Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-15

such weight of responsibility, it is relief
to have such mother to follow. Two chill
dren to train for this world and the next, is
enough to make me try to think and live
right"
81 can understand lou now" said Grace,
picking up and kissing her own boy, who had
fallen asleep with his potato only half eaten
It was some time before the conversation
went back to the point from which it had
wandered; but at last Conway recalled it, and
asked Grace "what it was about her wine and
figs, she was going to tell"
"You recollect how we'll Jacks vines and
fg.bushes were growing when you were here
before? Well, you wouldn't know them now,
they have grown so fast. We had plenty Of
grapes and figs last year for our own use, but
this summer we hardly know what to do with
so many. As the papers are constantly ad'
vising people to save more fruit and supply
home demands, concluded it was pity to
let ours waste, and preserved and dried quan.
titles. We had plenty of sugar, thanks to
Jacks taking Mr.. Wright's advice, and be-
ginning to plant cane the first year he went
to farming"
"He took Mr.. Wright's advice on nearly
every thing that year, I believer"
eyes; and it proved just the kind he need
ed. Well, having plenty Of sugar, and this
nice room, I dried my figs just as nicely as
any ever saw that were imported, and they
brought good price, too. I'll show you
some saved for our own use, as soon as
finish beating these eggs Our grapes made
into jelly and wine; but shan't make much
wine, if we have ten times as many grapes.
Jelly is more healthful and can't make drunk
ards"
"You are just as strong on the subject OF
temperance as ever, see; but don't blame
you, since I find how many men are becom'
ing topers. If I thought my son"-and she
clasped her infant close to her bosom-"would
ever be drunkard, it would break my heart.
But I do not fear, with the example Robert
sets, for he never takes liquor"
II know you are glad of it. When was
in Charleston in the fall, uncle Willis told
me of a great many of our former friends
who had come to real poverty and want,
more from liquor-drinking than because they
could not obtain employment. You don't
know how much better we have done than
any of the other relatives, except uncle Will
lis"
81 think understand it, and it all comes
from having such blessed mother. Had she
been a silly, weak, or bad-tempered woman we
should have been so too and father would
have been lost years ago, while now his supe-
rior can hardly be found"
"Praising your father, are your" said Jack,
coming in again. "Well, he says mine was
one of the best business men in the State; but
I've always had more love for mothers men,
ory, which, perhaps, is only natural. The
carriages are coming, and will be at the gate
in two minutes"
"And I am done with my work" And
Grace hung up the long apron which had
protected her dress, rolled down her sleeves,
and was ready to greet her mother the instant
she stepped from the carriage.
"Years have dealt lightly with Mrs. Elliott.
She is still lovely woman, with that beauti-
ful serenity which Christianity gives an intel
lectual face.
Mr.. Elliott has slightly bent, and his hair
is white but he has ceased to deplore and
grieve over the dead past, and can enjoy the
present undisturbed by political questions,
unless reused by some rabid ranter, who need
lessly agtates his general Indifference.
Alice is still an innocent, artless girl, the
very light of her fathers eyes, and an exceed
ing joy to her mother. She bids fair to rival
Grace in gentleness and sweetness, and Geor-
gia in happy cheerfulness
Poor Arthur! His face has not gained in
expression. Daily drinking, constant smok-
ing and indolent habits, have set their seal on
him, and if he does not die before the years
which ought to be the prime of life, he will
be another "Cousin Tim"
Tim, poor fellow, could not be contented in
any place, after his sisters death, and in a
few months he, too, sank into a slow decline,
which ended by his being laid beside Letitia
in that quiet sleep which feels no lonely dis
content.
Mr.. Ellison bears his years as well as Mrs.
Elliott, and escorts his family to the door
with step which was never more firm and
strong.
The children, as usual, receive the first at.
tention, and all vie with each other in making
the day glad, happy one.
At three o'clock the dinner was served, and
ample justice was done and hearty praise given
to Grace's well.cooked and nicely-arranged
viands.
There was little laugh over Conway's dis
tinguishing some things as belonging to Jack,
and others as coming from Grace, which
helped add to the enjoyment Of the savory
meal. The conversation was animated and
interesting.
"What carried your father off to Charles
ton again this week, when he had just come
from there ?" asked Mr.. Elliott of Ellen, as
the dessert was coming on.
30, you would never guess and yet it was
so characteristic it won't sound at all strange.
Among the books he bought last week was
Whittiers Tent on the Beech which is a
number of fine poems strung like pearls on a
silver cord of beautiful narrative in verse and
he was so perfectly entranced with it, nothing
would do but he must take Henry and go