The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-04-06
The lady started, exclaiming, "Nothing

can nave happened to my clnld!"
Nothing, my dear madam" he said,
glancing at the embroidery frame, the rich
carpet, the beautiful ctc;rteras of the a,slrt-
ment, "only fear the young lady allows
herself too little rest"
"lndcet, often tell her, sir that she
studies too hard. The rules of the acadc-
my are SO strict, fear she will not he able
to continue. Since her fathers death, poor
child, she has walked all the way to Z
street; she always rode before, and ms she
has the management of what little money
was lett, | know she seldom affords herself
even cheap ride"
"llcr studies-the acadcmy?" exclaimed
her visi'er, and then he repeated them over,
slowly, us if to be sure he had heard the
words Alright.
"fes, sir; her father died at the begin
ming of the last term, and she is unwilling
to lose the benefit, as he paid years adj
vance. Dear child, ! suppose she will have
to become teacher, or some such drudge"
lind she sighed heavily.
"Madam-I-excuse met cannot be
the Helen Harding l llcard-and yct-tlc
circumstances Madam, does not your
daughter work in a halerdashcrs shop"
Poor Mrs. Harding screamed outrig ght.
"My dear sir. You think my child would
descen'i"-and there she stopped. Her face
grew deadly pale-some thrilling thought
forced itself upon her mind.
Il remember now," she said slowly, and
with an etfort-"IIclcn never told me she
should continue at scl,ool-and I-ol, how
helpless have been! how unthinkng! If
1t Should be-drar sir, describe tn S Helen"
sit is shc!" she cxca;med, springing to
her feet, and bursting into tears. Noble,
generous child! srIt-Sacriicing daughter
On could | not c",mprrhcnd9 her pale
cheeks-ler eyes SO hcavy-hcr slow step.
Noble, generous child and she has done
ali this Tor me-to spare hcr mother the
pangs OF wounded pride-she is wearing
herself to the grave for me-"
Bitterly she wept for some moments, and
her v'sitcr, ventuling to speak in IL cllokcd,
husky voice, only ended by swapping his
eyes and tlourisl'ing his handkerchief some
where i'll their vicinity.
This shall he no longer" at last she said,
rising with dignity. True, l have never
laIored; true, am proud-I shall hence
''''' w WV t'ouI 10 ISC tilUS Ill IDLE
ness, dependent upon the labor of my delicate
child. will 60 forth into tho world. !,
can do so,nething-the willows God will
aid mc-and oh! He will bless me, for
selt-sacrifcng efforts have put life within
this weak frame
"Do not apologize, sir; YOU cannot tell
what an incstinabIe blessing your call has
proved to me; and, sir" she continued,
looking at him with eyes filled anew. "have
not reason to be proud OF my clId?"
What had hitherto seemed dross, now
proved to be fine gold. All selfishness, all
Endolencc were gone, and Mrs. Harding had
become transformed into IN energetic wo-
man, willing and eager to take her place iu
travel-stained paths of toll. Bur there was
now no need. The wealthy stranger, pleas
ed with her manners, loved and won her for
his wife. Helen, who had tasted both the
sweets and the aloes of life, moved again
in the brilliant circles to which she had been
accustomed. But more than for all her va
ried accomplishments was she loved and
admired for the noble sclfsacrifcc of feel
ing, taste, and even health, she had made,
that her mother might he spared the pain of
even imagining she WIS poor.
Filial love is always rewarded by the
great Giver who hath commanded us to
Honor father and mother"
Mrs. Denison'x What Not.