Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-10

! " ell speaks the prophet Of the Lord
/ Eye hath not seen; ear hath not known,
The splendor Of GODS shining throne
STORY OF a CUP or TEA.
Agnes Stillton stood by the win
dow watching the glowing sunset,
/ which threw dazzling beams upon
the spotless snow, that had only fallen
| the previous night. She was such s
/ little creature that you would scarce
/ ly have believed that she was
eighteen years old and head of her
/ fathers house, unless perhaps, you
had looked in her thoughtful blue
/ eyes-at this moment more thought
/ full than ever.
''What are you thinking of, Ag-
nes?'' asked MIR. StilIton, looking
lovingly at the earnest little face.
81 scarcely believe l was thinking
at all, papa" she answered; Il was
rather enjoying the beautiful sunset,
and feeling at the same time what a
pleasant thing to have home"
True, my dear, very true" said
papa; ''and | pity those poor wan.
derers who are without one, and
who are perhaps at this moment
starving beneath the radiant sky, or
freezing beneath the dazzling snow
/ drifts. WOuld to Godr' he contin-
ued, more earnestly, "that all had
I as comfortable home as our own"
/ And Mr.. Stillton glanced around the
/ pleasant apartment with its bright
/ carpet and tasteful furniture, taking
in his gaze the cheerful tea table,
7 covered with its damask cloth, and
glittering with its delicate china
and old fashioned silver.
/ At that moment old Betty enter
/ ed, bringing in the tea, and Agnes,
who was mOtherless, took her place
at the head of the table. How
gracefully the little hands move
among the cups and saucers; how
neatly the steaming tea is poured
out and the rich milk dropped into
each cup, to which she adds just the
/ proper quantity of sugar. Ahl do
not tell me that pouring cut lea Is.
act an accomplishment quito aS
much to be studied, young ladies, rs
your French or music, and in nine
cases out of ten much more useful;
and what prettier sight could you
wish than Il sweet face behind the
! shining tea ware, and little white
hand fluttering hither and thither
over the tea cups. With Agnes
/ pouring out tea was a natural gift.
/ She had never learned the art, for
her mother died many years before,
and old Betty, though a most faith
/ full servant, was scarcely competent
( to instruct Agnes in the art of
! graceful tea making, so you see, as
Agnes was graceful, it must have
been talent she possessed.
"Listen, papa! was not that the
bell ringing?" asked Agnes.
''Yes, think it was" said Mr..
! Stillton; and a moment later Betty
entered, saying-"there's a man as
wants to see you, sir, and L told him
you were at your tea; and sure he
says it's nights lodging that he's
after wanting"
''Is he a poor man, Betty" asked
Agnes.
"Sure and | can't be telling you,
miss, for he looks and speaks like a
gentleman, barring his asking a
nights lodging"
"Wen, ask him in, Betty" said
Mr.. StilltOn. E.If he is poor. vet
acts like a gentleman, surely that is
sufficient cause for us TO treat him
as one" And good, simple hearted
Mr.. SGllton, with his face beaming
with kindness, waited the strangers
entrance, while Betty went to obey
his commands; and grumbled all the
time she was obeying them.
"The idea of asking a strange
man into the house; and the mas
ter's silver shining on the table; it's
murdered alive Wen all be in our
beds this blessed night"
But she told the stranger, never
theless, to walk into the dining
room, and she hobbled off in a huff
TO the kitchen.
Mr.. Stillton found his guest a
young man of perhaps twenty-five,
plainly and neatly dressed, and hay
ing the manners and appearance oi
a gentleman. He apologised polite
ly but quietly, for his intrusion, but
gave no explanation of his presence
otherwise than that he was travel
ing East on business, and having
been delayed by the snow, found il
! impossible to reach B that night
whittier he was bound.
Mr.. Stillton told him he was heart.
} lily welcome, and Betty brought 8
clean plate and cup, which Agnes
filled with fragrant tea; and wheth.
er it was the pretty china aud bright
silver, which so often attracted the
strangers attention toward the
head of the table, of course | am
unable to saw. Doubtless il was
the steam of the hot tea which
i brought such vivid glow to Agnes
round cheeks.
The following morning the starn-
ger. with many thanks, took his de.
parture, and, much to Betty's de.
light, that was all he took, for she
counted the silver spoons and forks
half dozen times over; and the sill.
yer tea set was still in its accustomed
place.
'-WelI child, dear" she said, " her
Agnes scolded her for being suspi,
ciOus, lit was his odd way Of coming
to the house and asking a night:
. lodging that made me mistrust him
But when l saw HIM drinking his tea
/ like Christian, l says to myself
.'Sure, Betty, it's a mistake you've
made this time, anyway, for it's not
: himself that's a thief, or he'd never
be drinking his two cups of tea auL
eating his hot, biscuit with such {
relish. Sure, thieves don't drinB
, tea" says 1. ''Its brandy and suci
things they're fond Of" 'Lor bless
you, Miss Agnes, child, it i only
! them as has sCft hearts that loves
I their tes, and don't trust no man
! darling, as don't drink it," And ole
Betty looked affectiOnately at til,
kettle which was sending up clouC
! of steam preparatory to the eVenins
meal.
: Two years passed away, two year
| which added new sweetness to Ag
f nes' face, but left Mr.. Stillton'
: deeply marked with care. Its caus,
was only too soon made known Il
Agnes. Mr.. StiHton, with his usu
al unsuspiciousness and kindness o
e heart, had been indorsing largely 70
friend, in whom he placed impli