Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-10-12

"A. 1OW WlHo oe1N @SAAA' :,
mournfully and slowly across the
fields. Robert Maxwell mood chang
ed with the face of the night. The
exultation forsook him, and some
thing hard, stern, sullen, alien it
seemed to his generous, hearty ma
ture, entered in and took possession
Of him. BE went home slowly, with
heavy footsteps. -,
"Tired, Robbie?" his mother said
cheerily, as he came into the kitchen.
p Somehow the words vexed him;
she had said them often enough be-
fore, but they had never struck him
in lust that way till now. Robbie ]
If she would only remember that ne
was twenty-five years old.
eyes, I'm tired" Unanswered dog
oed1v 80 80 8. il'
!" Well. draw right up to the table;
I've got nice cup Of tea already for
ye; that'll rest,ye, and brighten ye.
up "a little. -
otRobert Maxwell flung down his
hat impatiently. "Tea!" What no.
tions Of life women had. He looked
at his mother as he had never looked
at her before.
Mother" said he, with bitter
ness he hated himself for years after
wa1d, 7 wonder if you ever had a
trouble that a good cup of tea
wouldn't cure? Things don't go any
deeper than that with some folks"
His mothers eyes clouded, but she
answered him very gently. She felt
that tonight, for some reason, he
was not responsible for himself.
"I have had trouble that went
deep enough, Robert; six children
that have played round my knees,
sleep yonder, behind the old meet
ing.house, and to bear and nurse,
and then to lose-there's none knows
what that is but just them that's
borne it, and God that made mothers
with mothers hearts. Yes, I've
had troubles that creature comforts
wouldn't help much; and yet l don't
despise this worlds good things.
You haven't any graves when you
feel as if your heart was shut in and
smothered, and for bein' tired and
mopin' I do think there's virtue in 8
good cup of tea.
Her patience and gentleness touch
ed him. He drew up his chair to
the table, where his father was sit
ting, and answered her in a soft tone.
dispose you're right, mother, but
I'm not Just myself tonight"
Then he ate his supper in silence,
and after it was over, sat for a few
moments, thinking silently. At last
he took courage, and opened the sub
ject Of which his mind was full.
Father, Henry Robin is want
ing a place. Don't you think, with
YOU u to o oversee him, he could do the
work on the farm this summer ?"
Mrs. Maxwell did not speak, but
the saucer she was wiping fell to the
floor with sharp crash. For a full
minute it was the only sound which
broke the stiffness. At last the old
man answered:
al don't know, Robert-maybe he
could. I never liked to have any
strangers working on the old place in
my time. I did it all myself till
you were old enough to help me, and
every thing has prospered under
your hand, Robert. Still, maybe
Henry Robin could; maybe he
could. Did you think of leaving,
Robert ?"
"I don't feel satisfied, father, to be
a farmer in this small way. l want
to do something more with my life.
You could hire man to do all | do
for twenty dollars a month, and L
want to see what I am worth some
where else.
Then there was another long ST.
lence. The mother finished washing
up her dishes, and came and sat down
between her son and husband; her
face very white and her hands sha,
king a little. After while the old
man reached out and took one of the
trembling hands in his own.
"We mus mt blame Robert, Moth
er, he said, trying to speak cheer
fully. "What he feels isn't unnatu-
raj. Other young men say the same.
Only it's come sudden. Don't think
IL. Ill fn.,.