The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-09-06

ton itself, started up, under the blind i'm
pulse of the moment, and going TO the
room where John had been sent on coming
home from school, punished the boy Sc.
verely, andthis without listening to the ex.
plantations which the poor child tr ed to
make him hear.
"Father," said the boy, with forced
calmness, after, the cruel stripes had ceas.
ed, II wasn't to blame, and if you will 60
with me to the teacher, l can prove myself
innocent"
Mr.. Walcott had never known his son
to tell an untruth, and the words fell with
rebuke upon his heart.
every we'll, we will see about that,
he answered, with forced sternness, and
leaving the room he went down stairs, feel
ing much 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 eyelids.
Sadder was his face than before. AS he
sat thus, his eldest daughter, in her six
tenth year, came and stood by him. She
held paper in her hand.
"Father," be opened his eyes, "here's
my quarters bill. Can't have the mon
ey to take to school with me in the morn
ing ?"
81 am afraid not" answered Mr.. Wal
colt, half in despair
"Nearly all the girls will bring in their
money tomorrow, and it mortiGes me to
be behind the Others" The daughter
spoke fretfully Mr.. Walcott waved her
aside with his hand, and she went off NUT
tering and poutiug.
cit is notifying" said Mrs. Walcott,
a little sharply "and I don't wonder that
Helen feels annoyed about it. The bill
has to be paid, and don't see why it may
not be done as we'll 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. Walcott said:
"The Goals are all gone"
"Impossible - Mr.. Walcott raised his
head and looked incredulous. II laid in
sixteen TONS"
81 can't help it, if there were sixty tons
instead of sixteen-they are all gone
The girls had hard work to day to scrape
up enough to keep the fire in"
"There's been a shameful waste some
WHERE" said Mr.. Walcott, with strong
emphasis, starting up and moving about
the room with very disturbed manner.
$50 you always say when anything
runs out" answered Mrs. Walcott, rather
tartly. "The barrel of -four is gone also ;
but [ suppose 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 burdens of the day had seemed al
most too heavy for him but he had borne
up bravely. To gather strength for a
renewed struggle with adverse circum-
stances, he had come home. Alas that
the process of exhaustion should still 60
on--that where only strength could be
looked for on earth, no strength was
given.
When the tea bell was rung, Mr.. Wal
colt made no movement to obey the sum-
mons.
"Come to supper" said his wife cold
ly.
But he did not stir.
"Are you not coming to supper ?" she
called to him as she was leaving the
room.
81 don't wish for anything this even
ing. My head aches very much" he ans
wered.
Gin the dumps again." muttered Mrs.
Walcott to herself. ''It's as much as
ones life is worth to ask for money, or to
say anything is wanted" And she Kept
Oh her way to the dining room. When
she returned, her husband was still sit
ting where she had left him.
"Shall brig you cup of tea ?" she
asked.
"No, | don't wish for any thing."
"What's the matter, Mr.. Walcott?-
What do you look SO troubled about, as if
you hadn'ta friend in the world? What
have done to you? p
There was no answer, for there was not
a shade of real sympathy in the voice that
made the queries, but rather Of querulous
dissatisfaction. A few moments Mrs.
Walcott stood behind her husband, but as
he did not seem inclined to answer ques-
tons, she turned away from him, and re-