The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-02-22
SATURDAY. MORN, ING, .FF- Z

cred Ytild from her youth up, and she could not
appflciate tile splendid fortaGhhc which was hers.
ishe9nly counted'the misfortnnos and realized
the Hains. So the sickness of her children
completely overshadowcd every earthly bless
ing, Ind she cherished nothing but her misery
Did aysitor call, she was all life and agree
ableaess for the time being; but when she re-
tnrned to her, family tho light was gone. Tho
sick children were very troublesome; and so
werssome who were not sick. The mother
had 30 paticnce4-shc could bear no trouble
kindly-and even Kate aud Esther began to
appear to disadvantage. d.so
lllor day or two Dollic had taken sono lit
tie comfort with the piano, especially when she
could Hear the teacher play; but its music soon
grew dull when the harp strings of the soul
were discordantly strung. One afternoon she
stool all alone i'll the great paror-somc COM
pany had just gonc-aud she heard Mrs. Cor
man fretting i'll an adjoining apartment. She
gazed around upon the sumptuous trappings as
shelstood there, and while she gazed, voice
Whispered What is II all rorth :?' And then
she;askcd herself- f-,-can it give joyy Cant give
peace? Can it give con!!art 2? Can it yield
coiltentmcnt? She thought Of her own, quiet
hoinc-shc thought of the love and blessing
which was thcrc-and she wished herself back
in the old circle. She found that Kate did
not prize her piano-fortc, but that she rathes
considered it a task to study and practice her
music lessons In short, the instrument was
not source of real comfort to her. 1t might
have bccn-but is was not
On Saturday evening Dollic went to her own
lowly home, from which she had been absent
about \ week. at the door she met her faith
cr, and he put his great stout arm about her,
and kissed her. Then she met her mother
and another warm kiss; and then her brothers
and sisters gathered about her. and when they,
too, had kissed her. they brought forth offer
ings of love offerings Of flowers aud of fruit
which they had gathered for dear, good Dollic
when she had come home. And when they
were all gathered about the family hoard, aud
the blessing had been asked, as he gazcd fonlly
upon his first -born,-
"Ah, l'ollie, wc have missed ,pu very much
since you have been gone. We didn't know
how dearly We loved you till we found your
chair empty"
Aud as he spoke tears slistcncl in his eye
glistcncd there for an instant, and then dropped
upon the back of his brown. toil-worn hand
Il tear Of love and blessing richer b. far in its
sonl wealth than all the gems Of all the earth
And that night, before Dolic retired, she
went and put her arms about her mothers neck,
and when she had kissed her, she said,-
20, my own dear mother, l will never, never
lie cnyious again. Give me but the sweet love
and blessing of my home, and I will ask no
more. know now that the real value Of pos
sessions must lie in the spirit which goes with
,ncm. Tie ..@ ip-sirings cftlo Plane lnuzt sopne
some break and grow dscordant but the notes
of love and affection which fall from the lips
Of my father and mother, and my brother and
sisters, shall grow discorlant never-ncver.
They shall awaken sweet music i'll my soul
while sense and memory last -