Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-11-09
NOW AND TO-DAY,l

tained There are pearls and diamonds
scattered all along the paths we are tread
ing, but We cannot stop to gather them
for looking at the mountains of gold that
CLEAN against the far horizon. All of our
unhappiness springs from neglected or
misspent hours and to-days. The present
moment is Gods loving gift to man. In
it we weave tho web of our future, and
make its threads bright with sunshine, or
dark with evil and suffering.
Come and kiss me, papa cried a voice
full of music and love.
But papa was in the passage below, with
coat, hat, and gloves on, all ready to go
forth t. the days business, and little pet
Louis was up in his mothers chamber, on
ly half dressed.
Haven't time now III kiss you when /
come home, papa answers back, and
then starts from the house in hurried mall
ner.
A pearl lay at his feet, and Mr.. Edwards
bad failed to lift the precious thing lie
would have been so much the richer for
life.
sDear Lu = lie said to himself as he NOV
ed along the street, that kiss would have
done us both good, and consumed but half
a minute of time; and hardly think l
shall find another minute so richly freight
ed with blessing to-day
At the corner OF the next square, Mr..
Edwards waited four minutes for an omni-
bus. 1t was lost time. -Four minutes spent
with dear pet Louis, how full of pleasure
they would have been-how fragrant their
memory through all the day
When Mr.. Edwards arrived at his Office,
neither his morning newspaper nor his
took keeper were there. So, lie could
neither get at his books, which were in the
fire safe, nor CLEAN from his Express the
commercial news or state Of the markets.
No customers were in At so early an hour
Aud so Mr.. Edwards passed the next twen-
:ay minutes in comparative idleness, his
mind burdened just enough to make him
feel uncomfortable, with the thought Of lit.
ale Louis quvcring over the coveted parting
kiss.
At the end Of twenty minutes, the book
keeper arrived. The honey of Louis's
parting kiss would have swectened the te,n.
per Of Mr.. Edwards for the day. Without
it, under slight annoyances. his spirit grew
sour. Hespoke to the book-keeper with
slight ia,patieuce, and in words of reproof
for being late. A sick child WAS the ex-
cuse; and ss hs looked into the clerks
face he saw that it was pale with trouble
and watching.
Mr.. Edwards sighed. The pressure on
his feeling was heavier. Every thinge, du-
ring that day seemed to possess a strange
power ofapnoyance and to the failure TO
:. lift q pearl from his ieet in. the morning,
was added many failures Of like charac-
5ter. "a - r.-. -,
.'Will you please to Jbuy an almanac 2
said o childish VOICE near him.
No, I do not please was the gruf reply
of Mr.. Edwards. .'.- :.
He spoke, as lie looked mp, on the mo-
ment's impulse. The timid, half.lrightened
face Of tender child, scarcely year older
than his darling at home, glanced upon bin
for an instant, land then he cav only the re-
treating form Of a little girl. Before his
better feelings prompted q recall Of bis re-
pulsiye words, she was in tAs street and
out Of sight -, -,
/: :Tais was a little thing ip itself, but it
told sharply on the feelings Of Mr.. Ed
wards, who was naturally kind.hear,ed
niapse He eat veEy still for . little while;
then sigIing, again, vent on With ths letter
hewss writing, when the little almanac
seilsf disturbed him at his work.
Another 'pow' had passed, leaving a;shad-
ew instead Of the sunshine,it might have
bestowed. -. :
{. Can you telp: mo ont to-day,l: Il baya
!. = large note falling due -
Cannot, replied Mr.sEdsnrds: :,
4sstTbe. .heighbor looked disappointed, and;
went avay = = ~ -; 30. ,;.,-<<, ,'s &
Now that neighbor had mary .ines OBJ
ligeaMs Edwards, ia Is sinilall $sY. Our
ematshaaust bad sseb balanss oyst ashis baapk.
j. that may be said Of hi4, But be had
money payable an demand, and could, with.
ou. idconYsnience, hare helped his neighbor
Hssisnembered this after II was top 1ats.
" fstE = ,,S 11.osT SS5 Essx ,,v>oa