The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-02-26

hS nOuIo tuAI w tuOSCt MuOSC TcSDeCL
| longed to earn, and asked if I were
not worthy son of my father, and
likely to tread in his steps. But this
smiling indifference ofhis to my mis-
cradle yehencncc was not all, though
it was tho worst part of his con-
duct, for it made the ranking hatred
grow up in my heart, and oYcrshadow
it like the great gourd.tree of the
prophet Jonah. But.his was mer-
ciful shade, keeping out the burning
sun; mine blighted what it fell upon.
What Dick Jackson did besides,
was this, His father was a skilful over.
locker, and good man; Mr.. Peel val
ued him 80 much, tbashe was kept on !,
although his health was failing; and
when he was unable, through illness,
to come to the mill, ,lhe deputed his
son to watch over and report the men.
1t was 100 much poyerss for one so
young. I speak Il calhly now. What
ever Dick Jackson became, he had
strong temptations when he was
young, which will DO allowed for here
after. But at tie time ofwhich 1 am
telling, my hate ragged Ike q fire. 1
believed that lie gas the one sole ob-
stacle to my being received as fit to
mix with good and honest men. I
was sick of crime ard disorder, and
would fain have eoms over to a
different kind Of flifs, and have
been industrious, sbbsr, honest, and
right.spoken, Ind no idea of
higher virtue then, cid ateyery turn
Dick Jackson met nssfwith his sneers.
I have walked inc isht through, in
the old abbey,fie.i, planning how I
could out.him, and Sin men's s respect
in spite of him. Tlo first 5tine /
ever prayed, was underneath the 81.
lent stars, kneeling by the old abbey
walls, . thrown sg srnla, end ask:
ing God fR nff revenge ar.
en- bin, Ialsss 81 1. ,l.ss5's; M q
q - .ifL ~
l had hatN;d = ,i-assuas prayed earnest
y, God would give ME what I asked
for, and l looked upon it as a kind of
chance for the ful6llnent of my wish
es. If earnestness would have won
the boon for me, never were wicked
words 80 earnestly spoken. And oh,
later on, my prayer was heard, and
my wish granted! All the time |
saw little ofNelly. Her grandmoth.
or was failing, and she had much to
do in doors. Besides, l believe I
nad read her looks Alright, when took
them to speak Of aversion; and I
planned to hide myself from her
sight, as it we're, until I could stand
upright before men, with fearless
eyes, dreading no face of accusation.
1t was possible to acquire n good cha.
'acter; | would do it did it; but
10 one brought up among rcspccta.
'le, untempted people can tell the
lnspeakable hardness of the task. In
hc evening | would not 90 forth
among the village throng; for the &C.
luaintances that claimed me were NV
athcr's old associates, l. those who
would have Stunned me & kept aloof,
we're the steady 4 orderly. So I staid
u doors, and practiced myself in read.
ng. You will say / should have found
t easier to earn good character
away from Sawley, at some place
where neither nor my father was
inowr. So should; but it would
not have been the same thing to my
mind. Beside, representing all good
men, all goodness to NE, in Sawlcy
Nelly lived. In her sight l would
work out my life, and fight my way
'pward to mems respect. Two yeals
passed on. Every day l stroye
iercely; every day my struggles were
made fruitlcss by the son of the over.
ooker; and seemed but where I
vas; but where l must ever be cs.
eomed by all who knew me, but as
he son OF the criminal; wild, rcck.
ess, ripe for crime myself. Where
vas the use Of my reading and writ
ng! These requirements were dis.
'egardcd and secuted by those among
whom | was thrust back to take my
portion. | could havo read my chap
or in tho Bible now; and Nelly scom.
ID rs though she would never know
t. ! was driven in upon my books;
ind fcw enough Of them | had. The
ocdlars brought them round in their
'acks, and | bought whatI could. |
'ad tho "Seycn Champions" and the
Pilgrims Progress" and both scom.
ID to mo equally wonderful, and
equally founded on fact. | got BY.
'on's NARRATIVE" aud "Nlilton's
Paradise Lost" bu. lacked the
knowledge which would give a clue to
III. Still they afforded mo pleasure,
because they took mo out of myself,
md made mo unconscious (for tho
limo at least,) Of my ono great posi-.