_March 23._ C. came home to-night, having resigned his position under
the Government.
H. W.'s next letter, after describing a drive towards Land's
End, narrates the events of her return trip as follows.
_March 25._ I opened the first gate myself, then met a man coming from
his work, who took off his hat with rather a surprised look at seeing
a lady alone, and an "Evening, Missus, how far you come from?" "From
Coffin's Point, and am going back again--Mr. Charlie's sister."
Whereupon another bow and a pleased grin as I go on. Soon I met
another man coming out into the road with a piece of paper, which he
asked me to read to him. I took the precaution to ask him his name
before opening it, to be sure he had not another man's pass, and then
read him an autograph pass from General Hunter for him to go to St.
Helena and back to Hilton Head, to see his wife. He was a servant of
Hunter's and _afraid of some trick_. He seemed satisfied, and thanked
me. When I asked him where his wife lived and if he had seen her, he
said, "Shum dere?" pointing to a woman hoeing, towards whom he made
his way again. At the next gate I was cutting cherokee-roses before
opening it, when a slight sound behind me attracted my attention to a
boy on a mule who had come noiselessly up, so I got into the sulky
again, and as he followed me along and I questioned him, found he was
coming here to see his "aunty." In a few minutes a loud whistle
attracted my attention and Sharper[125] announced Mass' Charlie, who
came cantering up behind me. He had sent the boy with a note to me and
exemption-papers for the old and feeble on his places, as he could not
go home and had met the black soldiers out taking the men for the
draft. With Sharper for attendant I drove on to Pine Grove, where I
gave C.'s note to William and the papers to distribute on both the
Fripp places while I went on to deliver those here. Heard one man say
to William that he wished his old master was back,--he was at peace
then. Poor fellows!
By the time I reached our quarters it was bright moonlight, and in
that light I drove through the street, read the names on C.'s papers
and the contents to the men named as they came out at Primus' knock. A
little group gathered about to hear what I had to say as I explained
to the men,--a sober, disturbed set, saying nothing, but receiving the
explanation with a sad silence that went to my heart.