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YOL. Y.
J. H‘. 1ST" - B. SEALfcf iJiRHSRSASP
; PROPRIETORS.
ATLANTA, GA., FEBRUARY 14, l"0.
d-„
Termsin Advance; iSX&SiSUZ.
NO. 239-
'mi-; shj:\ci
BY WILLIAM WINTER.
^ though I sing no other song?
W hat though I speak no other \vor«
Is silence shame? Is patience wmnf
At least one Sony of mine teas hettr<
One echo from the mountain air,
One ocean murmur, glad and free-
One sign that nothing grand or fair
In all this world was lost to me.
I would not wake the sleeping lyre:
1 would not strain the chords; of thong
The sweetest fruit of all desire
Comes its own way. and comes unxiiii:!
Though all the bards of earth were dene.
And all the music passed away.
What nature wishes should lie said
She’ll find the rightful voice to say.
Her heart is in the shimmering leaf.
The drifting cloud, the lonely sky,
And all we know of bliss and grief
>lic speaks in forms that cannot die.
The mountain peaks that shine afar.
The silent stars, the pathless see.
Are living signs of all we are,
And types of all we hope to be.
I i
Rcsurgiim.
I shall not live o’er again
This strange life, half bliss, half pain ;
I shall sleep till Thou call's! me to arise
Body and soul with new-born powers.
If thou awnkenest these poor flowers,
'lilt thou not awaken me,
Who am thirsting after thee *
Ah! when faith is almost dead
I.et me think the rose’s red
Lies beneath a cold snow bed
Till the summer’s gentle tread
Bids h,. r ;ff t her sleeping head.
uet 11oil.'
storm, but my mar
META;
— OR —
SOUTHERN PLANTATION LIFE.
A Tme and Absorbing Story oi' Southern Life and
Southern Experiences, Beiore and
During the War.
>i'"i i ;iml South < ’arolina
■ .1 ,w.« tili four Mound Ruifflers. \v
1 Al ’-v* •' - •
thought! made a young lady just suited to! "Ah! there is somel >ody else amused la-ides
his taste.” j Meta I see. If this gentleman, who we irs a
“Alt. mama, as usual you prove me wrong; > few silver locks, is amused what of little
but listen. I hear Met,a coming, and liist! ah! I Meta ! Say now my liege lord !”
here she is, with a troop of little negroes at "Well i am amused, blit sorry for the
; cause: think of her skipping the rope at Ber
wick's. with ninety girls like herself, blit let
us leave the subject for the present, we will
join .Meta, and earrv her little crowd home:
I her in
A girl of thirteen summers bounded lightly
into the room, threw her arms around her
mother’s neck and whispered a few words.
which caused that lady to dive into the little j it is time I should visit the sick.’
Scenes Ink 1 , on the Savannah U
iver, in < Jeo
J i Y GAGF,
HEMPS
key basket and give to the suppliant a key.
the possession of which sent the child scam
pering from the room.
"She asked for a lump of sugar for each
one. anda cupful for Mamn Venus."
"I notice she is very generous, more so
than Bertha.” said the father.
“Yes. she is a little presiding genius over
the plantation. I do not think a negro ever
lias the slightest atlliction that sin- does f \
know it instantly. She seems to keep n.a ■
sort of telegraphic communication between
herself and them.’’
"Very good traits, as she is doomed to la
all her days. WplLtocomebaiOi
tneir mis
Stepping back into the study, he opened a
case and provided himself with a few viais
ot physic. In the meantime Mrs. Glenn was
in the pantry, lilting a small basket with dif
ferent- kinds of provision for the sick.
Presently the father and mother left the
house and joined Meta.
“Come, my little girl" -aid Col. Glenn tak- [
ing her hand." Your little regiment will
inarch with us now to the quarter. 1’liilis,
•Jane and Dick you take the lead and now
for home.”
With these word- the little blacks trotted
off in single tile down the path, running
’hrough a belt "f oaks that stood between
i "esc” It is improbable that Meta should ev-
j er join Mr. Cane's church. I think we can
guide her so faithfully in our own that -he
I will clmg to it tenaciously: still—— here she
paused and looked long in her husbands eyes
j —"would vou lie unwilling to see her a L hris-
1 tian. even with these humble people;
“Oh. if she* could not be one in our entire ii
at all—if it was a necessity to leave a firm
foundation for a mere chance of a society
like that. . . .i
“I confess I am very ignorant of this Merc-
odist organization,” said Mrs. Glenn.
