The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-03-06
TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
III I CELL a El3OWS q
A Sketch from Life.

Yet now lie no longer sprang from Ills bed
with the alacrity which changed duty into
pleasure; lie rose because imperlous neccs-
sitv commanded it. There were tho cattle
to he fed aud watcrcd, and the poultry to
receive the same attention, and there was
moreover a fire to be made III the huge old
kitchen fireplace, for the deacon had now
no servant or helper, and in the gray win
ter of his life, the whole burtlen OF mana
rinc his place had fallen OH his shoulders
Fortunately they were broad and strong
fortunately, his constitution was good, his
spirits elastic, and his picty sincere, for his
burthcns and trials were indeed wclghty.-
lie had been comparatively rici-he was
now in embarrassed circumstances. lie
had looked forward to the time when son
should relieve him of the most laborious Of
his tolls, while a daughter performed the
same kind Office for his wife. Both had
been disappointed-and now the old couple
were the solitary tenants Of that lone farm
House.
The deacon went mechanically about his
morning labors he drove the cattle to the
water tank; he supplied them with fresh
fodder, and after seeing that they were COM
Portable, returned to the old kitchen. by
this time, the good wife had prepared a
breakfast, and :. genial fire was diilusing its
1,oot t1r,u.,1, fl,., ,,,urf,n.
The old couple sat down to breakfast af
ter a blessing hy the old farmer, but the
meal passed 10y i'll silence. twas followed
by Il fervent prayer and the re"ling Of Il
portion Of the Scripture. After this they
adjourned to the sitting room, where good
fire was burning, and where the ,lane re-
,sumcd her knitting, one Of those ncomprc-
aiensiblc pieces Of female industry, which
seems to have neither beginning nor end.
"Wcll," said she with sigh, this is
thanksgiving day. 1t doesn't seem like old
times at all. We used to have Il house full
of company, frolicsomc young folks, and
cheerful old people; and nov We are all
alone, alone"
"Last thanksgiving day." said the old
man, "therc was one witt, us who seemed
to my old eyes like an angel Of light, with
her fairy, golden hair floating like glory
on her shoulders, and her little TOO, making
music rs she moved about the old house.
But even then there was hectic flush upon
her check, like the red npon the maple leaf
in autumn. When the january SHOWS lay
deep on the hills and in the hnllows we
carried her to her last homc-Lut Gods
will be DONE"
You forget we have another child alive"
"No, do not forget it" said the old man,
bitterly. "There is one living somewhere,
who has brought disgrace upon our name,
who has forgotten his parents and his God
who has drunk deep of the cup of iniouity,
and who has brought ruin upon his name
and family"
"Do not speak harshly Of poor Will
liam," pleaded the mother.
"Why should not? Was he not in
sensible to kndncss-steclcd against affec-
ton! Did he not scatter my hard earn
ings to the wind Is it not to linn that
owe the prospect Of bcsgary and dcstitu-
ton? Remember the first Of February.
That is the last day of grace. If the
money comes not thcn-anL God knows
whence It's to come-we arc louscless beg
gars. Who will care for lis then 2"
"God will care for us" said the aoed
woman, raising her eyes rcvcrcutly to hea-
ven.
The old man made no reply for his ut
terance was chokcd. At that moment the
old clock that stood ticking in the corner.
struck the hour of nine. The deacon roso
"It is time to harness old Dobliun said
he, !" for we have long way to ride to
meeting, and the roads are ia bad condi-
tion."
Their preparations were soon made and
Ahc old couple, poorly but dccen,ly attired,
sailed forth to their public dcvo,ions. The
services ended, the deacon and his wife as
they issued from the porch, were kindly
greeted by many old friends and nciyhbors,
more than one of whom pressed them to
come and p"rtakc Of their thanksgiving
cheer. But The deacon shook his heal.
MANY thanks, my friends" said he,
"but ever since | have been householder
have kept my thanksgiving at home. and
shall continue to do so, so long as have
2 house remaining over my head"
80 they rode home together. While the
deacon d'oye up to the barn to nut up his
borse, the Old lady opened the back door,
which was always on the latch, and enter
ed the kitchen. AS she did so, she started
back. A stranger was seated by the
Atchen fire, who rose on her entrance.
was a tall, staIwart man, dressed in a