Before church we all, superintendents and the few ladies,
stood under the oaks and talked of our dangers, and then Mr. Horton led us in
to service. After service we talked long again, till the coming rain made our
party from the Oaks hasten home, Park and others going to the Episcopal church
to try the organ. Mr. Pierce had gone to Hilton Head, as a steamer was
expected. I had reached home before the rain and was lying down, when Rina
rushed into my room with a haste and noise so strange to her, calling out, “Miss
Murray has come!” I got up suddenly, but felt so faint that I had to lie down
again. Jerry and his boat's crew had arrived with her trunk, but she did not
come for an hour. The men had told Mr. Pierce that they would row up sooner
than he could ride up to tell the news, but he did not believe them, and
galloped all the way from Land's End to be the first to make the announcement
to me. He came in about a quarter of an hour after they did, and as I was then
upstairs, heard from Nelly the arrival of the men. When I came down he greeted
me with “So you fainted at the news?” “No,” I said, “not at the news, but I
have not been well for a week and was startled by Rina, and getting up so
suddenly made me faint.” He was determined to see a scene if possible, but when
Ellen came and I stood on the porch as she came up the steps from the carriage,
we shook hands very quietly and walked into the parlor in the ordinary manner
of acquaintances. It was not till we were upstairs that we cut any capers of
joy. She had been detained by the rain, the whole party stopping in the
Episcopal church where they played on the organ and sang, Mr. McKim and Lucy
being highly delighted at the ride, the romantic church, and the meeting with
some of the superintendents.
In the evening we went to a praise meeting, and Mr. McKim
spoke to the people. We heard a very fine address from old Marcus. Afterwards
we sat up late — Mr. Pierce and Mr. McKim having a long talk over the affairs
of our little colony and we listening. Ellen and I are to sleep on the floor,
Lucy McKim and Nelly Winsor in the beds in the same room. Ellen and I talked
all night nearly.
SOURCE: Rupert Sargent Holland, Editor, Letters and
Diary of Laura M. Towne: Written from the Sea Islands of South Carolina
1862-1864, p. 65-6
