The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1868-04-11

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could not cum,lvs: bat the entire class cal
be asked as to III" truth "f what s.iy.''
The class was mucl, surprised to hear th
voice of Sarah Black attest 10 rh. trpth o
this. AS naturally and readily as eeery uthe
girl in the class.
This at once. decided the question. an,
1 the teacher spoke -
Miss Lott. aS your worthy ccnduct mus
elicit universal. admiration. we award to 4pi
; the pleasure of placing the medal upon .se..
friend"
/ n iiie triad in vain to rise Emma saw it
! steppesi qaickl, to where s.ha sat. aud PLACED
the medal around her neck while N..lli.
smiled mp into her face ;',r"uy y f4s. faIiin
tears. and the wordS' Dearest friend. why
did v"u do this as they tremb.ed put from
her qniveriag lips. were the first she had
uttered since her failure.
-s-rscnAPrcFsIi.f -
Six months after the last scene Of the for
mpr chaptrr. the quiet, home like mansion
of the Fosters was brilliantly lighted up
every tree and shrub flickrr-d with various
col"rpd ;ghts the halls and p"rches were
dazzling. while the spacious parlnrs were
mrllowrd and soft in their light, aud quiet
was the gr"np Of loving friends within them
awaiting the appearance "f the bridal party
Nellie, the behaved If all. was that night
to wed her lif.. to that of Edward Lht. the
most distins ,ished Young lawyer then at the
Mississippi bar. After his marriage he was
to'rpturn to the Crescent City. aud ,pen his
theatre If action in his native place: he n"
longer feared the talent accumulated in the
first city Of the South. Ia the course of
society Nellie Lott never forgot in its int"x-
icatiOn the true mission of woman. that is.
to help the poor. lift up the broken hearted,
and reach ont helping hand t" the pcnitrnt
sinner. And while her nome w'F the
nc cleus around which her henrt rv' clung.
she WAS tn be found T. part of each day in
the humble abo,l.s nf the poor aud sutf, ring
ones Of our city. Let Us enter with her mt"
y"n Siiantv-nay. altn"-t h"vel, She picks
her way To- the side If the rough he'd through
hitter and dirt. aud though she raises her
skirts from contact with it. no lock of. dis
gu>t painfully reminds the Sutf.r "f the DIFF
ference between them. Nellie watches the
invalid cl">ely for II few moments. then
bu>ir> herself with attending TO her suf r
ing>. aud lastly. wit tf the aid nf n brisk ser
want, perfect cl-anlnf>s Is so", Restored
What magic there Is in the ha',d. "f tru".
earnest, 'nil. Woman. \ few days <niiic"d
{, enlist Nrliir's heart ia this case ahnve ali
others, for the Invalid WAS AN rtucutrd
woman. aud had "A li,tIr son whoSa mind was
very bright. although the little frame wa>
s,intrd and ShrUnken from neglect aud want
Then thrr, was fixed hardness ami hit
trrnpsS against life which bet"krnrd years
nf disappointment and Suffering that went
straight to the heart of Nellie. Lntt and mad
her r.sa!gr T., spare u" effort (" >m"oth life
fr her, and 'fl"n her tried spirit, and by
Kindness aud appreciation fo win hr hack
tn the spnti,ne>s of trusting w"manh""d.
Because e. own life was cast amid pnrl-
ing streams and huw-ry banks. Nellie Lott
-; T,ss. MI fe.ss ss,,is'.:
makes human lite wr-tch-a. Her mInd often
turned back ~ the hour when she lay an
orphan babe in the garden Of the wealthy
stranger, and as she reads over the touching
appeal traced by the cold hand of her dying
mnth4r to save h r darling babe from the
severe routine of IA life in an asylam. aud
from the abundance of their wealth to fit
the helpless one for independence and uSe-
fnlnpss she felt there strnng link hr-
tween her and the Suffering ones of earth.
and ferv-ntly thanked God that he had given
he, meuus to relieve such. Then, too. there
were times when this suff,.riny woman bore
a resemblance to some face she had for
merly known. and thou h she could not
recall that face. she felt that the re>em-
blance was allied to some companion Of her
cirihood and this too Stimulated her interest
in the suffering woman. By the fifth day
the patient had so far recovered as to sit up.
aud as Nellie Lott turned from her do"r she
succeeded in tracing the resemblance t"
q aI nnt kGr N N
but "A new resolve entered her heart for the
afflicted one.
= Mrs Mathews" and Mrs. Lott seated
herself and tunk the .maciated hand gently
up, :. have consulted with my husband and
came I" pr"l">- that you live with us
Mr. Lott wish $ to educate your child and
| fit him for whatever profession he shows
most talent for. Will yon come -
For th. first time there was slight twitci
| ab ,ut the mouth, and for an instant the face
turned aside.
I =" Nellie Foster, you do not know to whom
YOU NIKE. this offer. The time was whsn ]
would have accepted this proposition with
nut telling you. and Striven afterward t.
conceal from you my identity. but since ynv
have So untiringly relieved nv suffrrin .
and sna,cl,rd me fr. m an eternity l am bn
little prepared tn meet, l can not. in til,
face of your um<wrrving truth. d" thi-.
am Sarah Black. and now suppose yo'
will withdraw your "tf.r."
| The face. was once moe lard and grave.
:. Sarah. l recognized you on yesterday
and although l Thought it might be best f'
the succps> If my purpose not t" reveal my
self m You. it was this very recognition
whisi, br..ught the wish ss' my hear. )"
"Or III vntlier words you would he tn,
g.n,d and holy Christian, aud thus hea.
living GOALS of fire upon the head Ut you
old enemy"
The hard. cold face was rendered NOR
rrprllant by the play of hear'lesS sc"rr
lovpr it. as she proudly looked Nellie full il
the eyes.
..Nn. Sarah: far be such thought fro,i
me-. IfIskmw my own heart. i,ut wish +
comfort yoa. and i" you good. and finaiI.
win your love. lssee you have suffrrr
much: and in k~king upon yod now Ca
hat rmembe r.that our girih"nd days wer
in tho same school. and under the same gs'"
aud earnest teachers. sAnd although. than
Gud, there was no shame attached to IN
birth. was s"nndiny il the gard, n If III
noble adopted parents. aud it was p"vrrt
aud suffering which brought nv i"v' /
mother To- the grave, and induced her t
appeal thus I" strangers to save her oni
child fr,.p, the life of an aSy lum and ther
must ever exist strong tie between tn
tsuffering oncs Of earth and myself. Say
now. will you accept my "ff,r!"
And Nellie Lott glidrd h.r arm gentl
: around the weak. trembling woman. al.
drew tn. weary head tend-riy upon hs
{. bosom. The invalid rested there few mf
ments. aud when the head was raised th
hard hook was gone. and tears were streaI
lug down the wan checks.
Il accept your "tfrr. Nellie, in the sam
spirit in which it is made. and ! sinll trv I