Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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EpX333 JMei 11 Wi?fi VM lO-UttU Prices J J Dep | 1 ' Y ' AS The 1 i 1 [ RI 1 Greai * is now I Ladies' Di ' 1 Children's J HAT* ff I LACES, Li - n /r i 1 m f ivioaern dusi K I store is deter; B I progressive. B~' I and promise ; | v I lip-to-Date Gi We are pus I ance. You n L I When in tc H. m f Kingstr :xxxixxn land Wc ind everythin: J. (L. ' gouus ai Lite at % Silverman artment 5 tCingstree, S. -argest Stock of C iVilliamsburg Coun IODIC* t Bargain full of all kinds of Sprii ress Goods and Ready-to-W< also Men's and Bo! A nice line of 3, CAPS AND S A tasty assortment oJ RIBBONS AND EMB1 ness requires modern m mined to move forwarc TT T 1 #J_ 1 _?? VVG S011C1L <X biutrc uj. pou oods,. Fair Prices and Cou >hing for business and i eed the goods?we neec >wn, call in and see us. D. REDD! ee, - South 1 EX*X3?X3E9 M >men | M L v j M g in up- g i Lowest * * * * S * Itore! 0 r H 81 ioods in 1 Store j lg Goods. ( ;ar Garments, j (rs' Clothing. 9 iHOES. ( IOIDERIES. | iftthods. and this f 1 with the most I your patronage I rteous Treatment. I need your assist- I i your trade. I U I [CK, Carolina, j REMINISCENCES OF "POOR CONRAD." SKETCHES OF PEOPLE WHO DWELT BY THE WEE NEE IN T.iE LONG AGO. Editor County Record:? At the request of Hon E C Epps some time ago I wrote two letters containing some history of Black river. I will now write one more, which I hope will interest the readno nnr Tn fViA I cis ui jruui vaiuauic ^a^A.i xu wnw story of this famous old river many incidents can be related. In the first part of this history I commenced up about the head waters,in the Mayesville sectidn, where many good people knew "Conrad" quite well, and their kindness will never be forgotten while the warm blood stirs within me, but, alas! how many are now sleeping beneath the sod. Those dear, good people! Like the veterans, they have gone to the front and crossed over the river. The Mayes,the Wilsons, Andersons, Muldrows, Coopers, kind-hearted Dr Hudson,"Parson" Reid,who held the pulpit of Mount Zion Presbyterian church for many years. He was a Christian soldier, one of the meekest of men,the father of my friend,Wm Moultrie Reid, who fought side by side with me on the bloody field of Gettysburg in 1863 and was with me the first of July last at the great reunion of the Blue and the Gray. I was made sad to hear of his death some time ago. I would like to view that noble Confederate veteran's last resting place and on that tomb to drop a tear. He, too,has gone to the front. Some of my friends may think my letters are sad sometimes; in fact, one lady told me so. Well,I feel that sadness is good for me. Often now my heart is in the cold grave with many of those who have passed away, never more to behold them, never to hear. their winning voices again. The heart must be stone that will not be sad to view the past. I oo/l oAmnfimno* T fhinlr WOUli CU ICC 1 OOU oviuv-uuno, a it is good for us. We are told there is a time for all things?a time to laugh and a time to weep; a time to mourn and a time to dance. The great kings and other crowned heads are made sad, as well as the meek and lowly. Scipio was made sad on his great triumph when the slave who was riding in the conquerer's chariot behind him whispered in his ear, "Remember thou art but a man." We are only human beings, one but little better than the other. We come and slide and pass, and the place that knows us now will soon know us no more forever, but I will never cease to look back. 3t.ii T Aitnougn i wnie saa leners, i am not sad always. I am sometimes merry, and although a good way past the three-score and ten, I feel like a boy now and then and still hold the aged and gray-haired in the same reverence as when I was young, | especially the old ante-bellum slave; there are so few of them left now. Before I go to telling more about Black river I must tell my friends of my severe sickness about last Christmas time. I was very ill indeed and could see in the faces of some who stood around my couch of pain that they had some misgivings,but by the help of Him Who sees all things, and the advice and medicine of good Dr Gamble.Mrs