The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-09
A MOTHERS STRUGGLE.
A STORY OF CITY LEE.

u
that poor mother had suffered. She
had given her heart and hand to one
OF her own station in litc-a hard
working mechanic. That she loved
her husband above all earthly objects
was plainly evident, tor he had been
her first aud only love. She had long
been alone in the world-fathcrless,
mothcrless, sistcrlcss, brotherless-
and HOW she tnrned to him, her hus-
band, with all the worship Of pas
sionate soul and sympathetic nature.
= he ycarncd for love returned, such
as shr had dreamed Of: such as she
tslt tor him; and she had reason 10
believe that she had found it.
One morning, as was his custom, he
left her for his daily tell. lie had
oyer and ever again printed kisses OF
affection upon her lips, but still she
c!ung to him, until tears started into
her eyes, and she exclaimed:
ooh, George, why it that I can
noe bear this parting? Don't think
me foolish, but it seems as if | must
cling to you and weep-wecp for
very joy, for my heart is SO full. Am
I not. TOO h happy? !g Will such joy last
Playluly the husband pattcd her
checks, kissed her lips once more,
and left her for his work. AS long
as possible she watched his retreating
form, and then she turned to her
household duties, and as she did so,
tried to sing ana smile, but something
cholicd her uttcrancc, and tears
would fill Ler eyes in spite Of all she
could do.
Slowly the day dragged on, and the
supper hour was approaching. The
table had been spread with more than
usual care, and dish pro,i led Of
which the husband was very fond.
"In ten minutes more he will be
here" she murmured but at tina,
very instant she was startled by the
violent ringing of the door bell. She
knew not why, but her heart beat
with great rapidity, as she proceeded
to answer the summons. She opened
the door, and saw half dozen men
standing there. Not one Of them
spok, but they cadvanced into the
hallway, and from thence into q little
parIor, where they deposited q heavy
burden they had brought with tn2m.
She did not shrek or faint, but
che appeared even calm under the
circumstances for there was tho out:
stretched form Of George Avery, her
husband he moved not There
could be no mistake, for there were
the very garments he had worn in
parting from her that morning. But
the face was so covered with bloc
that the features could not be distin-
guishcd.
Even vet, without q word, q mur'
mur, or u sigh, she proceeded to pro.
cure water, and with her own hands
she washed away the gore. Yes, it
was her husbands face; but pale, and
the eyes expressionlcss; for he was
dead.
flow did this happcn?' she asked.
turning to o, Of the men.
"Poor George fell from the building
upon which he bad been at work, JUS,
as he was speaking Of his home, and
of the ending Of another week OF toll
He never spoke after he struck the
ground"
w ~oor wife did not sink under
.,: iuI n,dw r s,,, did not even weep
Int there seemed to Do an u'ihaluta
,iiyht in her eyes, and an unaccoun'.' "
hT. c.lmness about her. Even beside
the grave, size did not weep, although
it was found necessary to support hel
for she could not stand.
And now she returned to her desc
late nome, alone, although not long
to remain so; for her child was born
AS she had hoped, it was . boy, ant
as she gazcd upon it, she whisper
cd:
But for this, 1 could not hav'
lived-but for this, | should haT
beside my husband But L have
sacred duty now to perform. Co
help me to be faithful to my charge.
One day, after her usual toll' III
mother sat reading q newspaper al
ticle, where the description OF u chi
having been kidnapped, was glVe'
For q few moments her mind ha