The Memories of Fifty Years | Page 4

and was
good-natured only when permitted this way without opposition, or
cross. Perhaps I retain a more vivid memory of these peculiar traits than
of any others characterizing her. She permitted no contradiction, and

exacted implicit obedience, and this was well understood by everything
about her. She was strict and exacting, and had learned from Solomon
that to "spare the rod was to spoil the child." She read the Bible only;
and it was the only book in the house. This Bible is still in existence; it
was brought by my grandfather from Europe, and is now covered with
the skin of a fish which he harpooned on his return voyage,
appropriating the skin to this purpose in 1750. She had use for no other
book, not even for an almanac, for at any moment she could tell the day
of the month, the phase of the moon and the day General Washington
captured Cornwallis; as also the day on which Washington died. Her
reverence for the memory of my grandfather was idolatry. His cane
hung with his hat just where he had habitually placed them during his
latter days. His saddle and great sea-chest were preserved with equal
care, and remained undisturbed from 1798 to 1817, precisely as he left
them. I ventured to remove the cane upon one occasion; and, with a
little negro or two, was merrily riding it around in the great
lumber-room of the house, where scarcely any one ever went, when she
came in and caught me. The pear-tree sprouts were immediately put
into requisition, and the whole party most mercilessly thrashed. From
that day forward the old buckhorn-headed cane was an awful reminder
of my sufferings. She was careful not to injure the clothing of her
victims, and made her appeals to the unshielded cuticle, and with a
heavy hand for a small woman.
It was an ill-fashioned but powerfully-built house, and remains a
monument to this day of sound timber and faithful work, braving time
and the storm for eighty-two years. It was the first framed house built
in the county, and I am sure, upon the poorest spot of land within fifty
miles of where it stands. Here was born my uncle, Robertus Love, who
was the first white child born in the State west of the Ogeechee River.
Colonel Love, my grandfather, was eccentric in many of his opinions,
and was a Puritan in religious faith. Oliver Cromwell was his model of
a statesman, and Praise-God Barebones his type of a Christian. While
he was a boy his father married a second time, and, as is very
frequently the case, there was no harmony between the step-mother and
step-son. Their jarrings soon ripened into open war. To avoid expulsion
from the paternal roof he "bundled and went." Nor did he rest until, in
the heart of the Cherokee nation of Indians, he found a home with

Dragon Canoe, then the principal warrior of the nation, who resided in
a valley amid the mountains, and which is now Habersham County.
With this chief, who at the time was young, he remained some four
years, pursuing the chase for pleasure and profit. Thus accumulating a
large quantity of peltries, he carried them on pack-horses to Charleston,
and thence went with them to Europe. After disposing of his furs,
which proved profitable, he wandered on foot about Europe for some
eighteen months, and then, returning to London, he embarked for
America.
During all this time he had not heard from his family. Arriving at
Charleston he made his way back to the neighborhood of his birth. He
was ferried across the Pedee river by a buxom lass, who captured his
heart. Finding his father dead, he gathered up the little patrimony left
him in his father's will, should he ever return to claim it: he then
returned to the neighborhood of his sweetheart of the ferry; and, being a
fine-looking man of six feet three inches, with great blue eyes, round
and liquid; and, Othello-like, telling well the story of his adventures, he
very soon beguiled the maiden's heart, and they were made one. About
this time came off the battles of Concord and Lexington, inaugurating
the Revolution. It was not, however, until after the declaration of
independence, that he threw aside the plough and shouldered the
musket for American independence.
That portion of North Carolina in which he resided had been mainly
peopled by emigrants from Scotland. The war progressing into the
South, found nearly all of these faithful in their allegiance to Britain.
The population of English descent, in the main, espoused the cause of
the colonies. With his neighbors Love was a favorite; he was very fleet
in a foot-race, had remarkable strength; but, above all, was sagacious
and strong of will.