University of Virginia Library

16. CHAPTER XVI.

“I HAVE heard of weeping willows, but I never
saw weeping pines and black Jacks (scrub oaks)
before I came into South Carolina; these are made
so by the moss which here grows from the trees
in long pendulous masses, which makes them look
like gigantic weeping willows.

“On the day of my arrival here, I was again
benighted within a few miles of Belville, and again
found my way into Christendom by a delightful
custom which prevails among your city refugees.
You know that they have a little village erected
here among your sandhills, which is entirely owned
by wealthy residents of Charleston; to these they
retire during the sickly season, and of course they
are now full of fashionables. Before each door is
a large wooden pillar, with a hearth on the top of
it, a kind of rude imitation of our urn. On these
they kindle pine-knot fires to keep the mosquitoes
away from the premises, and the effect is doubtless
at all times brilliant; but it is doubly so when
they are the means of restoring a poor benighted

traveller to the region of hope and comfort; such
was the case with your humble servant. I had
but just begun to look out for the usual concert, and
the Frying-pan, and the swamp, when I discovered
these fires away to my right; I was not more than
a mile out of my road.

“This little mushroom village was entirely deserted
when I passed through it before; I was
therefore surprised to find carriages standing by
each cabin, and fine ladies promenading along the
sandy roads with their attendant beaux.

“Sounds of infantile laughter, sweet music, and
the still sweeter notes of frying-pans (very different
affairs from my assortment), saluted my delighted
ears as I cantered through the encamped throng.
I did not stop, because the distance was but short
to your own house, at which I soon arrived, and,
for once in my life, not before I was wanted.

“As I briskly rode up the long sandy avenue, I
heard a strange confusion of noises and sounds
from the direction of the quarter, which you have
here dangerously near, but from benevolent views
I suppose; I next discovered Bell walking to and
fro along the little esplanade which surmounts the
front portico, wringing her hands, weeping, and
calling upon your mother's name most piteously.
I dismounted, and ran towards the nearest entrance
with all my speed, and there I met the dear girl,
just in time to catch her in my arms for fear of a
worse resting-place. As soon as she had recovered
a little from her exhaustion, the effect of her previous

excitement, she exclaimed, `Oh! Mr. Randolph,
how glad I am to see you!'

“`Not more so than I am to see you, my dear
Bell; but tell me the cause of all this noise at the
quarter, and of your alarm.'

“She told me, as well as she could for her
short and convulsive breathing, that the driver had
undertaken, in the absence of the overseer, to whip
a young negro who is a great favourite among his
fellows; and it seems that he had beaten him unmercifully.
Some time after, a party had assailed
his house where he had shut himself in; as I came
up, they had just succeeded in breaking down the
door; but the bird had been some time flown, out
of a back window. Your mother had gone to
drink tea with one of the refugees, a city acquaintance
of hers, at the little encampment before mentioned.
Under these circumstances, I seized a
cudgel and departed to the scene of action, not,
however, with Bell's consent. She declared that
they would murder me, and clung to my garments
until I gently disengaged myself and committed
her to her maid. It is not to be denied that I
almost blessed the rebellion, for its showing me
that I was a person to be preserved in the eyes of
your cousin.

“When I arrived upon the ground, it was some
minutes before I could make the principal actors
conscious of the presence of any one not in the
number of their confederates; however, by dint
of lungs and violent gesticulations, I at length

gained an audience, and no sooner had I done so,
than the victory was gained. I merely promised
to have the matter investigated, and the offender
punished himself, if he should prove, upon investigation,
to have whipped the favourite either without
cause, or unmercifully, with cause. This desirable
conclusion to the affair could not have been brought
about in every quarter in this neighbourhood, or at
any one where they had been less accustomed to
have their mutual wrongs redressed.

“When I returned to the house, the news of the
result had preceded me, and Bell had retired to
her room; she soon, however, again made her appearance,
more beautiful, if possible, than when I
left her; she found it exceedingly difficult to amalgamate
her present evident gratitude with her former
comico-quizzico treatment of me,—and though
the latter decidedly had the advantage, the struggles
between the little devil of mischief within,
and a proper behaviour to me on the present occasion,
kept me quite amused, considering our late
excitement, until your mother, who had been sent
for, arrived with a number of gentlemen from the
sandhills. With these we formed quite a party;
your mother was less moved than I expected,
owing, I suppose, to her having so long been in the
habit of putting her energies to the test. She was
undisguisedly pleased to see me.

“Among the gentlemen who returned with her,
my green eyes soon discovered a suitor of Bell's;
whether one formerly discarded, or at present

encouraged, I could not tell; but I rather suspect
the latter, as your mother's visit was to his
sister, and Bell had excused herself from going
upon some grounds, for which he was now taking
her to task.

“I was not so much surprised as I have been,
at her easy control of my poor generalship, when
I saw with what admirable discipline she managed
her troops, both raw militia and regulars; of course
I class myself with the latter.

“I was not too much delighted to hear many
parties and excursions talked of and arranged;
what a selfish animal I must have become since I
have undertaken this southern tour! I wonder if
the northern air and manners have had the same
effect upon you and Lamar?

“After our visiters had departed (you see I am
domiciliated), Bell said to me, starting up suddenly,
`Mr. Randolph, if my memory serves me, you
told me at the door, on the morning of your departure,
that indispensable business would put it entirely
out of your power to take our house in your
way home; I hope you have heard favourable
accounts from that urgent business?'

The little devil within was now completely
triumphant; and then, to make my intended pathos
still more ridiculous, by inventing more than half
of my speech! I had a great mind to say, `Oh,
Mr. Randolph, how glad I am to see you!' and
almost run into her arms; but your mother's dignity,
Chevillere, though it is mild and benevolent,

keeps me always on my good behaviour in her
presence; so I only answered, `The horse! the
horse! you forget the horse!' and then she enjoyed
a peculiarly sincere and triumphant laugh; and
the first, too, with which she has greeted my
return. I love them so much that I can almost
bear to hear her laugh at myself, provided it is at
my knavery and not at my folly.