The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-02-11
THE HOSPITAL AGAIN.
Rev. d. ID. Dantzler Writes Interest
ingly About It.


During my recent silence, I have
been frequently asked, How are you
getting on with the Hospital?"
when are you going to open the
Hospital?" Are you ever going to
have the Hosiptal?" To the last
of these questions, my answer has
always been, Yes, we are going to
have the Hospital. But as to the how
and when; I am free to confess that
my answer has been somewhat evas-
i've.
Evasive, not because I lacked
faith in the Righteousness Of our cause,
or in the faithfulnesS of it's promot-
ers, not because Of our inexperience,
and the lack of interest on the part
Of those who hold an earthly title to
the Indispensable wherewith. We
may have made mistakes, and we
certainly have had adverse winds
and a choppy sea. But despite these
adversities, I now have stronger
faith in the determined women, and
the few men who sympathize with
them than ever before; because they
are holding on in the very face Of
difficulties. They have grip on the
enterprise that is not easily relaxed,
and they do not inteud to let go till
they pull into the .dven of success.
"England's sun was slowly setting
Der the hills so far away,
Filling all the land with beauty
At the close Of one sad day"
Sad, because the lover of beauti-
full young girl was doomed to die
when the Curfew should toll the
knell of rting day." Slowly, res
olutely, the girl approached the old
man, whose duty it was to ring the
bell and thus she addressed him:
Sexton Bessie's white lips faltered,
Pointing to the prison old,
With it's walls Sc dark and gloomy
Walls so dark, and damp, and cold
I've lover in that prison,
Doomed this very night to die,
At the ringing Of the Curfew,
And no earthly help Is nigh,
Cromwell will not come till sunset,
And her face grew strangely white
AS she spoke in husky whispers,
Curfew must not ring to night"
The old man reviewed his long
and faithful service, an then sternly
made answer:
Girl, the Curfew rings tonight"
wild her eyes, and pale her features,
Stern and white her thoughtful brow,
And within her hearts deep center,
Bessie made solemn VOW"
And now, with light step she
bounded past the old man, and
sprang within the door of the anti
quated church and up, and up she
nimbly climbed toward the old bell
tower, till she stood on the topmost
ladder. and directly under the great,
dark bell, whose long tongue was
now swinging and about to toll. In
stantly, she seized it and,
"Out sne swung. far out, the City
Seemed a tiny spect below;
These, 'twiXt heaven and earth sus-
pended,
AS the bell swung to and fro,
And the half-deaf sexton ringing,
years he had not heard the bell,)
And he thought the twilight Curfew
Rang young Basil's funeral knell;
Still the maiden clinging firmly,
Cheek and brow SO pale and white,
Stilled her frightened hearts wild
beating
Curfew shall not ring to night.
Descending meeting Cromwell, fall
ing at his feet, relating her story and
showing her lacerated hands, she was
forgiven, and her lover saved. 1 am
we'll aware that the analogy is not
complete, but may not the indomit-
able will, and unfllnching purpose Of
the English maiden nerve the noble
women Of Orangeburg. and this mas
culine sympathiZe to behold the sick
and dying men, women and children
of our community, and then renew
their solemn VOW, The Hospital We
Shall Have.
Feb. 10, 1908. D. D. Dantzler.