‘•So am i nor do I feel interest enough to
learn about it. I built the chapel because mv
negroes wished it. and their preacher seemed
anxious to serve them here. So far. I nave
thought it an actual good, but—why it mv
daughter is to indulge in any whims for it. l
will move it away, and more, —here he
waxed warmer—“I’ll raze it to the ground.
Reallv now I feel uncertain about Meta. Do
you ever know one day what ideas will enter
her head;" .
"Xn. never,” said his wife: she is quite
original an' believes in fresh explorations.
"Ah. Madeline, 1 fear you allow yourself
to liecom.'- -(•' interested in our lit.le girl s er.
tieing wavs, that you follow where she leads,
too often, not thinking of the pitfalls she mav
wander into.” , . , . ,
"You are becoming morbid on this sulijei r.
dear: I see ev en as you do. but while I cui i
where 1 can, there are times when I deem a
little winilesonie neglect the very remedy .
But listen! That singing, is it not charming:
Mr. Crane's music is lietter than our organ
and trained choir.” ..... f ,
The -oul-stirring sounds weie distinitij
heard in the boudoir, and both of its occu
pants paused to listen as grand old Dundee
was rung out in thrilling tones from the sa
** •fo.SSwSSi,” Mid Ctttone 01««, lswl-
ing his head and listening, now thoroughly
soothed. After a silence of a few moments
he looked up and said: Madeline this n .
sionarv enterprise is a noble work. mde l.
When I think of a man like Mr. < ane. intel
ligent, refined, sacrificing all those advanta-
c-es he is so able to win, for the purpose of
preaching to negro slaves, where malarial
diseases await him, I am lost in adnniafu'ii
of the church system which commands it.
“Siu-clv there limst be good among these
people, prejudiced as we are against them,
said Mrs. Glenn. . . - ,
i Colonel Glenn hesitated: evidently his last
■ confession bc-l .somewhat compromised his
its “; w x
• —■ '“-ail i l*! 101 A..VFAA ^ic- . ... .. .-hun of frownir u” j
burdensome ami unwieldy in the hour of | m these to allow the latter to disarrange
mighty changes and poverty. . them in his wife's eyes.
Colonel Glenn and his wife were people of j "" bile I admire it for its peculiar adapta-
the prevailing type. Mature had endowed i tion to our negroes, our overseer's family,
both liberally with mental gifts and comely j and other poor, I see, more and more, wliat
j persons. The utmost care had been exerted I a blessing lias been banded down to us from
' to fit them for their places in life, so that I our fathers in our own holy church. Aspeo-
with honor to themselves and the names they j pie become enlightened they enter its fold,
bore they might make a success of their j finding it suited to their conceptions of pu
earthly careers. | ritv.”
I Mrs. Glenn glanced hastily towards her
husband. There were words she could have
i uttered about the wicked ones who wore
ranger pt O i ,.r. u>.
p-vR-lvpwed;— ! leaves
r,irked in natural colors
, • tllP V ,r W
sulijcct.licr education. We agreed thsc the planter’s dwelling and the quarter.
CHAPTER I.
"So fair a split of earth, you might, ! ween.
Have guessed some congregation of the elves.
Who -port by summer moons, had shaped ii for
themseives.”
C'AMI'hKI.l..
Just where the forest scenery changes front
sturdy oaks, hickories, maples, poplars and
cedars, to the dreamlike beauty of the rice
lands of the Savannah River. st<
of Col. Glenn. The dwelling suggested com
fort and abundant means, albeit the Col. had
modernized it from the old fashioned home
handed down to him from sire to soil.
On the right begun the plantations of short
staple cotton, while the Iieautifulgiven plains
on the left were the treasuries of the rice
planters. Here begins the fairy-like scene,
the home of the jieariy grain which brought
wealth and its seductive refinements to the
owners of the land
On the broad piazza, we find the master
reading a fresh periodical. Tin blue snmke
curls about his lead as he puffs away at his
meerschaum. Forty or fifty summers may
have rolled over his head, but so peace-
full have been the years of his life that the
loot-prints of time are scarcely perceptible.
