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

cS' uo"Shte', III "'t o'aVcH'itu ot"' :,
came ami stood by hin,. She held a
paper in her hand
'Fathcr'-hc opened his eyes
Here's my quarter bill. lis twcn-
ty dollars. Cau't have the money
to take to school with inc this morn.
ing 2
Pm afraid not'-answered Mr..
Wnlcott, half sadly.
Nearly all the girls will bring in
their moncy'tomorrow and i, morti-
lirs me to be bchiud The Others The
daughter spoke frctInlly. Mr.. Wal
colt waved her aside Wit, his hand,
an;I she went OF mutlcring and pout.
ing.
1t is mortifyins,' spoke up Mrs.
Wa'cott, Il little sharply y--'and don't
wnnhcr that Helen feels unpIen>an,ly
about it. The bill has to be paid, and
! don't see why it may not bc done as
well lirst as last
To this Mr.. Walcott made no an.
swrr. The words but aided auo:hcr
prus*ure to the burden under which
he WAS already staggering. After a
silence o! some moments, Mrs. Wal.
eOtt said--
" The coal is al gone
'Imp"ss'bler Mr.. Walcutt raised
his head, and looked incredulous. i
laid in sixteen t0ns,'
4 can't help it, if there we're sixty
tons Instead OF sixtccn; it's all gone.
The girls had n time q! it TO day. t.
scrape enough to keep the fire going
There's been Il s'.anvtul waste
s"mewhcre,' said Mr.. Walcutt with
strong emphasis, starting up, and
moving about the room wi Ii IL very
disturbed manner.
$50 you always say, when any thing
is out, answered Mrs. Walcott rather
tartly. The barrel of n..ur is gone
also; but | suppose you have done
your part: with the rest, in using il
up
Mr.. Wa!cott returned TO his chair,
and again seating himself, leand back
Ills head aui closed n4 Ives, ut first
I1-.w sad, ARA weary, anl hopeless ii:
!t;t. iiie burdens OF The d,y had
seemed almost too heavy for him: hui
Iile i'ad bornc up bravcly. To gather
strength for renewed struggle with
adverse circumstances, .c hal come
! home. Alas! .:,.; the process oi, ,x.
laus'ion should still go ON. That
where only strength could be looked
for. 10 strength WAS given.
VI hen The lel bell rung, Mr.. Wal.
colt made no movement TO obey the
| summons.
'Cnnc to SUPPER Said his wife
co!dlv.
Bat he did not stir.
Amt yon coming to supper r shl
called to linn, as She WAS leaving til.
room.
i don't wish any thing this evening.
My head aches haily; III: answered.
la the dumps asain,' mut,creL
| Mrs. Walcult tn herself. Its us
much rs ones life is worth to ask for
money, or to say that any thing is
wanted. And she KEEP, on her way
10 the dining room. When she re-.
turned, her husband was still sitting
where she had Left him.
Shall | bring l"ua cup oftca p she
asked.
No; don't wish any thing
whats the matter, Mr.. Walcott ?
What do yon look $" troubled all. ut,
rs If y'u ladn'; Il friend in the world
What havesl done To you!
There was no answer, for there was
not shade Of real sympathy in the
voice that made tho qnerirs--but
rather Il 4ueru!olIs dissatisfaction. "A
few moments Mrs. Walcutt stood
near husband but rs he did not seem
inclined to answer her questions, she
turned Oh from him, and resumed tn.
employment which had been in.n..
ruptcd by the ringing OF tie tea b. II.
The whole evening passed without
the occurrence "f II single Incident that
gave Il henlthiu! puIsalinn 10 the sick
heart Of Mr.. WaIcott. No ,houg!,;tni
kindness was manifested by any
member Of the family; but, on the
contrary, narrow regard for self, and
a looking to him only to supply the
means Of sell qualification.
No wonder, rom the pressure
which was on him, that Mr.. WaIcott
felt utterly discouraged. He retired
early; and sought to find that relief
from mental disqnictu'c, in sleep,
which he had vainly hoped for in ,lac
bosom Of his family. But the whole
night passed in broken sIulnber, and
disturbing dreams. From the cheer
less morning meal, at which he was
reminded of the quarter.bil that must
be paid, of the coal and -four that
were ont, ana Of the necessity of sup.
plying Mrs. \Falcott's empty purse,
he went forth to meet the difficulties
ofanothcr day, E.iht at heart, and al.
most hopeless of SUCCESS. a conf.
don't spirit, sustained by home aiiec.
tions, would have carried him through;
but, unsupported as he was, the bur.