Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-07-06
From tho Christian Observer. !
THE SKEPTIC..
"a STORY OF THE WAR.

and comfortable parlor, apparently absorbed
in thought, as he puffed cloud after cloud from
the pipe he was smoking. The old gentle
man was both discontentcd and unhappy, for
lis only son, had that morning left home, to
rejoin the forces then nobly battling in their
country's cause.
"Nahnie," said he at length to his daugh.
ter who sat upon q low stool near him, busily
knitting on coarse woolen sock, "Nannie, l
do not SEQ what is to become of us, or how wo
arc to live through another winter"
4 .God will provide for us, dear father; if
you will onlystrust in. Him, all will be we'll"
"Oh, yes" said the old man pcttishly,
that is always the cry with you and Henry
But don't sec what good your great faith
and trust has done."
i"We might be much worse off than VIC are"
said Mamie.
"I should like to know how you make that
out Here we arc with no one to supcrin-
.tond, or to SEQ to aBSthng; not more than
enough provisions, in the house to last half
tho year, and that liable to be taken from us
amy time, and We left with nothing, as has
been frequently the case before.'
I" It is true, my dear father, we have been
subject to raids and sometimes suffered great
ly by them, but our sufferings amount to moth
ing compared to others; who have been driv-
en- from their homes, their property destroyed,
|aaad in many instances, not even house left
.sttos&hich they Can return. know it is very
hard for you to part with Harry, but no is
only doing his duty, and ifkilled, will fall in
glorious cause
I" All that sounds very finc, but if George
sommers had to go, I guess you would alter
your tone little"
"Not at ALL" said Mamie, falteringly );
=" George leaves home tomorrow morning."
What |" said Mr.. Marston, {" not to join
the army, his health is too delicate"
"Yes, my dear father, Georges health is
indeed delicate, but it is supposed that We are
on tho eve of great battle, troops arc need
ed, and George thinks that every man that
can shoulder musket should re; pond to the
call"
"Now, am indeed undone," said Mr.
Marston, " for George has been q son to me
ever since Harry joined tho army"
Mamie smiled family, for only few mo-
n,ents before he had said, "therc was no one
to do anything when Harry was away; - and
though at tho time she said nothing, she knew
George had done everything he could to sup
ply Harry's place; frequently ncslccting his
own business to attend to that Of Mr. Marston.
=" fear you ovcrrato your strength, my
daughter" said Mr.. Mars.on, "w h at if
George Sommers should fall in battle ?"
"My earthly hopes would indeed be blight
ed" she replied, turning pale at the thought,
but would still pray for strength to say,
'Thy will be done.'"
be the greatest trial of her life, greatly per-
picked her father He vas q skcptic: upon m
all religious subjects, and believed not in that
Strength that cometh from above He re-
garded religion as being useful in keeping the
ignorant aud supersttious in check, and be
lleved that all things were called into exist
|Sence aud kept in place by laws of q Superio,
Being, but denied that Providence guided the
affairs of men.
Harry and Mamie had been carefully and
piousIy reared by gentle, tender mother,
who after being an invalid for years, calmly
yielded up her life to Him wEo gave it. The
event had beon SO long looked for that it
seemed not to make much impression upon
her husband; who now conferred all his affec
tions upon his children, especially his son, OF
whom he was very proud, and as he grew old
ser rsconfidsd all his business to his care, and
thought there wore few things in which Har
ry could do wrong. T.
George Sommers and Mamie had bcoh chill
dren together, and the boy being Naturally
8deiicate, had sought the companionship of the
gentle gstl, in preference to mingftng in tho
ruder sports Of the boys. The attachmen,
thus. began had strengthened as they grew
older; and Mamie ioould llssaaaahel
che time when George ggla SEls,
eide And theso two
hestt, wished also TO u
yiipapy, but older, ifs ID
|sbgss for them 70