they could not help entertaining
very kind feelings toward him. He was
a personal friend of mine. and my wife
and | received from him very special at
tention, and were placed under many OBJ
legations to him for numerous acts of
kindness, for all of which we promised
to speak a good word in his behalf TO
a certain lady from Caswell county, who,
after her brother and sister had gone
home, was being chaperoned by my wife
He was very much pleased with her, fol
lowing her like shadow, and she seem
ed to be as much pleased with him at
any rate she allowed him to be her CON