The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-06-03
"LOOK Upn

| IA 'h'P, D"iauceu at sea, lay rocking IaZl-
ly. A sprightly lad, the captains's only
son, not knowing what to do, began mis-
chievousy to climb the mast. lie had got
half way to the top, when turning his eyes
below to see how far he was from the deck,
he suddenly grew dizzy. "I am falling, I
am falling," he cried. "Look aloft, shout
ed his father, who at that moment was leav-
ing his cabin. The boy, accustomed Instant
y to obey that voice, looked up TO where
the malntrunk swung against the sky, re-
covered heart, went on and was saved.
We do not give the anecdote as new.
Doubtless every one of our readers has
heard it before. But the story has a sig
nificance not always noticed. Others, be-
sides the captains son, have been saved by
looking up. There come times in the en-
perience even of the bravest when the heart
is ready to give up. Perhaps a favorite
child has been suddenly stricken down.
Perhaps terrible epidemic has destroyed
moro than one little one. Perhaps the
wife Of his bosom is no more. Perhaps by
one of those catastrophes which occasional
ly occur, his entire family has been swept
into eternity in a moment of time, in the
twinkling Of an eye. lie feels as if there
was no longer any objec. for him in life.
In the first shock Of his agony he would
not care even if news was brought TO him
that his fortunes were bankrupt, that he
was disy'aced beggar. But, by-and-by,
a still, small voice within whispers, "Look
up" lie sees that the key is still as bright
as ever, the breeze as blessed, the trees as
beautiful. lie hears the waters run, leap
ing and laughing down hill side glistcning
in silver as they 60. The earth is net less
lovely than before, the stars are as number
less, the ocean and mountains rs sublime.
His fellow-creatures have the same kindly
heart toward linn. lie owes them the
same old duties. Gradually he realized
that he has much yet to live for. In time
even he rcgairs a suLdued and quiet hap
piness. lie has learned to 4" look up.''
y wife or mother is unhappy. She has
husband addicted to irtemperance a man
with superior talents perhaps, who might,
if lie could resist the cup, rise to eminence
and wealth. Day by day her heart is break
ing. But let her not dispair The errirg
one may yet reforli, ; thousands have done
it before him , patience, kindness, tact, and
affection may finally recall him to himself
While there is hope of his restoration let
her not give up. Or mother sees her son
going to ruin. She bcwails, in secret, the
hour he was born and bowed down with
shame she shuns society. Oh ! if she would
but "look up" While there is life there is
hope. While love can pray and watch,
there is a chance of, repentance. Take
heart, wifc CT mother: After the night
comes morning. Look up
A great financial crisis otertakes the
strong man in the midst of his schemes.
lie gathers up all his resources, contendng
gallantly and desperately long after hope
is over; struggling for his family rather
than himself. It will not do. The mighty
whirlwind, whose outer eddies he has been
striving to resist, wheels down upon him in
all its power; lie is torn up in an instant;
lie is hurled on the ground, he is left breath
less, bruised, and seemingly dead. At first,
when lie regains sensation after the over.
whellning shock, he is without hope. lie
has neither strength nor wish to resume his
work Lie is willing that tile tempest shall
sweep the wrecks Of his fortune out of sight
forever. 1t is useless, he says to himself,
even to try to regain what lie has lost. At
last a gentle wife or sympathizing friend
bids him not to dispair. "Look up," they
say. lie looks. AT once he is new man.
lie recovers his name and fortune.
Abb! if all would only look up. But some
never hear the cheering words. Some disre-
gard them. Of the thousands who have
failed utterly in life, or met only seconda-
ry success, the majority owe their misfor-
tunes to not looking up. In sorrow or dis
aster, remember the boy upon the dizzy
mast, and look up!"-Petersons Mag
azine.
Blach0ood on Mode5,a Manners.
ousiy, says writer iu Blackwood, I do not
think the clubs alone have to answer for the
decrease in early marriages. No sensible
man, Of moderate means, picks his wife out
OF ballroom. or an opera box, however
much lie may like to see her there. A
true woman has much more chance all
know it-of winning any love that is worth
her winning, in her own home, in her un.
dress, in Tier little nameless everyday uu-
studied graces, sitting on a stile, lettering
|Aby brook, rattling in a railway carrage
For busy and; uncohscious amid common