The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-03-30

BY "LA CAROLINE"
CHAPTER XIII.
1--WE are q people yet. "

upon the ruined homes and bereaved
hearts of our loved, sweet South land.
If it brought to that blood-drenched
land and those weeping homes no earth
born Joys, no freside mirth, no Christ
mas gambols, no merry Christmas tales,
yet to the great heart of the people it
brought restful feeling of calm reliance
on Him whose wondrous love displayed
inthe gift of Jesus proclaims him Godl
On the listening ears of our war-worn
soldiers; on the aching hearts of our
mothers, wives and daughters, how sweet
ly, how softly soothing fell the message
of peace and goodwill proclaimed by the
heralds Of the yirgin-born-the princely
Babe of BethlehemI Yes, grieviug hearts
weeping over you. lands 'ebroken gram
deur," yourdesclated hearthstones,s wipe
away your falling tears, look up and re-
joice-ye are a people yet! Hear the
gracious words of the Lord Jehovah: j:
'Fear not, for I have redeemed thee: l
have called thee by thy name; thou art
mine. Thou, art my servant. o, Israel.
thou, shalt not be, forgotten Of me- p
Then, fear not; let us raise our loud
hozannas let us sing and rejoice, for
this is not our rest! In the bright land
of glory-in those promised mansions so
beautiful, so fair-there where Jehovah
dwells, where Jesus reigns-there, it is
there, in Immanuel's land, His people
find their country and their Homes!
Thus it was in those old homes of
Berkley. In the parish church they had
gathered little broken band of kindred
and friends. There were vacant seats,
and there were missing voices whose
feryent responses had made glad chorus
to loving hearts; but the deep anguish
of those hearts had been hushed, or toned
to the exulting strains Of
,Glory to the newborn Kingm
That Christmas morning at Berkley
Hall formed sad contrast to the first
gay Christmas on which I introduced
you, dear reader, to our friends, the Ma
hams.
No boisterous and innocent hilarity
resounded through the now desclats-
looking rooms OF Berkley Hall. Not
one "merry Christmas" greeted the ears
of the once loved owners Of Berkley
Hall. The Christmas breakfast of the
mistress of Berkley Hall was prepared
with loving care by the delicate, white
hands of Marion Maham and her soldier
brother. Their cook had left a few days
before Christmas, declining to work until
after the new. year.
Harry had tried to shout in his old
boyish tones, ''Merry Christmas" but
the words had sank into low murmur,
and there was fearful lustre even in
his brave, merry blue eye. And yet
there was no, bitterness, in their hearts;
in those;tfied and thankful hearts there
was no place for wrath on the blessed
Christmas season.
On leaving the altar rails of that little
woodland church, the bereaved mother
and her children carried away with them
as talisman in the following new years
struggle, the gentle admonition, ''be
thankful"
Returning to the old home, picture
their surprise and extreme satisfaction
at finding Maum Chloe, dressed up in
her brightest and best, in the kitchen
preparing nice Christmas dinner, and a
very rice one it was, considering the
condition of the larders in Berkley.
Manner was there, too, although she
was still unbending, and alluded to the
services rendered her kind owners as
Egyptian bondage. Once when she
spoke of Walter, Marion saw tear drop
from her lashes. Hailing it as happy
omen Of better feelings, the gentle girl
laid her hand ahectionately on the old
womans arm and said: "Never mind,
dear Manner, for our Walter is very
happy, and we may all hope to meet him
again in the better land. There we will
not judge each other hardly, for.there we
shall see clearly and understand perfectly
the kindly feelings of our friends. There
you will know, Manner, how we your
musings have loved you, and wished to
do you good"
That was the first time either Maum
Chloe or Manner had been up to the
Hall to see the Mistress and her children
since their return home. Mrs. Maham
wondered what had carried them that day,
then sighed and said: @I suppose the
blessed anniversary of peace and good
will from heaven to man, has touched
their hearts with holy power" But
Marion knew it was 'the soft answer"
which "turneth away wrath"
Early Christmas morning, Marion had
sent by little negro whom she found
skulking around the Hall, two packages
containing Christmas gifts to those still
fondly remembered friends of her child
hood. The girls heart had yearned with
love towards those favorite servants, and
she said within herself: Little acts of
kindness or gentle words may win them
back tc their true friends and the better
way"
Maum Chloe was touched by the girls
little tokens of regard, and her really
generous heart reproached her for her
unprovoked alienation from her "white