Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-06-21
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
sOh, motherp said Mary Henderson, as
she sat beside her mother, looking thought.
fully upon the floor, 'wbat can possibly have
become of father and little Sammy, this ter
rible night2 Hear the storm increases I
''Tis, indeed, fearful night, my child,
replied the old lady, raising her sightless
eyes toward heaven 'but the Lord will
provide, and we do wrong to entertain in
ordinate anxiety, on your dear fathers &C.
count
But what can detain him so long at sea,
motherp
Very probably, fearing to venture, be put
in at Bellville, some eleven miles from this
place. If such is the case, it will take
several hours to walk that distance, as the
weather is so inclement. II is even proba,
BILE that be will abide with some of his
friends at Bellville, rather than undertake
so long journey with little Sammy; so
that, even if he does not make his appear.
ance during the night, I shall not feel par
ticularly uneasy about him.
Have you known him to stop at Bell.
vile, before p asked Mary, uueasily.
Frequently, my DEAR replied the old
lady. But, come don't worry yourself
about our absent ones, as though the good
Providence of our Heavenly Father were
limited to certain geographical lines or To-
calities. lie is upon the dark and troubled
waters, my dear, as we'll as at the 6resides
of the waiting, watching and longing ones.
At any rate-viewed simply in a philosoph-
ical light-itis good and blessed thing to
trust in power greater than our own, with
the absolute certainty, that that power is
based upon, and actuated by principle of
universal love and good will. Tell me some.
thing about your plans for the future. Do
you think it likely, that there is q probabil.
ity of success, in securing either of the sit
uations which have been applied forT
Il do not know, mother, said Mary, 'and
yet, thought it my duty to make an effort
in this direction, as I find myself unable to
wash and sew any longer, particularly at
such low prices. Before the war, when
father was so much better of, you know how
generously be had me educated, and how
much pride be manifested in my advance.
mept Now, as the times are so hard, and
our means 80 limited, do not see why l
should not put my hard.earned education
to some use. My poor hands are scratched
and blistered with last months washing and
sewing, and my health, generally, is impair.
ed and yet, after all our combined efforts,
we lack four dollars to make up our rent,
which is due to morrow Now, could I sue
ceed in getting small school, l am sure
that could do much better, With one half
the labor and toll
Did you say that We lack four dollars
towards making up the rent ? asked the old
lady, uneasily.
Don't let that trouble you, mother
Father may be aole to make up the def
cheney, by the sale of his fish, you know i;
and, if be does not, why there is my balmo.
raj. That would bring more than four dol.
lars, and can very we'll dispense with it.
What could father have been thinking of
to buy me such piece of useless fnery!
Il do not know, Mary, much about the
quality of the balmoral, but am satisfied
about it being at least comfortable, and,
therefore, useful. Do not think of parting
with it, my love. do not see that the
! circumstances of the case justify or demand
such a sacrifice
Sacrifice, motherH said Mary. believe
me, that I find it much more of sacrifice
to wear it. I am conscious of no desire,
whatever, to conform to the fashions of the
day. only wish to avoid singularity and
attractive scCentricity of dress. If know
anything at all about my heart, the orna.
ment of a meek and quiet spirit, is what l
most oovet. With this, I could be happy
in homespun; without this, [ would be
restless, unsettled and unhappy, in fine linen
and purple. To 60 about doing good to
be the humble minister of comfort and good
cheer to all within the compass of my little
sphere; to gladden., encourage and energize
the desponding, foot.weary, sad and des.
pairing, is, believe, the aim and object Of
my life.'
And was this but mere siokly, short-lived
and impulsive sentimentalism? Verify no
Nobody could look upon the beautiful face
of poor Mary Henderson, so earnestly elo.
queut nobody could catch the soft light Of
her deep blue eyes, 80 marvelously pure |;
nobody could listen to the utterances of her