The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-01-27
THE ROSE AND THE NETTLE

II" matter where-at the North Pole, prob
ably, or may be at the South--or pcrclance
between the two-thcrc rose q large AMI
iourshng city. Its manufactures were
noted for their extent; and the merchant
! princes of that place rcvc!cl i'll the
wealth those manufactures produced. On
| the outskirts Of the town were built two
| houScs-alike in form, in extent, in value.
Two peas" or 1.-TWO nuts, or "two pins"
had frequently described their similarity.
Now, in these two houses lived two broth
ers-twins-thc only sons of the builder
Of those two houses. 1t had been Il fam
cy Of the old man to have "the hovs,''
AS he called them, lodged alike and his
means being ample, he had the power Of
indulging his fancy. "The boys married,
and on the welding day the first stone Of
, their home was laid
"Timc enough to get them finished" -"
said the oil gentleman, as he rubLc, his
han.. in glcc; "won't want nursery
for a twelve month, at any rate. Small
house do till then"
The young brides were present when
that remark was made. One bIuslc,l-
and smiled; the other FLUSHED and frown-
ed. 1t was the nc,tle and the rose again
standing si'lo 10y side.
Six months passed, and the houses were
half up-tho old gentlemen himself di-
recting all the arrangements of the build
ing.
at is good indeed of your father,
now an old man, to take an interest in our
comfort" said one of the young wives to
her iusl and. "Ralph h"-,hat was the hus-
bands namc-"you can never repay him
for his kind feeling and his gcn*rosty to
us.'
II; was an absurdity for your father to
play the architect, and almost bricklayor,"
remarked the other wife to her spouse
Boydell-his name. "You should tell
him that it is inconsistent with his calling
and his station.
"lt is consistent with Lis pleasure" re-
marked the husband, "and therefore am
content"
Twelve months passed, aud the houses
were finished.
"Nursery ready in time" said the good
old man-" ready in tilne-rcady in
time"
The houses were occupied; in the course
of twelve months tho nurseries were occu-
pied also.
"There are unceasiug anxieties in a
mothers lot" snid the good vito of Ralph,
"but unceasing pleasures, too" Aud she
smiled at the innocent face Of her sleeping
babe
How women can ke the bore of chill
drcn, cannot imagine" remarked her sis.
ler-in-law, as her child was hastily given to
its rurse.
Years passed. on-as they always do
and tho young wives became middle aged
women. Sons and daughters clustered
round them, ard the grandfather, old and
feeble, now leant on these young things for
support.
Time had worked q wonIrous change in
the two brothcrs-Ralph told of home
stock of happiness, from which lie drew
largely, while Boydell looked as ifZcontent
and happiness were not in the world at
al.
| at this lime, when the families Of each
were springing up, and needed money to DO
spent on them, in education, maintenance,
and the different adjuncts Of their station,
ono of those panics OF the commercial
world, which ruin thousands, took place
Unfortunately, Ralph and his brother had
entered into large speculalions, which
failing, they were involved in the prevailing
ruin, and found themselves vereing on
bankruptcy.
BE of good heart, Ralph" said his
wife, " there is bread in this great world
for all. Our fine large house, our SER
wants and our carriages, are not absolutely
necessary to our happiness; we can do as
Others do-live without them; and the
children, Ralph! this lesson Of adversely
may be for their welfare Take comfort,
Ralph there is plenty Of that left
for us in the world, if our wealth, has flown
away"
eyes" answered the husband, as he
clasped her hand, and drew her to him,
eyes there is never failing comfort here,
Lucy. God be praised for having given
me one so meet to help" me, both in joy
and sorrow, wealth or poverty" -.
"You should have foreseen this crisis.
remarked the wife of Boydell, land not
allowed your children to be. brought to
beggary at their age, when just entering on