The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-01-27
orc your cycs--it is my duty" she re-

"Thcn reserve it until | am likely 20 mp.
precate your effort at the performance of
the duty" he answered bitterly.
Poor "Nuty?" how drraLfuliy is she
mishandled by these asccl,c damrs. eft is
dmty. and under that plea many Il
harsh truth is uttered. eft is q duty -
so says the cvcr-s,,ict tliscipIinarian. and
cold, stern words are driven forth To-
tremhIc on m over worked and wearied
brain. alt is duty ~ covers the cruel re-
tukc and the severe re- ji'ndcr. 7, may be
a" duty 70 speak plainly and boldly some
times-but it is n duty TO chose the OPP
nortunity when the speech may be acccpta
t'c, and not fret and chalc the wounded
heart hy 4 repetition Of the very truths
which, silently recognized, are CALLING it al.
ready.
Boy'lell knew quite well that he might
have f"rseen and partially have provided for
the melancholy event which had taken
place. His conscience rcrr"ached him
bitterly for carclcssncss and ras1,ncss, and
his wiie's words were not needed to add TO
the clfrcproach, Which left to itself, might
have worked some good by producing a
quiet dctcrminatior-t to abide bv tho more
sober councils Of Ealph in future, for
Ralph's voice had been lifted against the
very speculation which had caused the
Joint failure of the brothers.
Frettcl and CALLED, and wcaricl of life
and lfrs struggles, Boydcll knew not with
CIR to turn for comfort and consolation
His father had been gathered to tho dead
his brother? Boydcll was too proud to
bctray his lack of domestic peace to him,
his children, initiating the bad example Of
the mother, turned against him, and instead
of clustering round him, in tho hour Of
woe, openly blamed him Tor the course ho
had adopted.
At last his mind, torn 10y thousand
conflicting sorrows gave way; lunatic
asylum became his home, willie his wifo
and children, dragged on life Of misery,
supported by tho mere charity Of rela-
tions.
Far differently shared Ralph. In the
humble cottage on the outskirts Of the
| town where he now dwet-a smile always
welcomed him when he came home from
the city's toll and diu, tired with the bust
ness of the day, heart-sick with its disap-
pointments-rest and peace aud happiness
awaited him in that little home. His
chiljron-drawing their tone from that
good wife and mother-thought only how
they could soothe the tired wandcrer who
had returned to them, and make him for
get in the placid joy Of the present, the
misery Of the past.
Ralph" says his wife, one day, al
would scarcely exchange our presont lot
for the ono we held whom first I became
your wife. There is an earnestnes. in this
quiet life Of strict utility Which is lost in
tho giIded days Of wealthy splendor.-
I am as happy here, Ralph, as if yoa
had placed Inc in palacs-happier in
deed.
lie stopped her as lie looked lovingly
into her gentlc face.
"Not happier, Lucy" lie added, "not
happier, dear wife. Your nature would
carry bliss as perfect rs this world can be-
stow into any phase of life-not happier"
Lucy, but as happy either here, or there, or
anywhere on eartl,-as happy as such n
kindly heart as yours can and should, and
will be anywhere
But sorrow, keen sorrow, now foil on
Ralph. Lucy died and as lie saw the
mould fall on the loweret: coffin, until it
was hidden from his view, lie whispered.
as if TO her who lay there" know what
"loss" is now, dear wile-I never folt its
meaning before"
Boydel also lived to an old age. A
partial recovery enabled him to return to his
home-but he was no welcome guest there.
| Unkindness and want of care had the ro-
snlt which might have been expectcd-he
! returned to the asylum, hopclessiy MAD,
and died there some wears afterwards, to
the very evident relief Of his wife and chill
dren.
Now, in human probability, these two
women worked tho sequel to the fate Of
their husbands. The one ly her gcntleness
soothed the wounded spirit, and in seeking
to bless him, sowed full harvest Of bes.
sings for herself.
And the other! as truly did she "cast
her seed upon the waters" and truly did
she find it after many days" 1t was like
the poisoned Upas berry, taking root and
springing till the deadly tree cast its de-
structive influence on those poor wretchcs
who sat beneath its branches.