Here and there .i few silver threads shone
from the shock of waving black hair, and
there is but a hint of crow-feet about the
bright, speaking eyes, yet enough of youth
and its vigor is seen to forbid suggestions of
age.
The study opens upon a side piazz.a, and a
few steps below is the quiet, rest-suggestive
buodoir of Mrs. Madeline Glenn, the wife and
mistress of the place. She is seated in a rat
tan rocking chair: on her lap lies a heap of
snowy muslin work, but nee lie and thimble
have fallen carelessly from her hands, for
the soft, Starry eyes are gazing far away
over the green rice fields, and her mind roams
in dreamy revery. In those days of wealth
white was the favorite attire of our Southern
dames and this lady is fittingly dressed in a
plain white lawn, w hich boasts of no orna-
! low chair, scwingacoar.se cotton garment
| tor- one of the hands. Her dress of blue home-
i spun is relieved by the towering muslin hand- I
J kerchief that adorns her head, and which to
| Southern slaves was a crowning licauty. The
fact iff this negress is pleasing in a high be- j
gree: her large, soft eyes wear a tender ex-|
j pvession that long ago had won for her an
| honorable position with the mistress of the '
1 the home | house. Hagar was a treasure invaluable to
Mrs. Glenn, and the confidence reposed in
her had never proved misplaced. ,
Here and there the house servants were ’
engaged in their evening duties.
I’resently light steps were heard in the study, j
then the door opened softly and Col. Glenn. |
in his rich voice asked:
"Do you know where Meta is. Madeline f” ,
“She has gone down to the Quarters, to
Like some nourishment to the sick in the hos
pital. She will he here directly.”
“1 have been thinking the last half hour ;
what course we will pursue in regard to her
education. Madeline. Meta is so unlike her
sister, the same place would not do for both.”
“1 have thought the same thing myself,”
said the mother, turning her eyes enquiring
ly towards her husband.
“Yes, never were two girls so unlike as
these two sisters," said the father
no need to inquire whore Bertha is at this
hour, fori know she is off in her chamlier.
reading or preparing her lessons for to-mor
row—lmt Meta—well, she may be down by
the creek ducking th<* littl<* negroes, or on the
river, watching the boats or anywhere else
her fancy leads her active brain and feet.”
Yes, indeed, Meta is a jierfect butterfly
the same plan would not work for both.'
Now, I have been thinking of sending Met?
to Berwick’s next year.”
“Why. my dear !”
“Yes, my wife,” said Col. Glenn, gently.
"It, may appear odd to send the youngest
first, but we are not to forego a good plan be
cause custom is against it. The main tiling
is to educate our girls properly, to fit them
for life in the best sense. Mr. Sprange will
bean admiral)!
The first house reached was that provided
fz I’-ke sick. This contained a single large
ionm, divided by a frame, made of bagging,
v liirlt coiffd be folded and moved aside when
desired. There were four bedsteads furnish
ed with coarse, but clean, anil comfortable
bedding.
There were two occupants, only, this even
ing in the hospital: me v as able to sit up in
one of the large oak rockers, but the other
tutor for Bertha for two j was quite sick, and moaned incessantly with
,.*■ -t..n..,n i pain.
Mrs. Glenn gave a large portion of the con
tents ot her basket to the convalescent negro.
Col. Glenn, with watch in hand, counted the
pulse of the sufferer on the lied. The master's
fine face grew clouded in the few minutes he
stood by the bedside.
"Have vou eaten auvthing to-day Tonev;”
The ambitious of other lands would smile
at the moderate demands of these unsophis
ticated people. To inherit t.he old estate
with its slaves, its goods and chatties, to pre
serve and increase these as a sacred duty,
and to maintain an irreproachable name,
as the .s’uhuiii lnmv.ni of their lives. True,
were side hopes and ambitions that
Mere only allowed the uncertain tenure of
hints. For instance, if the hoy is smart and
uses bis time well, he may go to the Legisla
ture—a valuable honor in those days when
real merit filled the seats irt the capital: or.
there was another vague possibility, and
this was of such a surpassing grandeur that
few of the good fathers and mothers dared
to cherish ut all and that was th u hope that
one of those promising hoys should fill the
gubernatorial chair, or M'rite M. C. after his
name. This romantic flight m as indulged in
by the parents of very bright boys, because
heaven's livery in the same old high born
church, but a smile flitted over her face, and
her lips remained closed.
