The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-15
Bruce's Reformation
"A SCOTCH STORY.
BY JAMES GIBSON.

Blythe side OF o lonely, yet beautiful.
Nv rural bye.road in Stirlingshire, Scot
land, there stands small, but hand
some cottage in which resides to this
day, venerable couple, who have
'trod life's weary pilgrimage together
for many years, and whose grey hairs
reflect honor on themselves and the ma
tion in which so many samples Of gcnu-
inc goodness of heart may be found
Childless, but not companionless, had
been their lot together in life but to
murmurs satithe dispensation of Provi-
dence was not their desire, neither
their want, and rich reward Of sweet
contentment had hitherto blessed their
sojournin this vale Of tears.
Their cottage stood by the roadside,
itstood in tho centre of neat garden
plat that was slightly raised above the
level of the road, and grounds around
it; in front, the embankment was not
higher than tTo feet; in the rear, it
varied from FIVE to six; besides a ditch
Of considerable depth at its base, in
which coursed a str cam of limpid water
atall times Of the year; but at the pc
riod towhich we refer, it was somewhat
swollen.
A tasteful peaked fence surrounded
ts garden at moderate footpath's
breadth from the edge of the embank.
ment, round which any one could walk
comfortably outside the fence, without
mourning the risk of tumbling over.
A little gate opened toward the road,
which was reached by a descent of two
or three steps.
In this pretty cottage was another in
mate, a drunken, worthless wight on
whom neither precept or example could
ever work any change; and whose in
variable rule was to get drunk every
opportunity, and gctsober only through
necessity.
He was the brother Of the cottager,
and everybody throughout the country
knew Jamie Grossett; he was one Of
those unaccountable beings that every
body likes, and nobody ever gets offend
ed at.
Jamie had listened for years to an
advice the minister of the parish had
got up especially for Jamie's own case;
but, the imperturbable gravity with
which he listened to the worthy man,
had become so annoying, from certain
hopeless appearances, that it had been
given up, and Jamie was let like
ship without rudder, to follow the
bent Of his own inclinations.
It happened about this very particu-
lar time, that young gentleman, the
son of o very respectable family long
acquainted with tho Grossett's, was on
ayisit at the cottage, and sudden in
bmacy had sprung up between Jamie
and him, 10 the no small annoyance of
the cottagers; and various hints ha.
been thrown out to that effect, to warn
the stranger of what was due to himself
and the respectability Of his parents;
all Of which hints seemed only thrown
away, as Mr.. Bruce--which was the
young gentleman's name-..-did not seem
to feel it convenient to understand
them. Night after night behcld these
two worthless set out together, but sci
dom indeed did the same night witness
their return; and when they did come
it was in most lordly state of indiffcr
ence regarding sublimary matters.
The old cottagers, grieved to the
heart, demonstrated in vain with young
Bruce; they urged a thousand reasons
for chance, all of which he readily
admitted, but Jamie had gained 81
great an influence over the young mar
that, when evening came round, offthcy