Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-04

definable disappointment; yet, in the ignc
rance of her heart, she could scarcely hav
stated of what she had to complain. Sl
loved her husband; was proud of his super
or abilities; and made no mean estimate
w w his moral character, undebased, in the slight
,a ha est degree, by the gross vices, which sh
-. ~ colld not but perceive marked many aroun
d. her, suhlecting their wives to brutality an
n. privations. Compared with such OFFENCES
on she persuaded herself that Philips neslec
es was a very light and venial fault, and blame,
or herself for feeling it so much.
But Susan was one >of those flowers o
ed humanity that would have amply repaid cul
st tivation, and that needed the sunshine o
IN sympathetic kindness. Daily food was scarce
eF ly more necessary for her physical nature
OF than the interchange Of thought and kind
'e illness WAS 10 her spiritual nature all this he
"a husbands habits, and the unsociable plans o
m life in England, and especially in London
l. denied = her. Too timid to plead her own
= cause, or urge her own claims to him who
Al had precluded appeal to others, she uncom.
plai"ingly lived on without change, without
stimulus or excitement; shut up within the
four walls Of her humble home, walking un.
e relieved the dull unvarying round of domes.
tic duties, with her spirit full of capabilities
unexpored and unexpanded She grew nerv.
Gus and hectic, her appetite and spirits failed,
her frame wasted, while quiet and unrepining,
almost unconscious of her maady, or its
cause, consumption was rapidly developed.
Medical advice was sought, and medicine
and care essayed, while none guessed the
quick feeling that flowed beneath the quiet
bearing of that suI,ducd, decaying woman;
it wore the channel through which it made
It's secret way, but seemed to brighten the
spirit it was soon to eXtingnish.
Susan, after a time, felt that she was pass
ing through the Valley of the Shadow of
Death. This conviction did not depress her
energies--it awakened them. She had com.
muned with her own meek heart, lifted il to
her Maker, and remembered with consola.
ton that it said those also serve, who only |
stand and wall" She struggled on from day
to day in the performance of her duties amid
many privations, the worst of all privatons,
those Of mental development and social
cheer, yet had she conscious account in
her own heart, and her sincere and unassist.
cd cndeavor had no doubt register amid
the higher achievements of more favored
minds. With the certainty that she was not
long for this world, she doubled her excr.
tons to put her little household in order
Sac repaired and made clothes for her child,
and laid them away embaImed with her tears.
In tue same manner the needle toiled for her
husband, and the savings which her frugal.
ty effected were employed to purchase him t
sundry little comforts. |
" These will keep him warm when ] am
cold, she thought he will little think /
while HE torgets me for better company, MY /
only happiness is to remember him, and that
shall scarcely be more lonely in the grave G
to which am going, than have been in the $
home to which he brought me-" l
Sometimes a little ink bottle was taken u
from the mantle shelf, and sheet Of paper Il
from her little tabledrawer, and then, with
effort a few lines were traced, and the pa, G
per hidden carefully away, as if she had :
committed a crime. One night she had made n
more emdeavors of this kind than usual, and n
he struggling, nnassistcd spirit of intclIi. a
5ence was burning in her hazel eve and S
glowing on her beautiful cheek, when she S
vas startled by an unusual noise The pa.
Der was hurried into the drawer, the ink b
bottle restored to the SHELF and taking a can. a
lie she went out to the landing-place. She Ii
'eheld her husband assisted by two men, it
'lo"ly y ascending the stairs. He had met Il
With an accident; had broken his arm; it C.
lad heen set, but he had tainted during the d
operation, and with the ghastly aspect Incl. a
lent to such circumstances, appeared before lc
Ter. NJ
This event prostrated Philip for some time, fl
Turing which Susan nursed him with unre. b
hitting care. 1t was long before he was
BILE to return to work, but his employers to
we're liberal and considerate, and did not SC
Drget in his weakness the man who had us
piled fer their advantage in his days of dc
ealth and strength. But although unable al
D pursue his manual Iabors. Philip, soon be
iadc an effort to get abroad in search Of ST
rental occupation and social employment A
lc went to his club, TO the Mechanics In. pu
Iltute, to the coffee shops where he could tic
nd tue best newspapers. All this was well ty
one; he nobly determined to rescue himself 6"
'om becoming the mere machine Of toll and St;
rudSery for. 50 much trash rs can be We
rasped thus" Alas had he thought of her hi.
HON he promised to love and cherish till su
cath should part them had he considered Of
'hether she had not soul of equal value bu
lth his own, perhaps an intellect as capable lu,
renafng culture then he would have cb
cen twice blessed; blessed in the act and ar
reaction But selfshly devoted to his an
wn objects of pursuit, habtuated to the tra t,,a
AN looks of his quiet wife, be failed to per. rio rio
eive that her cheek grew paler and her voice sot
eaker !; nor that he had been insensible or mi
different to her care and anxiety during dr.,
S illness; but with renewed health, he re-. i ,
rned to his old habits, and accustomed to VI;
ceive sacrifices without making any. he ao
nned against gratitude and good feeling in in
most unconscious y. Gradually, Susan am
und herself unequal to even the daily walk AM
ith little Philip, or the effort of going up sui
I'd down stairs; and then there was some mo
TX Of her returning home for season, and bit
wing the effect of her native air. She
ni!ed ieebiy as this was spoken OF, yet left
uninterrupted: she knew that she was going Bo
4 farther and better home, and often did the
e wish to say as much; but she was not a f
oquept in words, nor sufficiently strong in by
irts, and after two or three fruitless at. set
mpts she dessted, and pursued as far as wit
G was able, the even tenor of his way. ant