The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-08
CHARITY.


ity, these three; but the greatest of thes,
is Charity" 80
1t is a hopeful sign in a young mai
when his meditations on heavenly VIRTUES
are so deep and earnest as to cause him
almost unconsciously, to repeat aloud t.
himself passages of Holy Writ as did DIR
Norton, riding slowly home in his sulky
one clear June afternoon, the above quotet
verse. But when we confide to you tina
he had Just come from well-to-do Farme
Abbott's, whose three blooming daughter
were severally named Faith, Hope, ant
Charity, it may reasonably be doubted
whether the handsome young doctor
meditations were as much on heavenly
virtues as on earthly. .-... ~.
1t was rather pretty tableau that h
interrupted when he stepped into thu
Abbott's coZy sitting-rOom that afternoon
and somehow its memory haunted hin
still. The wheels of his light sulky made
no noise as they rolled over the grassy
lawn in front of the house, and with al
the freedom of an intimate Acquaintance
he sprang lightly to the steps, then IN
through the open door without knocking G
4 and was in their midst before they knew
him to be anywhere near. Now Charity
the youngest of the sisterly trio, had thai
very day purchased pair of new gaitel
boots, and at the very moment when he
darkened the doorway, was exhibiting
them for the opinion of her mother and
sisters. So she stood in the middle of the
room, her dress raised just far enough to
show the trim boots, a little strip of snowy
stocking, and, above all, the faintest suspi-
cion of dimity ruffiing Down went the
dress, however, when she suddenly saw
her trio of spectators changed to quar-
tette, and up, up to the very verge OF her
brown hair, mounted the rosy bushes
but the burst of laughter from her mother
and sisters at her discontinue, restored
her composure. 5fL-
"I'd like to know your opinion OF my
new boots, Dr. Norton?" said the little
puss, saucily, walking up to him, deter
mined to face it bravely out, and thrustlng
forward one dainty foot. It
"Hum, WELL" said the doctor, with as
much gravity as though he were pronounc-
ing on a case of malignant typhns, "let
us see Cloth, but that's no objection II
you always remember your rubbers in the
damp Heel rather too high; if l were a
cobbler I'd take half inch off that; but
perhaps you'll stand it if you've been used
to that sort of thing. Don't pinch any
where do they? Consumption soled? No,
as live, good, honest, half inch solesi l
think they'll do, Miss Charity" ,..-f
"What is your consultation fee?" said
Charity, gravely, pulling out neat port
monnaie. --.-,.
"Five dollars in so important case as
this" replied the doctor, subsiding into a
cosy rocking chair, but don't pay me the
money; I'll take this chair for few mo-
ments, and glass of water, and call it
even;" so Charity went for the water.
When she came in with it he was just
making known his errand.
"Fve been to see old Mrs. Wells. She
is very low, won't last much longer; but
the family are all worn out, and l agreed
to send watch for tonight 30 l called
to see if one of you ladies wouldn't go"
" 1 can't Pm sure" said Mrs. Abbott,
promptly 81 haven't been able to watch
for years; but one of the girls could 60"
al shouldn't like togo into such place,
said Faith, they are so poor, and every.
thing seems so disagreeable there;" and
her handsome face expressed such lofty
disdain that for moment DR.. Norton felt
quite ashamed that he had ever made such
a suggestion to one so gracefully fastidious.
L SllOulu bO ktdliJ diloAA w SO, eAAb
Hope raised her soft blue eyes timidly to
him. "What if the poor creature should
die in the night?" Hope Abbott looked
Just what she was, gentle, confiding girl,
and we must pardon our young hero if the
thought did pass through his head, what
pleasure it would be to cherish and protect
one so lovely all his life.
"I'n CO." said Charity, quietly, "I'm not
afraid, and if the place is disagreeable |
can endure it for one night. Even if the
poor creature should die, can call the
family"
"Yes, certainly" said the outer DIR.
Norton, while the inner man was com
sisters! Behold true Charity!' "Pm very
Glad to have found a suitable watcher for
the night, and also much obliged to you.
Miss Charity" said he, as he took his leave
a few moments after "The family will
tell you all about the medicines and drinks,
and / shall be over myself in the morning
unless l hear of her death previously.
Keep up good courage, and take good care
of Yourself Good-day." And with a
wave of his hand to the whole family he
whirled away in cloud of dust, the noble,
young doctor, whom half
the girls were breaking their hearts for,
but who, as they Indignantly averred,
seemed to have not the least bit of a heart
to give anybody except his patients, to
whom he made himself very dear, no mat
ter who they were, or how old and repul-
sive His breakneck pace, however, sub
sided into a slow walk as he rode up the |
hill beyond, and it was then that his re-
Election gave rise to the scriptured quota .
ton which heads this story.
That evening, Just at sunset, Charity |
Abbott went leisurely down the meadow |
path across lots from her pretty home to |
the humble cottage of the Wells family. |
The grass waved and surged around in |
the evening breeze, a sea of billowy green, |
gemmed with tall, nodding buttercups. |
The delicious breath from the crimson |
clover on the hillside came waited to her |
like purest incense, and little further on, |
q faint delicate odor from the lowlands,
told of strawberries ripening to luscious
sweetness down among the rank grass and |
weeds. The bobelinks nodded their saucy- |
black caps at her as they followed along in
friendly proximity; trilling forth, mean
while, their unintelligible jargon, rich
and clear in its silvery sweetness; and
thus attended she traversed slowly the
long meadow path, drinking in at every
step the beauties of earth and sky and
cloud. Down the little hill which hid
her home from view, then through huge
gate which opened little way with its
creaking sweep, letting through her agile
form, then around the corner of field of
rye, already standing stout and tall, and
she entered a little pine grove. The
breeze was whispering and signing in the
waving branches, making sweet, pensiVe
music which chimed pleasantly with her
thoughts, so attuned to natures harmony,
ind she fingered in the charming grove
little, pleased with everything, even the
,oft, brown carpet which the fallen leaves
made under her feet. Regarding it then,
md not till then, she noticed that she had
IN her new CATERS. Proyokingl The
morning dew would nearly spoil their
)eauty, but it was not worth while to go
lear back again; 50, resolving to make
he best of it, she passed on out OF the
bars and down little piece of dusty road
10 the brown little house which was her
destination.
The soft, clear summer night passed
slowly away, the patient watcher moving
,uietiy about, doing all that sympathy
,ould prompt for the poor old woman now
70 nearly beyond the reach of her gentle
With a touch as though
he invalid was dear friend, she chafed
he aged limbs, smoothed back the snowy
hair from the wrinkled face, and bathed
he aching head. Unwearied were her at
entions, and much were they needed by
he worn sufferer, until toward morning
hey took effect, and she sank away into a
luiet, peaceful sleep. Still Charity sat by
- 4