It Mas her way, sometimes, lo check the
words that were bubbling up for utterance,
for to her there M ere occasions when silence
was golden.
Desiring to lili up the awkward pause the
Colonel returned to Meta. "It is not prejudice
in me, this wish to keep Meta from the chap
el: but the child herself, her anlooked for dc
cisions. Bertlm could attend every Sabbath,
and never forget herself. Meta would run
after this new bauble with all the zest of her
nature.”
While the parents were conversing thus,
their youngest girl mu- standing by her
handier window, up stairs, gazing wistfully
years to come, she i- such a willing student
that her progress will be a certain thing here
at home, and as to manners, the chief consid
eration in sending girls off to boarding-
schools. why Bertha is growing up a perfect
lady, here with these home associates. I
think M ien she is seventeen, a year at some
finishing school like Madame L’s., will lie all
that slu* will need. Her education even now ' he. asked,
is excellent.” ; “Only till
"I agree M-ith yon about Bertha, but Meta
—my poor little straying child, what would
J she be in a large school, left to toss on the j else.”
I waves of her own unruly will f” “I see Tom here has had bake 1 a]!}lies, lie
"She would not toss niucb at Berwick’s, let you taste some didn't he Toney !"
j His discipline is the medicine to effect the I "Hie Masser, Tom jest gib me a little bit,
! cure.” on the tip eend of the spoon, an I spit etn
Mrs. Glenn pressed her hand swiftlv aero-- 1 out'”
j her forehead, a habit of hers when in'pain, j “I'mph!” ejaculated the master, quite sat-
“Mv dear husband, don't think of this. It isfieil M-ith this feeble admission that the ne-
will not do for Meta. I assure you. The ex- 1 gro had brought on a rapid fever by eating
1 uherant flow of spirits in the child, needs an ^apples to his full content.
, outlet and she finds that innocently enough i "Ah! Toney, physic will do vou no good
i here at home. Think of her in a crowd of
•uscard wat missus sent, sir."
•Are you sure now Toney :”
"Yes sir, I'se shore, 1 ain’t tasted nothing
such wonderful events had been known j towards the chapel, and listening delightedly
amongst iLiem, and might they not 1 ie i to the rich African voices that echoed ovei
again r the woods.
However, if one of these sons could be made j
President of the United States, that fact ,
would never free him from the original, all .
essential necessity of filling his place as a gen- ’]
tleman and planter, according to the ances-j
tral rule. It was very possible for him to
live a life of credit to himself and his house
without, a single public office, but an unheard , suggestions of refined tastes found vent in
CHAPTER III.
There was no hospitality so spontaneous,
or so heartily maintained, as that found
among all classes of Southern planters. The
flitting hither and thither, finding flowers j thoughtful towards others!”
and sunshine, if they arc to lie found.” | “Yes, she is this, and me...
D hj. y.ui put lwr pranks in pretty wiirils. | easy about this hoydenish manner of ntakin;
mama,” said the husband, laughing. “i a bov of herself
thA rliilil Rwvth-i
old fellow, until you eat only what I give
vou.”
At this instant a terrible pain across the
idlest, caused Toney to roar out in pain.
I !!. Lonly, Mosser if you cure me dis time
f will never tecli anodder apple pie while I
irl' How proud we i lib.”
> An emetic was given the repenting Toney,
She is attractive enough now, and 1 i-an - and an ample mustard plaster slapped just
he prouder of her. What a warm, j where he declared the apples were “liilin anil
hustin.”
Towards night the master re joined his wife,
he is this, and more still, I am un- i and jocosely reported Toney in a pleasant
“ *■’ ’ ’ ’ “ ' 1 slumber and dreaming of apple pie.
