The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-07-27

servant: ''she has come on foot,
and is drenchcd to the skin.'
"Tcll her to call at my place ot
business Tomorrow" said the an
noyed banker. I cannot possibly
be disturbed at home" -
On observing an expression OF
interest and compassion fit across
the face of his eldest daughter,
Bertha, who was in delicate health
he changed his mind, and went to
see what his visitor wanted.
After an absence of ten minutes,
he returned, visibly out of temper,
muttcriug something about the i'm
pertinence of intruders.
On being asked by his wife,
what she wanted, he said:
ooh, the husband of this Madam
Renaul is a bookseller, I believe
he has been foolish enough to
stand surety for his brother, who
owes me a few hundred francs, and
is consequently embarrassed. She
pretends that Renaud is in bad
health, and cannot just now refund
the amount, but wants ments to ac-
cept it by installnents, which pro-
posal /, OF course, refused for one
moment to entertain. [ suppose
she was trying to work upon my
feelings when she told me that
Renaud was threatened with con-
sumption, that she had a small
family to bring up, and that times
were hard, and so FORTH"
"You could not then grant her
the favor she asked?" chimed his
wife. -s-. -----~.-.--
ssBy no means. 1t would be en-
tirely contrary to the rules of busi-
ness to which I mean to adhere.
But do not let US trouble ourselves
about the matter. Those people
who are always trying to impose
upohs the credulous, and generally
pay when hard pushed. Come
along. Bertha, give US a tune upon
the piano to change the subject
What {, stormy night this is.
Bertha sat down at her fathers
desire, but while her back was
turned to him an expression of sor-
row cloudcd for moment her pale
face, and a tear fell upon the music
sheet in her hand. In her guileless
simplicity she pitied the poor
mother who had pleaded in vain for
her sick husband and helpless Oft:
spring -, .,-s. =.
The charming Bertha sang in a
low, sweet voice, full of expression,
her tather's favorite songs, accom-
panying herself on the piano, and,
restored him to his wonted good
humor.
lie was proud of his accomplish
ed child, and anxiously hoped that
with the approach of spring her
health would be rcestahlished.
. Poor Madam Renaud, on quitting
the hotel, rapidly wandered her
way home through the storm, with
a heavy heart, iusensible both to
cold and rain.
Resigning themselves to their lot
the Rcnauds Witnessed their stock
of books sold off at one.fourtll of
their value, the proceeds being
barely sufficient to pay the, rent
falling due, and settle NJ. Constan-
tins claim.
Stripped Of everything they pos
Esessed, saving a bed, table, and a
few chairs, they moved to an acttic
in wretclled locality, and mingled
with the-poorest Of thcspoor. Fer
tile in resources, like many other
French-womcn, Madam Renaud
girt up her loins, for the struggle
with want and misery. Being u
s&illful needle-woman, she sought
work diligently, and found it, and
thought nothing of travelling all
over Paris in quest of it. From
dawn till dusk, she was never
idle, laboring in season and cut of
season without murmur or COM
plant, knowing that the lives of
of those. near and dear to her de-
pended on her efforts alone. On the
miserable pittance so earned, the
family were scarcely provided with
the bare necessaries of life. By
continually imposing privations
; upon herself, her conlcly face grew
pinched and wan, until she was
scarcely recognizable. But the
courageous woman's heart never
tainted, and in the faithful dis
charge Of her duty she found hel
best reward. To her husband, il
the day Of his prostration and at
Fiction, she was a tower o.
strength; and her children rose NJ
before her and called her bless
ed.
4 {. Summer came again. .slalen will
4 fresh pleasures and beauties stt
! gladden. the heart $of man.. sTht
bright sunshine, the green. fields
the fragrant flowers, the hum O
bees, the songs of birds, the bleat
ing of sheep, and the believing o
kline, were positive sources of ell