W J Reddick's nursing and the kind attention of her father, Mr B F Thompson, I rallied and am holding my ground, feeling marvelously well. Well,now back to Black river, another one of my old companions of a lifetime. I had made mention of nlo/>oa a a for dnirn na .TnrHfln's lake. where my old departed friend, D E Evans, lived. He was a son of old "Aunt" Polly and "Uncle" Stephen Evans. "Aunt Polly" was a real old-timer. She took pleasure in telling me,though only a boy, about the Revolutionary war and the Tories; how they tried to capture her father, who was an American soldier. She would tell the Tories when they would ask where her father was, "Oh, boys, he is in the bushes and you can't catch him." She said to me I was a "sassy little devil." The father of Mr John Reardon and "Uncle" Stephen Evans were paying mm enjoy its exhilagUl making your blood rich, SSBy pure and active to pre101 vent co Id 8, grippe ana rneumazism. Good blood prevents sickness and Scott s Emulsion will energize your blord and create reserve strength to endure changing seasons. Scott's Emulsion is not an j experiment but has served humanity faithfully for forty years; it contains the purest cod liver oil?free from alcohol or stupefying drugs. Scott's Emulsion is nature's greatest blood-maker and furnishes the elements necessary for body warmth, rich blood and healthy circulation. Shun alcoholic substitutes and demand the genuine Scott's Emulsion AT ANY DRUG STORE 15-71 attention to "Aunt Polly" about the same time, but she accepted Mr Evans and rejected MrReardon. After some years Mr Reardon died and "Aunt Polly" sent for Mr Evans to come back, she would marry him then,so he went back and they were married. They had about four children?John, William, Katie, who married Dr Cannon of Goose Creek, and the other daughter was the wife of Mr James Scott of Cedar Swamp, in this county. I think I mentioned several who were drowned in Black river?a whole family at Martin's lake, one in Jordan lake and one in Conyei's lake. The last-named lake was a fine place for fishing when I was young. The next landing is called Reardon's creek,where Mr John Reardon lived. His wife was named Peggy. "Aunt Peggy" was also an old-timer, born in 1800. She was very stout. When Mr John Reardon carried me from Goose Creek, or rather the old 18Mile House, home with him, "Aunt Peggy" and her daughter Susan took quite a dislike to me at sight, and it was several years before I won them over. They then liked me as well as anyone. There was another daughter then, a girl about 12 years old, Jane by name. "Aunt Peggy" called her Jean. The youngest son, Sammy, was then a youth about 14 years of age, some months younger than myself. We three, Sammy, Jean and I, passed a good part of our time in the warm season in the branch and ditches after the pikes and other little fishes, Jean along wading the water with us two boys. We could hear "Aunt Peggy" call Jean, not knowing where she was. She could call some, too; her voice could be heard for a mile and farther. Jean, in the recesses of the branch,in mud and water knee deep, would answer,"Ma'am?" and "Aunt Peggy" would say, "I swear it, tl.at is the devilishest child I ever saw." Jean would go with Sammy and myself around the swamp,in the branch and in the fields. Where we were there she would be, too, day and night. Mr Reardon had quite a lot of cattle and Jean was ever at the cow pen with the other milkers, beating around with her big gourd, milking, too,like the others. Jean was quite a-tease sometimes, and on a certain moonlight night she was picking at me and I began to get worried. She struck me on the back and ran back a little way. I did not look around, and having a very dry and long-necK gourd in my hand, I threw it at random behind me and it struck her plump in the forehead, and no doubt the reader, if he knows anything of how a dry gourd sounds thrown full force when there is nothing but skin between a blow and the bone of the headman imagine Jean's feelings. It did little damage but frightened Jean more than it hurt her. She cried out with a loud voice, "Oh.my God, Conrad has killed me! Oh, my God,Conrad has killed me!" "Aunt Peggy" was in and came