Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-10
CHAPTER TX.

1t wac 0rlSK OctODer morning. 1ne Suu,
glinting over the crest of mountain that
rose majestic at the entrance ola wooded vale,
shed its early beams upon a scene of tranquil
and picturesque beauty. In the little vale,
secluded from the outer world by dense for
est on one side and broken range of hills on
the other, nestled few tiny cottages, each in
its own bower of trees. Autumn had already
shed its richest tints upon the foliage of these,
which shone red and purple and gold in the
clear early light, and gay autumn flowers
bloomed about the doors. Wreaths of smoke,
issuing from the chimneys, curled languidly
upward in the quiet air, transfused in their
ascent by golden sun-rays, and melting away
imperceptibly into pearly mist. Everywhere
the diamond dew sparkled, upon the grass,
the shrubs, the overhanging boughs. Sbrilly
and joyously sang the birds, blithe choristers
of nature, hailing with exuberant glee the
dawning of a fresh, beautiful day, day glad
some and gladdening alike to heart and eye.
In one of the cottages just mentioned, a
family group was gathering about the break
dashboard as wooden clock upon the mantel
chimed the hour of seven. There was the
mother, gentle-looking matron with silver
threaded hair shading placid white brow,
and features little sharpened and worn by
cares, yet comely and handsome still the
father, older, greyer, more care-worn, in a
somewhat shabby clerical suit and three chill
dren, all girls, the eldest about fourteen, the
youngest perhaps ten years of age. They
were all refined in air and manner, the chill
dren interesting-looking, the second girl quite
beauty. Their dress, as we'll as their sur
roundings, denoted straitened means. Every.
thing was very plain and bare, but scrupu-
lously neat. The uncarpeted floor, the oaken
table, were polished with securing and scrub
bing; there was no tablecloth, but snow
white napkin was spread beneath each heavy
delf plate. After the father and children were
seated, the mother moved busily to and fro,
seeing that everything was in its place, and
nothing lacking to the comfort of the repast,
until summoned by her husband to join them
at the table.
"My dear Millicent, we are all waiting on
you-pray come and take your place."
Then she seated herself in the wooden arm
chair at the end opposite her husb bands, and
after brief but earnest blessing had been
invoked, the meal commenced.
"Papa," asked Amy, the eldest girl, chow
far shall you ride to-day?"
81 don't know, my love. 1t depends on
the condition of the roads, If find that the
rains have made them very bad, I shall stop
at Panther Joes, and spend the night there. u
II would do that in any case" suggested
his wife. "You can easily reach Fort Town
by tomorrow evening, ahd it will be dividing
your journey more equally than if you 60 all
the way on to the mill tonight"
>"Only, you see, Joe may not be at home
Whereas 1 am quite sure to find shelter at
the mill"
"Papa," said little Milly, "you promised to
take me to the Fort some time, and you've
never done it.
Her father smiled. 1T would not be a
very nice place for you to visit now, my pet:
It is all full of rough soldiers, just arrived >
"What has a garrison been sent out
then ?" asked his wife.
$50 I am informed. must own I am ra.
ther inclined to regret it.
ut will make your work there harder, I
am afraid"
"That is what I apprehend. Yet, I am
wrong to indulge in any misgivings 1t may
be that a field of greater usefulness will be
opened to me. At all events, whatever work
comes to my hands, I shall not shrink from
it,"
"Ah! it is needless for you to say that, Ju-
lian. When did you ever shrink from any
work that was before you, if it was in the
power of mortal man to carry it through2'
"Say, rather, in the power of God-and
what is beyond His power ?" gently responded
her husband. "If He had not upheld me,
my poor efforts would long since have fallen
useless to the ground. Even now, when
look around me, see much-much left un.
done that I might have accomplished if had
worked harder. Ny spirit fails me oftener
than it should"