Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-07-27

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guess we've got company, for mothers oil
dressed up"
1t was with mingled emotions Of pleasure
and pain that Mrs. Thornton observed her
children were unusually docile and obedient,
fastening to perform their accustomed duties
without being even remi ded OF them. Chill
dren are natural and unaffected lovers Of the
beautiful, and their intuitive perceptions will
not often suffer from comparison with the
opinions of mature worldly wisdom. 1t was
with feeling of admiration that these children
now looked upon their mother, and seemed
to consider it privilege to do something for
her. 1t was, "let me get the kindling"-"I
will make the fre"--and may fill the tea
kettle ?" instead Of as was sometimes the case,
"need I do it p 81 don't want o." why
can't Willie? ?"
Nellie was too small to render much assis.
lance, but she often turned from her frolic
with her kitten. to look at her mother, and
utter some childish remark expressive Of Joy
and love.
l. At last the clock struck the hour when Mr..
Thornton was expected, and his wife proceed.
ed to lay the table with unusual care, and to
place thereon several choice riands of which
she knew he was particularly fond.
Meanwhile let us form the acquaintance Of
the absent husband and father, whom we find
in the neighboring town, just completing his
days traffic He is fine looking middle.
aged man, with an unmistakable twinkle of
kindly feeling in his eye, and the lines of good
humor plainly traced about his mouth-we
know at glance that he is cheerful and in.
dulgent in his family, and are at ouce prepos.
sessed in his favor.
AS he is leaving the store, where he has
made his last purchase for the day, be is ac-
costed in familiar manner by a tall gentle
man Just entering the door. He recognizes
an old friend, and exclaims, George Morton,
is it you?" The greeting is mutually cordial; /;
they were friends in boyhood and early youth,
but since Mr.. Morton had been practicing
law in distant city, they have seldom met,
and this is no place to exchange their many
questions and answers. Mr.. Thornton's fine
span of horses and light democrat" are
standing near by, and it needs but littler per-
suasion to induce Mr.. Morton to accompany
his friend to his home, which he had never
vet visited. The conversation is lively and
Spirited-they recall the feats Of their school
days, and the experiences of after life, and
compare their present position IN the world
with the golden future of which they used to
dream. Mr.. Morton is bachelor, and very
fastidious in his tastes-as that class of in
dividuals are prone to be. The recollection
of this flashes on Mr.. Thorntons mind as they
drive along towards their destination. At
once his zeal in the dialogue abates, and he
becomes thoughtful and silent, and does not
urge his team onward, but seems willing to
afford Mr.. Morton an opportunity to admire
the beautiful scenery on either hand-the hills
and valleys clad in the fresh verdure of June,
while the lofty mountain ranges look blue and
dim in the distance. He cannot help won.
dering if they will find his wife in the same
sorry predicament in which he left her that
morning, and involuntarily shrinks from in
Producing so satternly q parsonage to his
refined and cultivated friend.
But it is now too late to retract his polite
invitation-they are entering the old "home-
stead"-one field more and his fertile farm,
with its well kept fences appears in view.
Yonder is his neat white house surrounded
with elms and naples. They drive through
the large gateway, the man John comes from
the barn to take out the horses, and Mr..
Thornton hurries up the walk to the piazza,
leaving his friend to his leisure-he must see
his wife first, and if possible hurry her out of
sight before their visitor enters.
lie rushes into the sitting -room-words can
not express his amazement-here sits the very
image of his lovely bride, and selfconcious
blush mantles her cheek as he stooPs to kiss
her with words of joyful surprise-"Why,
Ellen! %
He has time for no more. Mr.. Morton has
followed him, and he exclaims-" Ha! Char.
ley, as lover like as eser-ha8n't the honey.
moon set YETI" and then he is duly presented
to Mrs. Thornton. who, under the pleasing
excitement of the occasion, appears to far
better advantage than usual
Tea is soon upon the table, and the gentle.
men do ample justice to the tempting repast
spread before them. A happy meal it is to
Mr.. Thornton, who gazes with admiring fond.
ness on his still beautiful wife.
/ Supper over, Mr.. Morton coaxes little Nellie
10 sit on his lap, but she soon glides down,
and climbing her fathers knee, whispers con.
fidentially, Don't mama look pretty 2" He
kisses her, and answers. "Yes, my darling.
The evening passes pleasantly and swiftly
away, and many a halfforgotten smile of their
| lile-plSl lNhdSc 10 ACSailCo W SohC HeJ .hioh n
which still CLEANS bright in the distance
They both feel younger and better for their
interview, and determine never to be so like
strangers again.
Mr.. Morton's soliloquy, as he retires to the
cozy apartment appropriated to his use, is
"Well, this is happy familyl What lucky
fellow Charity is-such handsome wife and
children-snd she is so good a housekeeper
tool May be I'll settle down some day my,
self'-which pleasant idea that night mingled
with his visions.
The next morning Mr.. Thornton watched
his wife's movements with some anxety-he
could not bear to have her destroy the tavora
BILE impression which he was certain she had
made on his friends mind, and yet an ire
sstbIe impulse forbade his offering any sug
gestions or alluding in any way to the delicate
subject so long unmentioned between them
But Mrs. Thornton needed no friendly advice
With true womanly tact, she perceived the
advantage she had gained, and was not at all
inclined to rcinquish it. The dark gingham
dress, linen collar and snowy apron formed
an appropriate and becoming morning attire
for housekeeper and the table afforded the
guest no occasion for altering his opinion in
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