The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-05-21

turn seeming act of kindness into
the sharpcst cruclty?'
L speak to you but the words Of
truth and soberncss, Mr.. Bacon
These. no man should shrink from
hcaria5. Seven years ago, your
farm was the most roductivc in the
neighborhood, and you in casy cir.
cumsanccs. What has taken from
you the ability to manage your affairs
as prosrcrously as before? What
has made it necessary for your child
to leave her fathers shcltcring roof
and bury herself for two long years
in factory, in order to save Won
from total ruin ? Go home, Mr..
Bacon, and answer these questions to
your own heart, and may the pain
.you now suffer lead you to act more
wisely in the futurc.'
MY daughter shall not co. ex-
claimed the old man passionatcly.
I hold he: written pledge to re.
pair to Lowell at the expiration of
three weeks, and to rcray the loan |
made her in two years. Will you
compel her to violate her contract?'
i will execute another mortgage
on my farm and pay you back tie
loan
Act like wise man. said Mr..
Green. Let your daughter carry
out her noble purpose, and thus re-
licvc you fro1, embarrassment
M, no, Mr.. Green! | cannot
think Of this. Oh, sir! pity nc! Do
not force my child away! Do not
lay so heavy a burden on one SO
young. Think of her as Your own
daughter, and do to me as you would
yourself wish to be done BY
Blu: Mr.. Green was deaf to all
these appeals. He was a man Of
great Grmncss of purpose, and not
easily turned TO the right or the
left.
During the next three weeks, Mr..
Bacon tried every exaedicntzin Ills
power, Short of d total sacrifice Of his
little property, to raise the ,n9,ASs?s ne.
hn' in vain. :!:s EycsEst !siHEs, i he would, in
s."'Ss '."S3sspsra,ion, haze accepted Dy.
crs offer of six hundred dollars cnr
his farm, and thus prevented Mary's
departure for Lowell that circum.
stance was his perfect soJ'iicty. Not
since the day when Mr.. Green charg-
cd upon him the sronsihiitv of his
child 9 hanishmcn. from her fathers
house, had lie tasted drop of strong
drink. His mind was therefore clear,
and he was restrained by reason from
acts Of rashncss, by which his cnndi.
ton would be rendered far worse
than it was already.
Bitter Indeed we're the snifcrings
oe Mr.. Bacon, during the quick pas
sage Of three wccks-a: the cxri.
ration Of which time Mary was to leave
home, in compliance with her con-
tract-and the more bitter, because
his mind was unohscnrcd by drink.
At last, tue moment Of separation
came. 1t was clear cold morning
towards the latter end cf March.
when Mary lcf', for the last time.
her little chamber, and came down
stairs dressed for her journey.
Ever. in the presence Of her father
and mother, during the brief season
Of preparation, had she maintained a
Cheerful. aud confident exterior; but,
i'll her heart, there was n painful
shrinking back from the trial upon
which she was about entering. On
going by the door of Mary's chamber,
few minutes before she came down.
Mrs. Bacon saw her daughter
knccliny at her bedside, with her
face deeply buried among the clothes.
Not til! that moment did she fully
comprehend the trial through which
her child was passing.
The stage was at the door, and
Mary's trunk strapped up in the boot
before she came down. In the porch
stood her father and mother, and
her younger brother ana sister,
waiting her appearance.
Good bye, father said tho cx.
ccllent girl, in cheerful voice, as
she reached out her hand.
Mr.. Bacon caught it eagerly. and
essayed to speak some tender and
encouraging words. But though his
lips moved, there was no sound upon
the air.
God bless you:' was at length
uttered in a sobbing voice. A fer.
vent kiss was then pressed upon her
ips, and the old man turned away
and staggered rather than walked
back into the house.
More calmly the mother parted
with her child. 1t was great trial
for Mrs Bacon, but she now fully
comprehcnded the great use to Cow
from Mary's selfdevotion, and there.