The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-04

The abashcd clerk obcycd, not without
surprise, and the bowed old man, with his
heavy basket of strawl crries, came lumblv
INTO the private room Of the great banker.
"Nlll you take Il chair, sir ?" politely in
qWrcd MIR. Arnct, moving forward u luxu-
rious tontcuH
The old man took off his hat, APOLOGIZE
caIv.
''Sir, fear that intrudc on your valua-
bic time If You would buy some of my
t'nIt-ncccssity, You know, is strong, and
my poverty is extreme. ] WAS not always
IN such II position"
MIR. Arnct watched the proud turn of
that gray head with a singular smile and
then sitting down TO his desk, he wrote off
eheche, and handed it across the table.
'Onc thousand dollars !" fal,crcd the old
man, as he read, turning rcd and white in Il
breath. lie held it towards the banker
'SIr, hoped you were too much of "A gen
ilcnan to make sport Of age and distress.
Is there anything to jest about in my want?',
| "Not at all, sir. You spoke of a sickIv
daughter. | have a cottage vacant, Just
outside the city, with fountain, grounds and
Conservatory. If you and your daughter
will occupy it rent free, shall be very glad
to have You take care of it for me-"
The DID man stood white and brcathlcSs,
as it i'll Il dream. In an instant his hand
WAS taken in the warm clasp of the great
banker.
My friend, my beucEctor. YOU have for
gotten me, but my youthful memory is
stronger than yours. Is it possible that
You have no remembrance Of meg"
The old man shook his head.
Yet 1t Is folly to expect it, when am
so changed. Listen, sir" he resumed, with
bright earnest smile; "havc you no rec
ollccIIon of a forlorn boy, on a crowded
pier, whose little all was scattered by IA rude
blow' Have you forgotten his distress
have you forgotten that kind stranger
stopped to comfort, him not only by money
bnt by cheering words ~
SIS it possiblew stammcrcd the old mau."
" es, it is possible. am that forlorn
boy. Your money, which that night sup.
Piled my dying sister with luxurics and
PLEASURE has proved the stepping stone to
my prInccly wealth. Sir, was a ray~cl
trc"dess boy, but my heart treasured up
your kind words us priceless Jewels, and
now the time has come when may. in
some measure, repay them with interest"
lhe old man moved his pale ..,S, rs
though he would speak, but tic banker re-
sumcl Instantly:
Il am alone in the world my mother is
dead, and my little sister, whose last words
We're OF Your Kindness, has gone, years ago,
to her eternal home. l owe everything to
you, and now | have favor to ask"
"a .f"ror and OF me !"
"Ihat YOU will hcnceforth allow me to
provide for you, and consider me as Your
son. My carriage is at the door, and will
take you whercsocver you wish to go. But
stay moment first"
lie took tiny volume from his breast
bound IN faded velvet, with claspings of tar
nislcd gilt
"Ihis book was my dead sisters Bible;
1t lay on her pillow when she died, and
since that hour it has been my constant
companion. There is passage here that
has ever been present to my mind since
your kind deed gave hope and courage to
my life"
lie opened the volume, and through
soft mist Of grateful tears, the old man read
| the Scripture words:
"C"st My dreod upon tie wutcrs; for
Tho" SHAT fmd 1t after mnny days."
Visiting The Cty.-A country gentleman
who has lived near us SO long that he
might pass for native of these dieeins.
although lie was born nearer you than me,
was Obliged to visit your city on business,
few weeks ago, in the midst of the panic.
lie took quarters at boarding house, and
his rustic dress and appearance exposed him
to the observation and remark of n smart
young lady, OF very uncertain age, who sat
opposite to him at the dinner table Tia.
king him for decidedly verdant son of the
soil, she proceeded to quiz him at her leis-
ure. The gentleman perceived her drift,
and lie humored the joke. In the course
Of her inquiries she asked
"Did you ever visit our great city be-
fore 2''
"Yes, ma'am, I did, several years since"
"Did you come by railroad or steamboat
in those daysl"
"Neither of them things was in use
when come to town."
"You must have come by stagea"
Not exactly that way neither"