The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-10-22
THE TWO HOMES.

walked homewa'd they discouraged eacl,
other and made darker the clouds that OBJ
scured their whole horizon.
"Good evening" was at last said hurried
1y; and the two men passed into :beir
homes
Al. Walcot entered the room where his
wife and children were gathered, and with
out speaking TO any one, seated himself in a
chair, and leaning his head back, closed his
eyes. His countcnance wore sad, weary,
exhausted look. lie had been seated TINS
only few minutes, when his wife said, in a
irc,fu voice.
"More trouble again"
"What is the matter now ?" asked Mr.
Walcott, almost startling.
"John has been sent home from school,"
"Wbat?" Mr.. Walcot, partly rose from
his chair.
"IIe has been suspended for bad conduct"
"Oh, dear !" groaned Mr.. Walcott :;
"wherc is he 2"
up in his room; sent him there as
something with him. He'll be ruined if lie
goes on this way. I'm out of all heart with
him"
Mr.. Walcott, excited as much by the
manner in which his wife conveyed unpleas-
ant information as by the information itself,
started up, under the blind impulse of the
moment, and, going to the room where
John had been sent on coming home, pun
ishcd the boy severely, and Ibis without lis
tenng to the explanation which the poor
child tried to make him hear.
Father, said the boy, with forced calm
ness, after the cruel stripes had ceased, Il
was not to blame; and you will go with
me to the teacher, can prove myself limo.
cent"
Mr.. Walcott had never know lis son
tell an unlru,h, and the words fell with a
rcbuke upon his heart.
"Very weIl-wc will see about that" he
answered, with forced sternness; an.l leav-
ing thereon, he went down stairs, feel'n
mich more uncomfortable than when he
went up. Again he seated himself in his
large chair, and again leaned back his weary
head, and closed his heavy eyeliIs. Sadder
was his face than before. As he sat thus
his eldest daughter, in her sixteenth year,
came in and stood by him. She held
paper in her hand
"Fa'her "-he opened his eyes.
"l1ere's my quarters bill; cant have
the money to take to school with me in the
morning!"
81 am afraid not" answered Mr.. Walcott,
half in despair.
"Neary all the girls will bring in til cir
money tomorrow, and it m ortifi..s me to b.,
behind the others" The daughter spoke
frefully. Mr.. Walcott waiveI her aside
with his hand, and she went off mutterins
and pouting.
"It is Notifying" said Mrs. Wacott,
little sharply; "and don't wonder that
Helen feels annoyed about it. The bill has
to be paid aud / don't see why it may not
be done as we'll at first as last"
To this Mr.. Walcott made no answer.
The words but added another pressure to
the heavy burden under which he was al
ready staggering. After silence Of some
moments, Mrs. w. said:
"The GOALS are all gone"
"Tmpossible!" Mr.. Wacott raised his
head and looked incredulous. II laid in
sixteen tons"
81 can't help it if there we're sixty tons
instead of sixteen, they are all gone. The
girls had hard work today to scrape enough
to keep the fire in"
'There has been a shameful waste some
where" said Mr.. Walcott with strong EN-.
phasis, starting up and moving abont the
room in very disturbed manner.
$50 you always say. when anything runs
out" answered Mrs. WaIcott rather tarty
"The barrel Of flour is gone also, but sup
pose you have done your part with the rest,
in using it up"
Mr.. Walcott returned to his chair, and
again seating himself leaned back his head
and closed his eyes as at first. How sad,
and weary, and hopeless he felt! The bur-
dens Of the day had seemed almost too
heavy for him; but he had borne up brave.
~: 10 gather strength for renewed strug-
gle with adverse circumstances he had come
home. Alasl that the process of exbaus-
ton should stiil go on-that where only
stfeffgth could be looked for on earth, no
strength gas given. r.,
When the tea-bell rung Mr.. Walcott
made nofnoyement to obey .bs sum,pons.
Come toasupper," ssid his wife, ooldIv
%Butbe'did not stir.
gss+Ate yen not coming toc suppsrfs She
called to hin, as'she WIS leaving the room.
.Ialon'f: niSh for xnsfdinns m. .A,tass;.<.