The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-02-08
away sobbed he, 'just as l was so.
ing into the bakers shop
tNYhere is YOUR fa.hcr?' [ asked.

| ing INTO inc DakCr s SuOp.
'Whcre is your fa.her?' [ asked.
'Over in tho public.housc, he con
tinued, 'tipsy; and, because cried
ho beat mc;' and hero the poor lit
tic fellow, putting down his hands
showed me kis eye most frightful
ly cut.
NJ first impulse was to 60 over te
the public-housc; but, rejecting 70,
an instant on the state Of those | haC
just left, I Immediately went my
self and purchased such ready drcs
sed food as 1 thought would suffice
for good meal; and then, having
had the child's wound properly at
tended to, I returned to enjoy the
LUXURY Of seeing this starving family
comparatively happy and comforta
Bile. When took my departure ]
left what money had about me, and
promised to renew my visit before i,
should be exhausted.
1t was r1y intention to have
gone in day or two; but the follow,
ing circumstance prevented my do
ing so for a whole week.
On the next morning carly
was sent for by an old gentleman
with whom [ was on terms of great
intimacy, although our acquaintance
was not Of long standing. He was
extremely i'll, and wished to make a
disposition Of his property. | took
n pen, and waited for his instructions.
Il give and bcqucath, said the
invalid, ell monies, houses, lands,
and whatsoever else I may die pos,
scssca Of, to- lie paused, as if
considering. Suddenly his coun.
tcnancc indicated a strong internal
struggle, as if bitter rccollcctions
came upon him, Which he was
determined to discard. / put down
my pen.
Go on, sir! go or!' said he, hur,
ricdly. 'To-to Henry Masters =
I,srarted with establishment. It
SUs n; ---S %. S'9;.li i.assts. 81. - -
You cannot mean this, air. said
I. i have no claim upon you to
such an extent. l.
'To Henry Masters he repeated
slowly and distinctly.
l approached his pillow. My
dear friend, I have heard that you
have a child. Ought not =
lie put his hand upon my arm.
Child! Oh, yes! I know it; but l
had forgotten it until this hour. For
years l have forgotten it! Why
think Of itnow? 1 will not think Of
it, he exclaimed violently; then fal,
ling back, and cxcrting extraordinary
self:control, he again repeated more
dccislvely than before, TO Hen,
ry Masters
I could not bear to writc down
words that would sent out child
forever without another effort:
commenced in a persuasive manner;
but he instantly interrupted me; and
his look and tone [ shall not read.
lily forget.
Sir, said he, i made up my
mind on tine most important part OF
this matter years ago, when I had
health, and strength, and intellect
about me. It iS not honest to try and
make we waver now that I am an
imbccilc old man.
/ could say no more. lie again
repeated his instructions, and | re
luctantly obcycd them.
For some days I was his constant
attendant; indeed l scarcely ever left
his bedside. Occasionally his mind
wandered, and then his muttcrings-
for they we're little bctter-had
evidently connection with his last ra.
tional convcrsat!on-thc disposition
Of his property. Bitter cxclama
tions about his child-his daught
er, plainly showed that, though dis
owned, she was not, and could not
lie forgotten. Once or twice he be.
came calm and perfectly collected,
and on each opportunity I .cndeavo
red to bring him to reconsideration
Of the step he had taken; but in
vain. Il was the only subject upon
which he would not hear nc. ]
learned from the physician in at
tendance that his recovery was per
fcctly hopeless; but that he might
lingcr some little time. l longcd
to sec my poor depepdants again
and, one morning when my patient
had fallen into deep slumbcr, !
took my hat, and, quietly stealing
from the chamber, directed my
footsteps to their abode. The fam
;ily were in a state little better than
when [ first saw them. The wo
mans husband, a reckless and in
verate drunkard, Judging from the
food he found at. home that from