The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-12-01
s5' rfson, The Olive Branea. /, Y
lights ana Shaao b $ &

row seem to meet. and hope and fear chase
each other over the world. Come into our
busy metropolis, and you will find the ex-
emplifcation of this principle. Go through
the streets gather the pictures that geet
y0d any asyy, and yyen will have mental
panorama of contrasts, with which Rem
brandts can bear no comparison.
Here grand mansion is illuminated for a
wedding,and you can see tue brilliancy Of the
moving throDg within. You catch glimpses
OF halls mt to grace palace; of carpets and
drapery and rare gems of sculpture, which
almost dazzle you with their masnificence.
You behold the bride in the flush of her
youth and beauty, her cheek crimsoned with
excitement, her eyes beaming with happiness
and her lips wreathed with smiles. You
mark the graceful outline of her figure in its
snowy robes, and the flash ofthe Jewels which
light the waves of her dark hair ...
You hear thes congratulations offered to
the envied pair-the blessings breathed-
the farewels spoken. Your glance follows
the young wife, as she enters the carriage,
which will bear her from home, friends, and
all she once held dearer than aught else
on earth. You hear the music of the lin
gering jewellers long after you have passed
on and the gorgeous pageantry has faded
from your sight. But before those sweet
tones have melted from your ear, you be-
come an accidental witness of another and
tar different scene. ...... . a..r
In q shadowy corner, only very short
distance from that grand dwelling, there is
a group so striking that it rivets your atten-
ton. "A feeble old man has crouched down
on the steps of an imposing church, and is
sitting there, with his tattered cloak folded
around his emaciated frame, and his head
resting on the thin hands clasped over his
sturdy cane. A child is reclining, at his
feet, with half closed eyes, and slender fin.
gers, idly ,rifing with her unLept locks.
Near her, standing erect, and SILENT is a girl
OF some ten summers, fair. but with the spir-
it of suffering woman imprinted on every
feature. The whole trio are faint and weary,
and desolate. In all this city with its numer-
Gus homes, there is no roof to shelter them !;
no fire-side around which they can Ioiter no
amply supplied table. where they can satisfy
the cravings of hunger, and as the aged man
thinks Of it, tears roll down his sunken cheek.
But the heroine beside him, so youthful in
years, but so old in bitter experience, soothes
him with gentle words Of encouragement,
and smiles, that light up her wan face with
strange radiance You think of little Nell.
the guardian angel of her grandfather, hov.
ering about him with her winning ways.
leading him from the temptations that sur
rounded him, and dying at last in that pleas
ant country, place near the ancient church
and the grave yard. Perhaps her patient
endurance her noble devotion speak re-
proofto your repining, and you turn away
with higher resolves and holier aspirations.
Farther on, you see a brilliant throng as
sembled within the walls Of theatre Eve
rything there seems gay and enchanting; /;
the gas light, which revealsthe elaborate de-
corations of the edifice; the stage, with its
superb scenic arrangements !; the melody
that floats from tuneful instruments; the
beauty and fashion all around you. combine
to form fascinating picture. You hear the
merry jest in the pauses Of the play-the
light laugh, the applause, which ever and
anon echoes through the stately building.
Then, with lingering gaze, you again re-
resume. your walk. A moment more
and you perceive single ray of light
twinkling from house that appears wrap
ped in silence and gloom. Blu. you soon
find yourself looking anxiously into that dim
| ly illuminated room. tbs so still, that your
foot fall almost s:artles You, and your hurled
whisper has fearful distinctaess. Two
watchers are keeping vigil beside the dead;
the corpse lies shrouded in white drapery,
that falls over it with the rigidity of sculp-
tured marble The pale hands Me folded,
and within the waxen fingers nestle flowers,
frail, fair and sweet like her whose dreamless
slumber they will soon share. The ny brow
is garlanded with myrtle, and sprey Of blos-
SONS fastens the robe around the, slender
neck. u,
Once more you are in the street men 90
lcarelessly by the chamber of death, laughing
and talking with merriment that jars pain
fully on your ear. You meet the rich wrap
ped in velvet and fur, and the poor ini scan
ty and ragged habiiments. You behold life
and death commingling, and joy, with her
starry crown, seems walking side by side
with grief and woe. Do you ask .'why
this is Why does this home seem endow-
ed with the loveliness of Eden, and that dark.
ened with shadows. whose gloom appears
almost irnpenetrable Why is plenty given
to one and want toanotheri We answer,
he who rules the universe, doeth all things
well, For wise purpose, He shows these
contrasts and metss out the lot Of our race.
Trust in Him, and your existence may be
m ada bla9cfr a. ~