hustling to the door. "You Jean, what in the name of G?, what is the matter with you?" I said "Aunt Peggy" was stout in a true sense of the word but not tall, weighing about 300 pounds,as helpless as a two-yearold child trying to walk, but she could handle a Coleman whip with skill. "What is the matter, Jean?" t "Oh, Conrad has killed me!" She was soon in the house. I followed behind at a little distance, reaching the top step, the house being about four feet above the ground. I wanted to explain how it happened, as I feared the consequences of "Aunt Peggy's" wrath. She saw me as I was about to speak. Two large cow whips always hung up inside the doorway. "Aunt Peggy" reached and got one and made a swipe at me, when the long lash struck the floor of the piazza and the steps. I knew what was coming when I saw the hand go up in the direction of where the whips were wont to hang. I did not say a word, but gave a spring, turning as I was in the air and landing on all-fours on the ground. The ! lash missed me, but it would have been a cut for me to remember long had it landed where it was aimed. All was well the next day, however, and Jean romped with us as before. I was a great eater and "Aunt Peggy" would sometimes say, when all would be gone from the table and 1 still cramming down the biscuit, "Conrad, your g? will kill you yet." After I grew older "Aunt r> ,? 1-1 1 : J.? ??11 T mon feggy llKeu me quite wen. x w?w a good hand at telling something funny to make her laugh, but sometimes I would have a great long yarn, looking as sober as possible. She, thinking it all a true story, was so interested that when I would wind up and she saw the untruth of the joke she would exclaim: "Goodness,what a lie!" Well, after many years "Aunt Peggy" thought me really clever. Susan also liked me well. She was the stepmother of Mr Wilson Mcintosh of Kingstree. Well, I have gotten only to the Reardon creek, on Black river, and have said so much about those dear departed friends. I will try in my next to float] down the placid old ~ ? T nannnf Ifoon frnm tplltnC 3LI cam. x Uiiuivu nwp 0 about my old friends. I am looking back and will continue to do so so as long as sense and memory last. The children and grandchildren of those who loved "Conrad" in their lifetime love for me to tell of those dear old folk. It is quite a consolation to meet even those who are almost strangers to me and for them to tell me how they appreciate my letters, so, friends,far and near, the evening shades are drawing near.? With best wishes to all, I am, still the same, Poor Conrad. Kingstree, April 11. Heard at Hebron. Hebron, April 13:?Farmers of this section are about through planting. Corn and beans are looking fine. w_ a /~v PnliimKill arH Air A U V/UACl Ui vviuu.wi^ .?? Miss Hattie Thomas were married Easter Sunday. Tobacco plants are improving rapidly in this section. Farmers are preparing their lands nicely with a view to making a good crop this year. A Friend. m ii Taft Topics. Taft, April 13:~ We are having w beautiful weather now and the farmers are very busy. Mr Reat Johnson and his sister. Miss Minnie Johnson, of Lake City, visited relatives here last week. Mr L D Haselden visited his parents at Scranton Sunday. r : ..i- r< t> d 11 t, ? inline ?j xv ivuwcii, ui, o^ui. week-end with his grand-parente, Mr and Mrs E R Rowell. Rev W T Bedenbaugh filled his regular appointment here Sunday. Miss Tennie Rowell visited her sister, Mrs W T Bedenbaugh, at Salters, Sunday. Mr Willie Blakely and sister, Miss Clara, visited friends here Sunday. Mr W T Rowell had business at Andrews today. Judge. A young man who becomes clever at rolling the cigarettes that he smokes usually stops at that. SHAKE INTO YOUR SHOES Allen's Foot-Ease, the antiseptic powder. It relieve* painful,smarting, tender,nervous feet, and instantly takes the sting oat of corns and bunions. It's the ! greatest comfort discovery of the age. Allen's FootEase makes tight or new ehoes feei easv. It is a certain relief for sweating, callous. swollen, tired, aching feet. Always use it to Break in New shoes. Try n to-day. Sold everywhere, 25 cents. Don't aeerpt any mbititute. For FREE trial package, ; address Allen 8. Olmsted, Le Key, N..Y,