The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-24
expecsed. / had Give ohildroh.

eAp0CtSu. naQ Hvo cntlQTon,
Charley, G. fine, handsome boy OF seven;
then my twins, Flora and CLARA of five,
next Frankie of three, and an infant.
NY girls used often to go for their
rars when I feared he would visit the
| saloon. The children al, loved him, for
when not under sho influence Of liquor he
TO keep him ut home as much as his work
would allow.
One evening Flora and Glare went
forth on their Usual errand. They were
beautiful children, with clear blue eyes
in which you could read their souls, long,
golden cnrls, dainty features, and fair
transparent compilations. called them
my twin emblems Of purity" and it was
fit simile.
All, how plainly con zee them now,
as they kissed their hands to me, and
told me not to fear, for they would see
that papa came home safe. Why was 1t
wished to call them back-thaf felt as
though beayy load we're pressing upon
my heagt-.as though what had been
bright and beautiful now looked dark
and chilli DO coming events cast their
shadows before?
When nezt saw my darIings they
were lying still and cold upon the green
river bank. Dead? Yes, dead, drowned I
The jewels of my heart, that / had priced
go highly, the two pure white buds that
had watched and :iurscd with such care,
aud held far dearer than my life, my
precious little girls, were dead, drowned
in that cruel, cold river.
Their father had left his work quite
early to 60 to the saloon, and by the time
they arrived he was intoxicated. They
coaxod him to come home, but were
ashamed to 60 through town with him, so
they went around, where the river was
crossed by foot-bridge. Wien on the
narrow bridge he suddenly reelcd, and,
ere the children knew the danger, all
three were in the water. He got out in
safety, but my little girls were drowned.
Oh, how ] grieved for my lost ones
And it was then, in my hour III affliction,
that felt the kindness Of my neighbors,
for all, both old and young, tried to show
the sympathy they felt.
The words Of one old lady, In partic-
ular, rise in my memory:
my poor Mary" said she, when was
refusing to be comfurtcd, and rebelling
against the will Of God, "you think t
hard that your beautiful children should
be taken. Do you net know If you were
in garden of flowers you would pick
only the rarest and ioveliest? And sure
ly tho Angel of Death will do the same.
Beside. Msrv have you net often prayed
that they might never know the sorrOws
you have endured for eight years? And
how could they be spared that anguish
more surely than BY lying rs they are
now? It is all for the best, poo, stricken
mother u
But could not feel it was better my
darlings should be lying there in one
coffin, with their waxcn hands folded on
their bosoms, holding s,n:o pure white
blossoms, and their happy hearts stilled
forever. And when the cold clods fell
upon the coffin with that b, u, dull thud,
l shrieked aloud in my agony, and was
carried fainting from the graveyard.
1t was mary days before awoke to
consciousness, for was very i'll with
brain-fever; but while lay there, cared
for kindly by my husband and the neigh
Dors, my two little boys were neglected,
and ere was able to sit up they were
laid beside their sisters; so Charley was
all had left.
But did not feel the loss OF tho babies
as did the twins, partly because was
too weak to realize the blow, and because
l was watching the change in my hus-
band. He felt that the loss of the four
children rested upon himself, for were it
not that be was intoxicated that evening,
they would not have died.
He therefore made another vow not to
drink, Joined the temperance order, quits.
ted his old habits, md was in all respects
like the Tom Of olden times. And waa
so null of harkfulnsss that there Yves no
room for grief sS
This happened twelve years ago, and
the second VOW remains unbroken. We
were very poor then, depending up,i my
| needle, and what little work Tom did for
our bread. Now We have o pleasant
hoRse, "a ssaariy IN possible like the cot
tage of cur yc2 eng married life. Ton has
lucrative bl,i.,eay, and in all respects
is doing we'll! But, what is beteerstill,
our boy gives promise of becoming q
good and useful man, and what mcthor
could ask mor5? a. s4l7
We mourn for our lost children, but
have learned from experience that ;t was
all for the best; they are spared tho
trouble1 of o life on earth, and they have
saved t.eir father. am eontentod and
happy, f.. though the day dawned in
tears IL Ia ending in sn,ilea