The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-05-23


heavy cyelids. Sadder was his face
than before. IA he sat thus, his old
est daughter, in her sixteenth year,
an,e and stood 10y hin. She held a
paper in her hand
'Fathcr'--hc opcrcd his eyes.
Here's my quarter bill. Us TWEEN
ty dollars. Can'l | have tho money
To take to school with Inc this morn
ing?
Pm afraid rot'-answcrcd Mr..
Walco,t, half sadly.
Nearly all the girls will bring i'll
their moncy'to-morrow ; and it morti-
ii's me to be behind the others The
daughter spoke trctin!iy. Mr.. Wal
cott waved her aside Wit. his hand,
an:l she went OF muttcring and pout.
ing.
1T is mor,iiyins,' spoke ~ Mrs.
Wa!cott, Il little >ilarplS--'anl | don't
wnn,!c. thai Helen feels unplca>autly
about it. The bill has to be paid, and
! don't sec why it may not Lc done rs
well ii's: as last
To tits Mr.. Walcott made no an.
swrr. The words but ADDED another
prus$uro to the burden under which
he WAS already staggering. Alter a
silence o! soinc muu.cuts, Mrs. Wal.
colt said
"lic coaI is eli gone
'imp"ss'blet Mr.. Walcntt raised
hi, head, and looked increLulous. 4
lad in sixteen tons,'
4 can't help it, il there were sixty
tons Instead Of six;cen; it's all gone.
The gil, had Il tine u! it 10 day. t..
scraI'e enough! to keep the fire going
There's been Il ~si.anrtul waste
s"mewhcre,' said Mr.. Waicptt with
strong cmr!msis, starting up, and
mov;ng about the room vi. II u vrry
disturbed manner.
so you always say, when any thing
is out, answered Mrs. Waicott rather
tartsy. The barrel of q Or is gone
a%'s"; but | suppose you have Lunc
your part: with the rest, in using il
up
Mr.. WaIcott returned 70 his chair,
and again seating hinse;', leand back
his head AMI closed hi ,."cs, at first.
ll..~ aad, n"H weary. maj hopeless lie
lit. Tie burdens OF The day lrs,i
seemed almost 90" heavy for him: hu,
tic i'"d hor,'c up bravciy. To gather
strength for a renewed struggle with
adverse circumstances, &c hal come
homr. Alas! !:l.t the process ui,x.
siaus'icn should still 90 ON. That
where only strength could he looked
for. ia strength was given.
VI hen Tie lea bel! run%, Mr. Wal.
colt made no movement 10 obey the
summons.
'C''"c to surrcr.' Said his wild
cc!,i!y.
Bat he did not Stir.
'-Ain't y"n coming to snppcr7' sh.
called to linn, as She WAS leaving Tie
room.
i don't wish any thing this evening
My head Aches badly Ii" answered.
In the dumps again,' mmtlrrrL
Mrs. Walc"lt 10 herself. Its lis
much rs ones lie is worth To ask tn,
money, u 10 say that any thing is
wanted And She Keep, on her way
70 the dining room. When she re-.
turned, her husband was still sitting
where She had left him.
'Sha'! | bringy"ua cup oftca?' she
asked.
No; don't wish any thing
whats the matter. Mr. Walcott
What do yuu look So troubled AL, ut
rs il y. II hadn't Il ,lirni in the world
What havesl done to you?
There was 80 answer, for there WA,
not II shade Of real sympathy in III,
voice that made tho qncrirs--bu,
rather a queru!ous dissatisfaction. n
few Mrs. W#lcutt stood
near husband ; but as he did not seen
inclined to answer her questions, sh,
turned Oh from him, al,a resumed tn,
employment Which had been intc.
rur!cI by the ringing Of tie tea b H.
The whole evening PASSED without,
the occurrence 81 u single accident thai
gave IL heaithf,;! puIsa,inn to The sick
heart Of Mr.. Wa!cott. No thoughtful
kindness was manifested by any
member Of the family but, on the
contrary, a narrow regard for self, anJ
4 looking TO him only to supply the
means Of self qualification.
No wonder, rom the pressure
which was ON him, that Mr.. WaIcott
felt utterly discouraged. He retired
early; and sought to find that rclici
from mental diSqnictu he, in sleep,
which lie had vainly hoped iur in ,lp
bosom of his family. Eut the whole
night passed in broken slulnbcr, and
disturbing dreams. From the cheer
less morning meal, at which he was
reminded of the quart2r.biil that must
be paid, Of the coal and -four tina,
were ont, and of the necessity Of sup.
plying Mrs. Walcott's empty purse,
he went forth to meet the difficulties
%ofanolhcr day, faint Il: heart, and al.