, strangers, curbed in these natural amuse-
j meats, and even punished if not always found
in the appointed path.”
“The very thing, little mother! why can’t
you see how soon she m ill develop into a dig
nified and attractive
will l-e of her
noble heart she ha
wish the child was like Bertha.
‘Then she would lose that pretty contrast
these sisters always present. I would not
have our quiet, studious Bertha different, f
moot, save the bunch ol blue ribbon conliu- I am sure : neither would I change our winsome,
tag the collar. Her hands, face and neck are 1
nearly white, the delicate blue vents being
scarcely concealed by her almost transparent
skin The face is full of sweetness, gentieness
and kindness. It is one of those rare faces
M lmse charm is undefined and you wonder
where it lies, only because you do not -
iiiz.l
thTfact that mere features complexion, etc.,
make none of its beauty, but all the grace
and loveliness is but the light of mind, sou
anil heart, flitting over lip and brow and
beaming through those orbs that are but
' V The 0 buzrio t ir witb its snowy lace curtains,
its silken lounges and cushioned ^^s^sug-
and before the oth-
^a table m wht'h is the costliest furniture
■'«'»“ - "■ *
“Ah! wait, that will give way as she grows
ol«ler. Mr. Kprange says, in most of her
studies, she is remarkably bright.”
“hi those she likes { Howaboutthe others*
See it is just here she needs discipline, that
she may accept her duty, whether it is pleas
ant or not. But never mind this evening,”
hat j said Col. (rleim, in a conciliatory tone, for ho
saw the troubled look in his wife’s eyes.
“There is time to consider, and we may come
to a better and different plan.”
frolicking >i
“l*mph! my little wife, you don’t see how
these things are growing on Met;
kind of a young lady will she make ( Truly,
i sometimes fear she will grow into a regular ]
Cad Hinton.”
"Oh. dear! no!” exclaimed the wife, as her j He stepped out on the sale piazza, and said:
'I I “come here Madeline, iiuiek. if von would
rippling laughter fell on the quiet air.
remember Gad Hinton when she was Meta’s
Madeline, quick, if you would see
a moving panorama. Here is our wee lamb.
and there w as not an element of her in all the exhilaration of her innocent sports ”
character then that promised any hope of; Meta had feasted her dusky retinue with
gentility or moderate good manners. She . sugar, and having formed them in a ring, set
was a coarse, unfeeling child. Think of com
paring our loving, sensitive little Meta to
such a mad cap. Now, to tell the truth,”
said the mother, archly, “Meta needs my
sympathy more than you think. At her age
I was just such a little girl, and mv happi-
theni to the exercise of “shouting,” a favor
ite form of dancing common to the blacks of
all ages. She stood off one side, enjoying the
queer scene.
For a few minutes the father and mother,
stood watching the quaint antics of the little
ness lay in those very amusements that you 1 ebony crowd? Presently Col. Glenn was
condemn in her: yet I know a certain gentle-I laughing quietly at the‘odd capers of the
man, not a thousand miles from here, who 1 shouters.
CHAPTER 11.
In this river section, and along the coast,
lived a people eminently Southern, yet pe
culiar in habits and sentiments, even among
Southerners.
The refinement, delicacy, piety and intelli
gence of men and women were universal.
Tile-.'* valuable virtues, however, were op
posed by strange idiosyncracies. which to an
unprejudiced, broad intelligence may have
had nil the aspects of respectable vices.
From time, immemorial, ever since the
days when kingly favor willed these fail, fer
tile lands to the ancestors of these people,
certain ideas had obtained place in their
minds, which cherished and honored, hail now
become almost as well-grounded in their so
cial fabric as those old Hugtieuotic princi
ples which rendered them pre-eminently de
cided in virtues.
Doubtless the old English settlers, who
were frequently jieople of wealth and noble
blixid, should tiear the responsibility of
those sentiments, which however easily they
fitted in days of ease and luxury, became
of. monstrous fraud, that lit* could lie ever
lofty in station unless these old-time ideas
and habits were firmly engrafted on liismind
and heart.
