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

and by, q little golden flmy thread
began to be wovcn in; the dawn of
Gods mercy was at hand.
One blowy October morning, as I
sauntered lazily along to the mill, |
came to the little wooden bridge over
o brook that falls into the Bribble.
On the plank there stood 4 child,
balancing the pitcher on her head,
with which she had been to fetch
water. She was 80 light on her feet
that, had it not hecn for the weight Of
the pitcher, 1 almost believe the wind
would have taken her up, and waited
her away as it carries off q blow-ball
in seed. time, her blue cotton dress was
blown before her, rs if she we're
spreading her wings for a fight; she
turned her face round, as if to ask me
for something, but when she saw who
it was she hesitated, for | had q bad
name in the village and | doubt not
she had been warned against me.
But her heart was too innocent to be
d%istrustful; as she said to mo timidly.
"Pleasc, John Middleton, will you
carry me this heavy jug just over
the bridge?"
1t was the very first time I had ever
been spoken to gently. I was ordered
here and there by my father and his
rough companions; I was abused and
cursed by them if I failed in doing
what they wished; if I succeeded,
there came no expression Of thanks or
nectssh9 .oF Mas. Informed Of facts
gentle words of request or entrcaty
were afore time unknown to me, and
now their tones fell on my car soft
and sweet as n distant peal Of bells.
| wished that l knew how to speak
properly i'll reply; but though we we're
OF the same standing as regarded
worldly circumstances, there was
somo mighty difference between rs,
saa,'es Eaade nl,ars
4angaage OF soft words Glisla .asaesy
~sntIcaty. There MAS nothing for me
but take up the pitcher in a kind of
grutf, shy silence, and carry it over
the bridge rs she had asked me.
When | gave it hcr back again, she
thanked me and tripped away, leaving
inc, word-lcss, gazing at her like an
awkward lout as I was. I knew
we'll enough who she was.-Shc was
%grandchild to Eleanor Had6eld, an
aged woman. who was rcputcd as a
witch by my father and his set, for no
other reason, that I can make out,
than her scorn, dignity. and fearless.
ness Of rancor. 1t was true we ofte:s
met her in the gray dawn of the
morning when We returned from
%poaching, and my father used to
curse her, under his breath. for a
stitch, such as were burnt, long ago,
on Pendle Hill top; but l had heard
that Eleanor was a skilful sick nurse,
and cver ready to give to those who
were i'll; and I believe that she had
been sitting up through the night
(the night that VIC had been spending
under the wild heavens, in deeds as
Wild with those who were appointed
to die. Nelly was her orphan grand
daughter; her little hand maiden: her
treasure; her one eve lamb. Many
and many a day have I watched by
the brook.side, hoping that some
happy gust of wind, coming with
opportune buster down the hollow of
the dale, might make me necessary
once more to her. ] longed to hear
her speak to mo again. | said the
words she had used to myself, trying
to catch her tone; but the chance
never came again, I do not know that
she ever know how I watched for her
there. I found out that she went to
school, and nothing would sorvc me
but that L must 60 too. My father
scoffed at me; Idid not care. Ikncw
nonght Of what reading was, nor that
it was likely that I should be laughed
at; T. great hulking lad Of seventeen
or upward, for going to learn my A,
B, G, in tho midst Of n crowd Of little
ones: II stood just this way in my
mind. Nelly was at school; it wps the
best place for seeing her, and hearing
her yoico again. Therefore | would
90 too. My lathor talked, and sworc,
and threatened, but Istood to it. He
said 1 should leave school, weary of
It in n month. lsworo y Deeper oath
than ! liko TO remember, TINT would
stay q year, and como out q writer.
My father hatod the notion Of folks
learning to road, and said it took all
the spirit cut Of thcm; besides, he
thought he had u right to every penny
of my wages, md though, when
lo was in good humor, ho might have
given mo many u Jug Of nlc, he
grndged my two.pcnco u week for
schooling However, TO school I