The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-19
JARVIS LEE'S SERMON.

'Mariar Mariar where on airth are
4 yeH Amt ye nowhere? I'm goin' tt
Old Grabb's,' an if he don't give me mJ
rights, Ill FIX him.
Then soft girlish voice spoke low in
answer.
sMaher's in the woodhouse; shal!
call her? And, father. you wont stop al
the tavern, will your
Go long iu the house. and don't lee
tu,e your father. Guess know where
to 90, without you or your mother
spivelin' aud prayin' over me-
And then a gate shut violently, and
a young girl came slowly up the back
porch OF the little house, to iind. in the
open front doorway, tall. dust soilec
traveller, with basket of books, whe
had heard the words above-spoken while
he piled the kuocker on the little green
door.
lie had walked far, ard was very tired
and warm, aud was grateful for the
shelter Of the cool, little parlor, clean
but shabby. so his pleasant, kindly face
lighted as he saw Lizzie's eyes grow
bright over the books. One by one she
took them up. but at last laid them down
with sigh, as she said: Il am afraid
we can't buy auy, sir; we have very lit
tie money now wa-days.'
'Aud your mother, will she like to see
them
1t will only make her feel worse to
see these books, to day. She's discoura
ged and sorrowful enough now. She is
no. very strong, and has had great
deal of trouble
well. my child, said the traveller,
10 he rose, and put his sun'browned
hand Oh her head, What time am
afraid, l will trust in thee : you rcrnem
Der that, don't you? There is little
book for you, without any money. Good
by. my child. Ask God to help you he
can do it.
And Jarvis Lee packed up his basket,
and trudgpd on again, with heartfelt
aympaihy for the mother and daughter,
whose SORROW he could not fail to know,
through the words that had fallen on
his ear.
Lizzie stole ont softly to the wood
house, or rather lumber hnuse. where
such furniture as had outliyed it's use
fulness was slowed away. amid rakes.
grind<tones. and bea.p"lcs. a small pile
4 of kindling wood. which her mother had
split. lay uesr the doorway and. as Lizzie
came in. she saw her knerling by the
old maple cradle that had rocked her
i only son lie had lived dozen years ;
then died from an injury received from
q . fall IF a colts back. where lis fathers :
unsteady hand had placed him 10 o
drunken fro'c
Her long black hair with its threads
Of gray had fallen over her shoulder.
4 rs she knelt, or rather crouched, beside
q the cradle, aud the little hands F" knot
\ ted aud rnughened with the work Of ii
4 western fsrm"r's wiic. were twisted tight
together above her head.
She did not look up at the sound Of
4 Lizzie's foo,siep. but when the loving
daughter stooped beside her, aud
smooihed buck the long locks. end
gathered rhcm softly in place. her broken
voice walled OUT. Oh. if had died. too,
and lay with johnny in the orchard
no more hard work-no more trouble.
And me, mother, you wouldn't leave
your little daughter. would y"u?'
Love teaches won 1rous strategy. The
weary woman reused from her crouching
posiiion. and drew the girl close in her
arms. and once more pnt IN her armor
s for life's battle. and took up the burden
4 of her daily tasks.
Testime passed. and bedtime too. bni
there was no sound Of shutting gate. or
heavy foot fall, when the kitchen clock
struck the hour of nine.
III 90 little way to meet father, |
guess; he must be near home, now, and
i it is moonlight. so wont be afraid )
and Lizzie ran down the road, past the
blooming acacia, and the long clover
meadow. She was nearing Farmer
8 Grabb's hayrick and barns, when she
saw figure move stealihily around BY
the stacks of hay-saw it stop and crouch
there.
She faucied it was her father, yet
dared not go near enough to see, nor
yet to 90 on 70 the fork of the road just
beyond. whence he would return from
tbe tavern. So she ran swiftly back al
6rst; then, gathering courage, once
more resoluiely turned to End, if posi-
bic, the father whose coming was sorrow
yet whose absence was unspeakable
dread
By the clover meadow she met him
alas staggering and stumbling even
more than was his wont. While with
one hand she dashed of the tears that
came unbidden, with the other she
guided, as we'll as she could, the de-
graded, uohsppy man homevard. He
had not succeeded 10 getting "hi'
rights, real or imaginary. and, amidst
drunken re:trrations and threats
reached home to reproach 'Mariar,' a'
was his wont, with all his trials aue
woes.
When the heavy sleep, which botf
mother aud daughter had learned tt
look for. cane. they crept of sientl!
together. and, in the little chamber il
che loft. laid down. thankful to have th'
vretched mao at home.