Chapter XVI: B. Randolph to V. Chevillere

"Belville, High Hills of the Santee.

"DEAR FRIEND,

"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.

"B. RANDOLPH."