The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-02-21

might thus forestall the other relations
in his good graces. 1t would have been
IA strange way for any other person 10
have made bis frstlsisit; but then, they
knew the uncle Was very ecesntric. and
bis being 20 very @ea'' made i
All right 10 their ~ Is. HI fnight come
and sland-on his hesd, provided be paid
for his antics. e 4. = - -
In the midst oftheir hurried prepa.
rations. there appeared at the door an
old, feeble locking, white haired man,
thiDly clad, and with his soaking gar.
ments clinging to his shriveIed form. q
"-Wilf- you be kind; enough, good
folks" he said, " to give me Something
to eat and a place to sleep to>nighti"
We've got'nothing to snare and if
we had, we don't harbo:- beggars !" re-.
piled tbemaster Of The i.ouse, in coarse,
brutal tone. e.. y : - >>... :
",But I'm old, and feeble, and hun
cry, and wet, and tired" said the
aged applicant, in pleading tone,
and il you drive Inc away, L may
PERISH" ..,'
-" Well, that's just what you ought to
have done long ago" put in the cross
dame. When people get too lazy TO
| work for an honest living, and start out
begging. it's my opinion they're better
dead nor alive. Besides. we expect com.
pany soou-s rich gentleman from IN
dia-and haiu't got, no room for the
likes Of you"
Well, then" returned the old man.
with serrowfnl look. "since you
can't keep me over night, please give
me something to eat, and III go fur'
ther," {.
The dame caughs up a piece Of
brown bread, with an angry look, and
was about 10 hand it to the mendi>
cant, more for the purpose, as it seem.
ed, Of getting rid of him than from
any feelng Of compassion-but her
miserly husband: interposed and said,
/ sharply:
II told you we hadn't nothing for
| you, and so travel on !" ':-. -.
l. /" I'll set the dog on yoa If you don't,
| you old beggar y cried lad of ten.-
My rich unole's coming here tonight.
and'he cant bear beggars so you had
better be off: while your bones are
whole ~ 80.
B." May heaven be. more .Inerciful than
you," sighed the old man, rs he turned
and disappeared in the darkness.
Some half an hour later he knocked
at the door of Stephen ,Barre;, another
of the nephews, and asked for food and
| lodging. re-, -. .~.
ut isn't convenient for us to keep
you TO night" said the master of the
house, in a mild, dignified tone. "Be.
sides, We don't like to encourage beg
gars. If you are poor, and not able TO
work, the parish where you belong is
bound to support you. No one. need
starve in this country, which the Lord,
praised be His name, has so bountiful>
ly blessed. Itrust am not wanting
in chairity-as humble follower of the
Lord Jesus Christ, hope I am not
but what with taxes for the support oj
the Government; and the poor, dona-
Etions to benevolent societies and heath.
en- missions, it is as much as l can do
TO live, and give my family a respecta.
BILE maintanance. Now, My friend, il
you are poor, and not able TO work
J, (,hough / don't see why you may not
work as well as travel,) you bad bet
ter throw yourself on the parish where
you belong" ., -.
"But am. tired, wet, and hungry
!. said the old man, " and all the parishe:
in the world can't do me any good to,
night" . - ..,..:..
I" But you should have thought oI
that before you left home," now climed
: in the good housewife, with sanctified
air. at is sinful to tempt Providence
as it is called and whoever sins mus
expect punishment. l never go away
without providing for the journey, and
of course, / don't expect anybody tc
feed and shelter me for nothing. 1t ii
a ain, too, to be idle when one is able
to work, and It is against my principle
as a true Christian, to encourage any
. one in SHINING" .s..t -.
."Then, ] suppose. I'm to understant
that You refuse me both food and lodg
ing" said The old man. :,
4 Asto food, ,"Ssaid the pious dame
> glancing at her husband, q. if you arr
very; hungry, / suppose we can do some
: |, thing for you in that way. but lodging
is out ofthe question-for two mount
} ed couriers have been-b here to say tina
a very rich uncle Of ours from India
. will be here, soon; and be wrote som,
-, time ego, thai he didn't like 10 hav'
!, beggars aboat where he was, and W,
wouldn't like 10 do anything to ofFent