The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-12-16
"Old Timer" Takes q Trip.

Kearse, Dec. 8.-Your old scribe
has taken a wild goose chase, look
ing for a land flowing with milk and
honey, where flowers always bloom
and where springs pour forth living
waters that give to the drinkers Of
it perpetual youth, but, like Ponce
DeLeon, found it not.
Went down to Fairfax on Sunday
evening last. Saw men busy at work
repairing a car, others busy unload
ing it; soon found that a freight
train crashed into it on Saturday
night causing general shake up
and wounding sixteen men, two seri-
ously, all belonging to minstrel
band or show. After waiting patient
ly for the G. & w. G. train to take
me on finally left for my destination,
arrived at Yemassee without mishap,
which name brought back to me Gill
more Simms, the immortal writer
and historian. Here we change cars
for Beaufort and lumber along
through the black belt and at each
station our ears are greeted by
shouts, loud talking, laughter, hellos
and you dars, which to strange ears
makes one feel he is in a. strange
land. Here the negroes flock to see
others get off and on the cars; one
damsel raised the old mans ire by
wanting to board the train against
his will, and soon he was laying on
Macduff, the damsel screaming lusti-
ly the while, amid the cheers and
laughter of the motley crown. Soon
we leave the noise behind and reach
Beaufort, the old sleepy town so quiet
on the river, and from the Sea Island
hotel can be had fine view of the
river, the boats and Lady's Island on
the other side.
After two days most pleasantly
spent we leave for Young's Island,
traversing a fine belt of fertile land,
growing us in pines and brush, wait
ing the day for the dredge to drain
and reclaim for man land as pro-
ductive as the Nile, now the hot bed
of mosquitoes and malaria, where
roams the deer, scrub cow, and razor
back hog, with negro cabin now
and then to break the monotony
Getting off the train at Meggetts not
far away stood group of men all
viewing the skeleton Of an old negro
| who had been killed or died in the
brush not far from the edge Of a
field. Unknown and alone, lying on
his back with outstretched arms and
feet, was he found, his bones bleach
ing In the sun, alone to tell that a
mans life was gone, and as
looked upon his bones I thought, why
should the spirit Of man be proud?
Here at this place I found fine
lands, such as open the eyes of an
pcountryman-good to behold, but
here too seems to be no home for a
man unused to low country climate,
so with visions of health, hard work
and poorer soils, we turned our steps
to Walterboro, and here spent two
days among it's kind and hospitable
people; but the sands, the sands.
Out from and below the town we
roamed for several miles, and as we
went over the lands once owned by
the Fishburnes, Pinckneys, Growers
and others, we felt as if we were
among men who helped to make the
old State one Of renown and ante
bellum wealth and splendor. All
honor to whom honor is DUE
From here We turned our weary
steps homeward, with no mishaps,
and as the warm room with it's cheer
full fire burning, the madam exclaim-
ed: children, here's your pa,
dreamed last night he was dead and
l didn't tell you until now" 1t is
cold to-day but the sun is shining,
the violets are in bloom and if no
songs Of birds to cheer is heard,
their bright smiles seem to say:
"Cheer up, cheer up, for spring is
coming, when all will be JOY and
gladness." OLD TIMER.