Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-23

his own was on friendly terms. With these
he associated frequently, and with two or
three. Others, intimately. For month or
two Helen noticed that one or another OF
these young friends called every now and
then for Edward, in the evening, and that he
went out with them and stayed until bedtime
But, unless his sisters were from home, be
never went of his own accord. The fact OF
his being out with these young men, had,
from the first, troubled Helen though, the
reason of her feeling troubled she could not
tell. Edward had good principles, and she
could not bring herself to entertain fears OF
any clearly defined evil. Still a sensation OF
uneasiness was always produced when he was
from home in the evening. F.
Her knowing that Edward would go out,
after they had ell left, was the reason why
Helen did not wish to attend the ball. The
first thought Of this had produced an IN
pleasant sensation in her mind, which in
creased the longer she debated the question
of going away or remaining OF home. Final.
", She decided that she would not go. This
decision took place after the interview with
her mother, which was only half an hour
from the time of starting.
Edw.rd knew nothing of the intention OF
his sister. He was in his own room, dressing
to 20 out, and supposed, when he heard the
carriage drive from the door, that delen had
gone with. the other members of the family.
On descending to the parlor, bewas surprised
to find her sitting by the ceutre-table, with q
book in her hand.
"Helen! Is this you2 I thought you had
gone to the ball Are you not we'll ?" he
said quickly and with surprise, coming up to
her side.
'"I am very well, brother" she replied,
looking into his face with a'smile of sistery
regard. "But have concluded to stay at
home this evening. I'm going to keep you
company"
"Are you, indeed? Right glad am OF it,!
though a,n sorry you have deprived your
self Of the pleasure of this ball, which, be-
lieve, is to be a livery brilliant one. was
just going out, because it is so { l at home
when you are all away" q
!" am not particularly desirous of going to
the ball. So little so, that the thought of your
being left here all alone had sufficient infu
ence over me to keep ne away"
"Iudced We'll, must say you are kind"
Edward returned, with feeling. The self.
sacrificing act of his sister had touched him
sensibly
Both Helen and her brother played we'll.
She upon the harp and piano, and be upon
the flute and violin. Both were fond of mu.
sic. and practised and played frequently to.
gether.. Part of the evening was spent in
this way, much to the satisfaction of each.
Then an hour passed in reading a d conver-
ga:iou, after which, music was again resorted
to. Thus lapsed the time pleasantly until
the hour for retiring cane, when they sepa-
rated, both with an internal feeling of pleas
ure more delightful than they had experienced
for long time. 1t was nearly three o'clock
before Mr.. and .drs. Lindley, and the daugh-
ter who had accompanied them to the ball,
came home. Hours before, the senses Of both
Edward and Helen had been locked in forget
DfulneSs. .s -
Time passed on. Edward Lindley grew
up aud became. a man of sound principles-a
blessing 10 his family and society. He saw
his sisters we'll married aud he himself final
ly, led to the altar lovely maiden. She
made him truly happy husband. On the
night of his wedding, as he sat beside Helen,
he paused for some time, in the midst Of a
pleasant conversation, thoughtfully. At last
he said,
"Do you remember. sister, the night you
stayed home from the bail to keep me CON-
pany?"
".That IVES many years Ogo. Yes, remem-
Der ii. veTy we'll, now you have recalled it to
my mind"
II have often since thought, Helen" he
ssid, with serious air, "that by the simple
act of thus remaining at home for my sake,
you were. the means of saving me from de-
struction."
"How SOP, asked the sister. Il. i
was just then beginning to form an in
innate association with young, men of my
own age, nearly all Of whom. have since
turned out badly. I did not care great dea!
about their company still, l liked society,
and used to be with them frequently-espe-
ciaHy when you and Mary went out in the
evening. On the night of the ball to which
you were going, these young men had a sup
per, and was to have been with them.
did not wish particularly. to join them, but
preferred doing so to remaining at home alone.
To find you, asI did, so unexpectedly, in the
parlor, was an agreeable surprise indeed. l
stayed at home with new pleasure, which
was heightened by. the thought, That it was
your love for me that had made you deny
yourself for my qualification. We read to.
gether on that evening, we played together.
we talke'l of many things, In your mind l
had never before seen so much to inspire my
own with high aud pure thoughts. Iremem.
bered the conversation of the young men with
whom had been associating, and in which
had taken pleasure, with something like dis
gust. 1t was low, sensual, and too much of
/ it vile and demoralizing. Never, from that
hour, did l join them. Their way, even in
the early stage Of .life's journey, Isaw 10 be
downward, and downward it has ever since
been tending. How often since have thought
of that point in time, 80 full.fraught with
good and evil influences Those few hours
spent with you seemed to take scales from
my eyes. saw with new vision. Thought
and felt differently. Had you gone to the
ball, and to meet those young men, no one
can tell what might not have been the conse-
quences. Sensua! indulgences, carried to ex-
cess, amid songs and sentiments calculated to
awaken evil instead of good feelings, might
have stamped upon my young and delicate
mind bias to low affections that never Would
have been eradicated. That was the great
starting, point in life-the period when + was
coming into state of nationality and free
dom. The good prevailed over the evil, and
by the agency Of my sister, as an angel sent
by the Author of al! benefits to save me"
Like Helen Lindley, let every elder sister
be thoughtful of her brothers at that critical
period in life, when the boy is about passing
up to the stage of manhood, aid she may
save them from many snaro set for their
unwary feet by the evil one. In closing thi;
little sketch, we can say nothing better thar
has already been said by an accomplished
Arnorinnn nnthnress Mrs Ferrar