Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-17

were very sick, and she wanted iDollie TO
nurse them, She did not mention .aay par.
ticular item of remuneration, but. said that,
she should make it all right and satisfactory.
Mrs. Gray was very willing, and Dollie was
even anxious TO 60. for she thought what a
fine time She would have when at1eiSure, in
thumbing the 'piano-forte. Andssheswent.
Fora few'days Dolie enjoyed herself very
we'll at the home of Kate, German ; for her
attention. when not confined to her duties as
nurse, was taken up by the many tine things
By which she was. surrounded. But; this
could not last a great while. Mere, outside.
show could charm her while it was novel, but
as she tecam'e used to it, and its novelty wore
off, she began to look deeper down INTO the
substance" When she was tired and weary
with the.care of the sick children, and sought
a. peaceful comfort with the family, she could
not find it. J., She did not find it. because it
vas not there. When MIR. ..Gorman came
home from his. store he did not meet his chill
dren with. a smile, and kiss them, and tell
them how much he loved them nor did hls
Children gather ab;ut him for any mark OF
his affection but ali was cold and distant;
and, if there was any warmth, it "&s ottener'
of fretfulness than of anything else. And
then Mrs. German was not the bright, pleas
an! woman in her family which she appeared
in company. She -as not person, o. bad
nper, but she had been Z panper:d child
from her youth up, and she could not appre-
ciate the splendid fortune which was hers,
She only coIntedtEe inisfortuncs, and realized
the pains. So tile sickness Of her children
completely ovcrshadowed every earthly bles-
sing, e.nd'she cherished nothing but her mise.
,ry. Did pisiter call, she was all life. and
agreeabieness for the time being ). but when
she returned to herfamily the light was gone:..
The sick children were, very trou ublesome; and
SO were some who were not sick The moth.
er had no pstience-sbe could bear no tron-.
bic kindly-and even Kate and Esther began
to appear to disadvantage:
Fora day or two .Dollie lad taken some
little,confort with the piano, especially when
she could hear the teacher play; but It's uiu-
sic soon grew dull when the harp strings OF
the soul were discordantly strung. One alter.
noon she stood all alone in tao great 2arlor---.
some company had Just gone ana she heard
Mrs. German fretting and scolding in an ad
joining apartment. she gazed around upon
the sunptuous trap?ings as she stood there,
and while she gazed; voice whispered
g What Is. ii all acoJtAig' Aud then she asked
hersef-can.it it givej9y2. Can ii give peace Z
Can it give comfort?. Can it ,yieId content
ment? She. thought Of he, own quiet hom=
She thought Of tie love and blessing which
was there-and she wished herself beck p
tue old circle. She found thai Aate did not
>ibirize her p;ano.iort MT that sFa rather con:
sidered it a task 10 study aud rnlc;ice her
music lessons. In short, the Instrument was
rot source of real oom lorLtoA,er. hlnisht.
have bsen-but it was not -
On Saturday rvefIiag Doll;o vent to her
own lowly home, from which ST. had. been
absent week. A; the door She m her tather
and lie put his great stout arm ah9at her, ara
kissed her. Then she met her molher--and
another warm kiss; End then bcr brothers
and sisters gathered about her, and when
stRey, too. haa kissed iler;s they brought forth
their offerings Of love--ofleriiigs OF flowers
and Of fruit-which they had gathered trr
dear good Doll!c hen she should come home.
Add when they were all gathered about tie
family beard, aad the blessing had been
asked, Mr., Gray said, as he.eszz:d iondly upon
his first-born,-
/ All, Dollc, re have missed you very. much
since you have been gone. we didn't kDo~'
how dearly we loved you til! 'se..found your
oha;nemply."
Ard as he spoke "a tear glistened in hiscye
-giistened there for aa instant. and then
dropped. upon the Lack. Of his brown. toll
worn hand-a tear Of ioye and blessing
richer BIZ far in lis soul wealth than all The
gems of all the earth
And that night, before Do!lie retired. she
went and put ker arms aacut her nothers
neck, and-wheu she had kissed her, she said,-
q D, my own dear rnother, l. will, Reser,'
never. be enviou5 again. Give, inc but The
sweet love and blessing Of my. home, srd |
vii. ask no more. knoM now that the rea
vale of our possessions must lie in the Sp!ri, I,
which goes with th..n: The ha!p--strings ol
the piano must some time break and grow
discordant; but the notes Of love and aifcc.'
ton which fall from the lips of my father aud
mother, and my brothers and sisters shall
grow discordant never-nereri They shall
awaken sweet music in my soul while sense
and memory laslT" ~
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