Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-02-14

| 'S'S SsSt$o aIi Giib " ssS SO, ana IL
made her the more careful of her &c.
cret.
Gao day late in tho afternoon, 1,
was moro than tbrce months since
the new order of things began, Katy
and her friend Ellen met on their way
from school, and instead of returning
directly homo, took a walk together
through the uppor rart Of this. town,
intending TO visit little friend who
was sick. AS thoy were passin e
along, Ellen said, US he looked across
Tho street,
~ do believe that is Mrs Weaver.
Sho moved away from our n"ighhur.
hood somo time ago. But see Aaw
nicely sho is dressed"
Tho woman recognized tho l!ttlo
girls, aud came quickly across the
street.
"Why, Mrs. Weaver! didn't know
you at first" said Ellen.
"And no worder," answered tho
woman, looking serious for moment
and then letting a smilo break all
over her face. "Somctimcs l hardly
kHow myself"
edo you live about hero ?" asked
Katy.
"Ycs. We moved out of this mis-
orablo old shanty down in your neigh
b"ihood long ago, and now rent just
the incest litllo house. There" she
pointed along tho street, "you ses tho
white cottage with green blinds and q
roso bush and honey-suckIce climbing
up the side. That's whore We live
And that's my man sitting in tho
porch, roading C newspaper and
smoking his pipe. There's no kinder
or better man in town." added Mrs.
Weaver, dropping her voice, "if H.
quor can bo kept away from him.
Thank God ho isn't tempted at ev.
cry corner rs he used to be. Poor
man! Drink had taken such hold of
him that he couldn't resist when he
saw it. On, it was happy day for
US whom Tho dram shops closed /! and
not only for US but for moro than
Lwonty families Ivould mention right
amoug our own acquaintanccs. .-
"Mr. Weaver didn't work in the
quarries u week after liquor selling
WAS stopped. Ile'sa capable person
and knows how to manage men. Mr.
Lyon, who owns the quarries, wasn't
long in taking the hammer and drill
out OF his hands when lie found that
he could depend on hlS keeping sober.
And now he has charge of uil the
quarries and gels fifty dollars a
month"
"Oh, I'm 30 glad to hear ~ said
Katy.
$50 glad | repeated Ellen.
"And it's all come Of shutting mp the
bars and dram shops" said Mrs. Weaver.
They say she added, "lhat two little girls
wro;e letter for the newspaper and get
the whole thing going. We were not
subscribers to the 'B,nner' then, and so !
didn't see the letter they talk about. God
bless their. souls, say l !! If knew their
names Ia pray for blessings on their heads
night and day."
"You don't want to borrow out coal
sieye," said Ellen, archly. She was afraid
her bushes would betray her, and SO turn.
ed the thought of Mrs. Weaver into a
new channel.
"Bless your dear heart, no! And the
woman laughed out. "We've got tc,.: Of
coal laid up. Enough to take Us clear
through the next winter" TLen, with
changing manner, she added,
"You. and your mother were very
kind to us, Ellen, and l can mover for
get it as long as, live. The days
were very dark then; SO dark that
lost hope in the morning." Aud she
wiped the tears from ber eyes.
."Juss take IL look at my man cs' you
60 past tho cottage" sho said q mo.
.ment attor, ra!lying herself as she
turned to leave Ellen and Katy, "and
.sse howseoAtsutsa ha aoksi smokfng |
bic. pipe and reading ifes new spapeFs
A'm 10 happjys sssboal u q 20 ss stnosE}
beside myself somsan Tss: 80. '.' !
Mr.. Woaver'looked over tho top Of |
his newspaper at the girls as they
passed, . d said,
: "Good afternoon, young ladies'"
."Good afternoon, sir" they. roturn-
ed: :.
"Why irs Miss Ellen and Katy ~
He had recognized them. ,"Oh! you.
must havc>a bnnch of flowers, And.
tayings down his, newspaper, Mr.
'Woaypr. out two small bouquets Of
halfoponed bnds from. o climbing rose
bush, Presenting them, he said, with
a sHghttremor in-his VOICE, - !
,.aI'dr the two little girls. who wrote
:thaC letter in tho Banner" II
: Dropping their eyes, and turning |
theislaees aside, Katy and Ellen took;
the flowers. aud wont ;hastiIy onward
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