On a Sabbath evening soon after our intro
duction to the Glenn family we enter the hos- !
pitable home once again, and on this occasion
peer into one of those little home-scenes 1
which reveal some one of the eccentricities !
alluded to above. The head of the family is
attired in a costly suit of black broad-cloth,
and his u if’s vell-mouliled but delicate form
is robed in a soft, rich, light blue silk. The .
sisters are dressed in M-hite. relieved by green
ribbons around their waists, and on their
heavy brown braids of hair. The family is
seated in the boudoir, and tin; subject of con
versation is introduced by Meta pleading to
attend the little missionary chapel at the
extreme end of the quarter.
Mrs. Glenn's face betraved indecisior
lightful and delicate attentions. The guest
moved in a charmed sphere. A cultivated
art concealed all effort to please.
Such an hospitality was found at the
Glenn's. In these happy homes, children
and servants conspired to render their aid to
the heads of the house in this matter of en
tertainment.
A half year had passed since the conversa
tion in the last chapter. It is now mid-M in
ter, and two or three carriages havi just
! emptied their burdens on the shell walk, be
fore the house. A negro, in a dark-blue suit.
; opens the oaken door and liows the visitors
! into the reception room. Mrs. Glenn meets
them, and in her graceful, attractive manner
soon conducts them to tlie parlor, where the
daughters and their tutor, Mr. Sprange, arc
j entertaining an elderly gentleman.
Conversation flows on various topics, but
; the main idea of the day is finally brought in
for discussion. These friends were invite
she listened to her child. -Not so the father, : tl) (l vvjth the Glenn's, one of the last
who turned from the book he was reading, flays of this last week that Bertha and Meta
and gazed in surprise at the bright, eager I „. olI j { j remain at home, for months at least,
face of this little hoyden, as he inwardly i jj 0 th parents, in these months, had come to a
styles her at this moment, jarred as lie is by decision that Berwick's school was. for the
what seems to him an unnatural request. i present, ttie place for their two lovely ilaugh-
"Fleasc, mother, let me go. It is so nice I ters. The cause of this conclusion could he
and cosy down there, l will sit by Mrs. Con- j read in the feeble step, and paling face of the
nor and just look and listen.
mother. Unable to till her motherly duties
Xo. my daughter,” said the father, ‘.you i to these beloved girls, she M as resigned to the
cannot'go there this afternoon. You have | thought of confiding them to strangers of
been to church this morning. Go now anil such high character as the Berwicks
;et your book and I will call you in half an
hour to go over your next Sabbath’s lesson.”
Colonel Glenn, in his anxiety to relieve his
wife from care, and to give her the freedom
The words and manner were uumistakeable. i to travel, was over anxious to see the girls
and Meta withdrew, Bertha following
their chamber.
“My dear Madeline, we must discourage j
our child in these whims. I could trust Ber-
safely ensconsed with flu* Berwicks. At an
other time he would have shared fully his
wife’s sadness in giving them up, but his
heart was so torn and agitated, concerning
tha, hut l verily believe if Meta were suffered j the disease which had fixed itself upon her
to attend this mission chapel, we would find IkxIv. that be gave but a passing place to
her going into the Methodist church the very j other emotions.
first thing. " A look ot profound disgust over- The soft notes of the guitar and piano
spread the face of this high-churchman, as | blended in sweet harmony as accompaniment
' to the songs. Mr. Sprange and his pupils sung
for the entertainment of the guests. Mrs.
Glenn, intent, as ever upon the pleasure of
others, led them from one pleasant topie of
conversation to another. The day passed
away, and with its close the family assem
bled in the boudoir for evening prayers.
Meta spent the few remaining days in visi-
he frowsed his hair and gazed frowningly
upon the floor.
“My dear husband, you look so distressed,
as if you thought a greater disgrace could
not befall you,” said the wife, as a silvery
laugh rippled from her lips.
“And you have no sympathy with me,
Madeline!” he questioned, hurt at her merri
ment. “Think of our child incapable of up- j ting the scenes of her happy, frolicsome
predating sueh a church as ours, and herding | childhood. There was not a stream, tree.
with the common people and negroes!
“Have you forgotten, my dear, that Christ, I [over of out-door life,
when on earth, chose the jioorest and hum-
>ath that did not teem with incidents to this