Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-05-28
a Sketch.
by MRS, HARRIET BEEcnzR STOWE.

excluding the light, and shedding its soft
hues over the fine old paintings on the walls,
and over the broad mirrors that reflect all that
taste can accomplish by the hand Of wealth.
Books, the rarest and most costly, were
around, in every, form of gorgeous binding
aud gliding, and among them, glittcring in
ornament, lay a magnificent Bible-a Bible,
too beautiful in its appointments too snowy,
ornamental, over to have been meant to be
read-a Bible which every visitor should take
up and exolaim, "NYhat q beautiful edition
what superb bindings? p and then lay it down
again.
And tho master Of the house was l%ounging
on a sofa, looking over a late review--for he
was q man of leisure, taste and reading-but
then, as to reading the Bible !-thut forms,
we suppose, no part of the prctcnsions of a
man of letters. Tho Biblc-ccrtainly be con-
sidered it n worry respectable book-a fine
specimen of ancient litcrature-an admirable
book Of moral precepts-but then, as to its
divine origin he had not exactly made up his
mind. Some parts appeared strange and in
consistent to his reason-others were very
revolving to his taste-true, he had never
studied it very attcntively, yet such was his
general impression about it-but on the
whole, he thought it we'll enough to keep an
| elegant copy of it on his own drawing-room
I table.
4 So much for one picture-now for anoth.
or:
Come with US into this little dark alley,
and up a fight of ruinous s%tuirs. 1t is night.
1t is q bitter night, and the wind and snow
might drive through tho c~rcviccs Of tho
room, were 1t not that careful hands have
stopped them with paper or cloth. But for
hi this little carefulness, the room ~ bitter
cold; cold even with those few deoaying
brands on the hearth, which that sorrowful wo-
man is trying to kindle with her breath. Do
you see that pale little thin girl, with large
bright eyes, who is crouching SO near her
motLer--hark how she coughs-now lis
ten j:
."Mary, my dear child" do keep that shawl
close about you; you are cold L know" and
the shivers as she speaks.
"No, mother, not very" replied the child,
again relapsing into that hollow ominous
cough--"I wish you wouldn't mako me always
wear your shawl when it is cold, mother"
"Dear child, you pced it most-how you
cough tonight" replies the mothor-."it re-
ally don't seem right for to send you up that
long, cold street, now your shoes have grown
SO poor, too; must go myself after this"
20 mother you must stay with the baby
what if he should have one of those dread
full fits while you are gone? no, I can go very
well, I have got used to the cold now"
'"But, mother, I'm oold," says a little voice
from the soanty bed in the corner, "mayn'tI
get up and come tc tho Gro 2"
"Dear child, it would not warm you, it is
very cold here, aud I can't make any more
fire tonight"
"Why can't you, mother, there are four
whole sticks Of wood in the box, do put one
In the FIRE and let's get warm once"
"No, my dear little Horny" says tho moth
or, soothingly, "that is all tho wood mother
has, and I havn't any money to got more"
And now wakens the sick baby in tho little
cradle, and mother and daughter are fox somc
tine busy In attempting to supply its little
wants, and lulling it again to sleep.
And now look you well at that mother
Six mouths ago, she had a husband, whose
earnings procured for her both the necessaries
and comforts of life-her childron woro cloth.
adj fed and sohoolcd, without thought Of hors.
Rpt, husbandless, friendless and alone, in the
heart Of a great busy city, with feeble health,
and only the preoarious resources Of her nee
dle, she has gone rapidly down from comfort
to extreme poverty. Look at her now, as
she is tonight. Sho knows full we'll that tho
pale bright eyed girl whose hollow cough CON.
stant|y rings in her ears, is far from we'll.
She knows that cold, and. hunger and expo
sure OF every bind are surely wearing away
her life-and YET what can she doi Poor
soul, how macy times has. she calculated al
her little resources, see II she could pay q doc.
Tor and got medicine for Mary, yet all in vain.
She KNOWS that timely medicine, ease, the
fresh dir, and warmth, might save her--bu,
she knows all those things arc out Of the cues,
ton for hor. She fools, too as a mother
would fool whom shq secs hor onco rosy, hap