The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-11-30

near it as she rushed, to her mothers bed
side. a8
: "A low moan, in sad harmony with all
around, 3is;il!!ss;ssa By short, harsh cough,
struck his ear. al thought so,"' lie mutter-
g, consumption has nearly completed its
work"
"lIenry," asked low voice anxionsly, !,
Henry, is it YOU 81
9 sNo nStherit is kind DR.. d., who has
come to cure yoIln :; : x ..s.;t &c, !
4 'Doctor--he is too late. fam--going
Henry she called family, as her eyes res
ted upon the door. "Not there" she con-
tin,ref, with,a despairing countenance. II
will die without seeing him" She shiver-
ed, "'tis very coll' l,
The doctor feh u tear start to his eye, and
taking his cloak, which the young girl bad
quilted, he stretched it over the torn blanket
which covered the dying woman. Then
drawing from his pocket a small case, which
he always carried, lie poured from a vial a
few drops of liquid into cup that contain
ed some water, and raising the sick mothers.
head, presented the draught to her parched
lips. She drank eagerly, while her teeth
chartered ugains; the edge Of the cup, as ner-
.
laid her quietly down, and in few minutes
she had fallen into calm sleep, interrupted
ever and anon by The same dry cough he
had heard on entering. Then, by silent
gesture, he called the sobbing girl tobis side
in the furthest part ofthe room.
"We must make fire and warm the room
a little whispered he.
There is not q stick of wood in the house,
was the despairing answer.
The doctor felt as ifa hand of iron was
encircling his heart lie said no more; but,
with as little noise as possible, took up
one Of the crippled chairs, and separated its
shaky pieces. Then, by the aid ofthe lamp,
lie managed to kindlea flame, which, mount
ing with a broad glare, exposed in an un-
earthly light the obscurest corners of that
room of woe. They saw the dying woman,
over whose pallid features seemed to play a
ray Of hope, as ever and anon, she muttered
in her dream, the name of Henry"
In another part of the city, one of the
fashionable restaurants is- brilliantly ilrumed.
Through the closed blinds stream of light
flows out into the dark street below, and
shouts of lnirth and the ringing of glasses
betray the scene within. Enter with me,
reader and in a room hung with gorgeous
tapestry, where the crate is heaped with
cracking Goals; where bright mirrors reflect
the glare Of the rich chandeliers; where
round table heaped with the remains of
choice supper, sparkling decantcrs and dusky
green bottles are passing from hand to hand,
you will see one in thousand such sights
as that room has seen.
There are eight of them; four men, all
young, all belonging to the best families of
the town. by the side of each sits wo-
man, whose fashy dress, coarse accent and
excited manners, bespcak her posilion--the
lowest of the low.
They have been to the opera, and this is
not the end Of their celebration Of the birth
of Christ. See them laughing, singing,
drinking, as if earth had no cares for them,
no duties, save in the pursuit of pleasure. -
Who could think that perhaps their WIVES,
mothers, sisters were barely sheltered from
the Storm, while they forgot all, all, save
pleasure and excitement , Still, SO it was.
at least, with one Of the number Yes Hen
ry Ms share in the expenses of that night
would have carried ease and comfort in hls
family for weeks ;would have made less llor-
rible the scene Of his mothers death bed =
He did not even know she was i'll; for
months he had seen her but few molnents
each day, and then either to tear from her
the hard earnings ofher needle, or when,
with i soft look of reproof she, night after
night. guided his reeling steps into his own
room. And see him here ! the loudest in his
lnirth, the first to drain the fatal bowl.
1t was Just three hours after midnight, as
they all arose to leave, for another a worse
destination = all but NJ. who had Just sue
cumbed beneath the influence of tho extra
ordinary quantity ofspirits he had taken.
81 knew he could hot stand so mucii,' 4,
claimed one Of the young men ut the sight !;
George, you have won the bet r'
"Yes, answered George, delighted, ahe
hit the wrong man when he bet with me !"
and amidst the jeers and laughter of the wo.
men, they led him oiit into the street, but MS
soon as the cold air struck him, the effects
of the spirits were SO potent that he could
not SUR.
"Oh, wei, !. he can'tcom with us tonight
exclaimed one, "and we had better send
him home in a cab."
"Yes," added one Of tue women, with a
sneer, .and let his sister take care of him;
our engagements don't go so farw
Unheeding tho oaths and threats Of tile
infuriated Henry, who swore he was rs 90.
Der as any OF them, and "wouldn't 20 home
a A - y. .