one o'clock
I have been in the chamber of the dying ; I have seen the young and the beautiful laid away in the earth ; but I never felt the solemn awfulness of death , as I did , when , in the stillness and darkness of night , I listened to the wild grief of that negro group , and saw the bodies of that slave mother and her child , lowered to their everlasting rest by the side of Sam . The morning broke bright and mellow with the rays of the winter sun , which in Carolina lends the warmth of October to the chills of January , when , with my portmanteau strapped , and my thin overcoat on my arm , I gave my last `` God bless you '' to the octoroon woman , and turned my face toward home . Jim shouted `` all ready , '' the driver cracked his whip , and we were on our way to Georgetown . The recent rains had hardened the roads , the bridges were repaired , and we were whirled rapidly forward , and , at one o'clock , reached Bucksville . There we met a cordial welcome , and remained to dinner . Our host pressed us to pass the night at his house , but the Colonel had business with one of his secession friends residing down the road -- my wayside acquaintance , Colonel A -- , and desired to stay overnight with him . At three o'clock , bidding a kindly farewell to Captain B -- and his excellent family , we were again on our way .