The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-06-08
LETTER FROM "POoR CONRAD"

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So many of my friends seem sorry
that they have not heard from me in
a long time through the columns of
your valuable paper. l meet them
every day. l wonder to myself that
my letters are interesting to such
numbers. l wish could write more
and better. Many of these admirers
of Poor Conrad" have never laid
eyes on him, like the little boy who
heard his father read my letters so
often and asked, Father, who is
Poor Conrad anyhow So. dear
readers, you will know that not only
the little children are my truest
friends; they show their friendship
on sight. Numbers of my old ac-
quaintances l had not seen in sever
al years and during my long absence
many little ones have come into the
family. The moment l enter the
house can see that the old folk are
still my friends. One cannot but no.
tice the little ones eyes brighten up.
They come around and hang upon
father or mother with inquiring side
glances to see and know the old man
that father and mother talk about
80 often. An, readers of The County
Record, is not that enough to touch
the heart, though it be of stone? |
heard my old departed friend. Len
Mouzon, say when l was quite boy
that you can know your friends by
the actions of the children. He
spoke q truth. Poor Len, as we all
called him Qike Conrad), was not a
great man, but in q certain way he
was, for he was honest. Though he
be dead his words of truth live after
him. l drop a tear to his memory.
May his ashes rest in peace.
am at this writing sojourning
near the old Mouzon homestead,
where | spent so many pleasant
years. lived on this spot about fif-
teen years, the center of host of
friends; yes, friends of a lifetime.
| came here from Charleston when a
boy, &c years ago, and lived most of
that period in sight of Black River
swamp, where | hunted and fished
when game and fish were plentiful,
and the few people now here that
were here when | came to these
parts are still my friends. But some
one has said that we must not say so
much about our friends and seldom
of any particular one; those who are
rich in this worlds goods worship
their silver and gold ,and the largest
treasure is looked after oftener and
more closely,so / feel rich in friends.
Shall forsake them or grow cold
to them? No, never while the warm
blood stirs in my veins. God bless
them and their children.
Yes, here the Mouzons, the Epps,
the Kinders, the Smiths, the McEl'
veens, the Burgesses, the Reardons,
the Barrows, the Meningitis. the Nc
Intoshes and many others too nu-
merous to mention, the children,
grandchildren and great-grandchil-
dren of many that are now resting
in their graves are Conrad's true
friends. The king of Black river is
now in the arms of his friends, a
proud boast but l feel it to be an
honest one, Think now for a mo-
ment what it means to live among
people for a lifetime, poor now and
almost obscure. l left the State at
twenty.one years of age, lived in the
far West three years. returned to
Charleston, my birthplace, where |
remained a year or so, was four years
in the Confederate service and eigh-
teen years in Florida. During all
of those periods of absence my heart
was still here. In the words ofa GER
tain writer, Where the heart is. there
the real man must be"
am staying at the camp at Mr.
| w S Dennis sawmill, located on the
land of my old friend. S R Mouzon.
I am not here all my time, but am
here quite regularly Sundays, which
enables Mr. Dennis to return to his
home in Kingstree at the end of the
week. On other days I help around
the camp or spend some time in
Black river removing snags and 9TH
er obstructions in the stream from
the way of my boat. have built q
new one; it is nicely painted, ready
to be launched as soon as the water
in the river gets up. have just
received q new engine, which is a
beauty. l have not yet placed a
name on the boat but have selected
IL l.