Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-08-18

l0l5 Time slnCe He NAV Ueeii au"iessco "
that name and somehow it sounded very
pleasant to him.
"I am very glad to meet you, Mr.. Strong
said the lady. 81 have heard my father
speak of you so often, and Of the days when
YOU and he were boys together, that | al
most feel as if we were old ac1uantances
You surely cannot have forgotten Charles
Morrison p
"No! no! Charlie and used to be old
cronies," said old Bill, with sudden anima-
ton, and light in his eye, such as had not
been there for many day, except when
rum lent it Rtful brilliancy.
All! the lady did not know, as perhaps
the angels did, that she had mounted the
stairs, and was softly feeling for that unseen
door, so she went on:
"I almost feel as if could see the old
spot upon which your homestead stood, Mr..
Strong, have heard my father describe it so
often. The hill, with its crown Of old oaks
at the back Of your house, and the field Of
golden harvest grain that waved in front.
Then there was the green grass plat before
the front door. and the huge old apple.tree
that threw its shadows across it, and the
great old d-fashioned portico, and the grape.
vine that crept round the pillars, and the
rosebush that looked in at the bedroom win.
dow, and the spring that went shining and
singing through the bed of mint at the side
of the house"
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair, and
the muscles around his mouth twitchcd oc-
casionally but unmindful of this, in the
same low, melting tones, the lady kept on ::
Many aud many were the hours, so
father would say, Willie and used to
pass under the shadow of that old apple
tree; playing at hide.and. seek, or lolling on
the grass, telling each other the wonders we
would achieve when we became men, and
when the sunset laid its crown Of gold on
the cop of the oaks on the hill. can see
Willic's mother standing in the front door,
with her white cap and check apron, and
the pleasant smile that always lay around
her lips, and hear her cheerful voice calling
Come boys, come to supper"
One after another the big, warm, blessed
tears came rolling down old Bills pale
cheek. Ah the lady had found the door
then.
"I was always at home, at Willie's, faith.
or would say, and used to have my bowl Of
fresh milk, and bread too, and when these
had disappeared. Willie would sdraw, his
stool to his mothers feet, lay his head on
her lap, and she would tell us some pleas
ant story, it might bc Of Joseph or David, or
of some good child who afterwards became
great man, and then she would part VIII.
lies brown curls from his forehead, and IN
voice can never forget, say: Promise
me Willie, when you 60 out from your home
into the world, and its temptations, and
your mother has laid down with her gray
hairs to sleep in the church yard yonder,
r,mise, my child, that the memory Of her
! prayers and counsels, shall keep you from
all evil WAYS p And Willie would raise his
h ,ad, lift his blue eyes proudly to his moth.
cr, and answer: | promise you, | will
make a frst.rate man, mother" and alter
lie had said his evening prayer, we would
60 happy as the birds that nestled in the
branches Of the apple tree, to rest; and
then, Just as we were sinking to sleep, we
would hear wel.known football on the
stairs, and loving face would bend over us
to see if we were nicely tucked up. "lt is
long timc," father would say, after pause,
since heard from Willie. but sure am,
that he has never fallen into any evil ways.
The memory Of his mother would keep him
from that"
Rap, rap, rap! went the words of the
lalv at the door in that old mans heart.
Crrak, crcak, crcak went the door on its
rusty hinges: (angels Of God held ye not
your breaths to lsten9 The lady could
only see the subdued man bury his face in
his hands, and while his whole frame shook
like all aspen leaf, she heard him murmer
amid childlike sobs:
"My mother, o, my mother"
And she knew the tears that were wash.
ing those wrinkled cheeks, were washing
out also many dark page in the record OF
Old Bills past life that stood against him
so, with silent prayer Of thanktulness, she
resumed,
But, there was one scene my father
loved to talk Of better than all the rest. 1t
was of the morning you were married, Mr.,
Strong. 1t was enough to do ones eyes
good, he would say, to look at them, as
they walked up to the old church aisle, he
with his proud manly tread, and she, deli
cate, fragile creature, fair as the orange
blossoms that trembled in her hair. | re-
; member how clear and firm his voice echoed
through the old church, as he promised to
love, protect, and to cherish the gentle being
at his side, and l know he thought as ht
looked down fondly upon her, that the ver,
winds Of Heaven should not visit her face
too roughly. And then, my father woult
tell us of home made very bright by
} watchful affection, and Of the dark eyee
boy, and of the fair haired gih, who came
after while to gladden. it, and then yo'
know, he removed to the West, and los
sight of you, Mr.. Strong"
Once again, the lady paused, for the ago
} ny of the strong man before her, was fear
full to behold, and when she spoke again, !
was in lower and more mourniul tone:
, al promised my father, previous to HI
death, that if ever visited his native State
| would seek out his old friend. But, whe'
l inquired for you, they unfolded terrible
, story to me, Mr.. Strong. They told me
: a broken and desolate household; of darl
, eyed boy that left his home in disgust ant
desnair fDr one on the homeless seas; OF tn