The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-02-07

FOR nall an hour they remained as VIC
have pictured them above; and then the
mother teuderly placed her little one upon
the bod that stood in one corner of the
room-cradles wero luxury unknown in
those days--and glancipg at the clock that
pointed tothe hour of eight, said,
"Come, Frederick, put away your cobs,
dear. 1t is bedtime for little boys"
"Oh, wish it wouldn't be eight o'clock
so soon when 1 am making cob.houses," re-
piled the child; "just wait one minute,
mamma, until make chimney-tben my
house will be done. There, now-isn't it
a nice one Z" So saying, Freddy gave the
flushing touch to his edifce-looked at it
admiringly Tor a moment, then giving it
light pressure with his hand, his evenings
work was demolished in an instant. Laugh.
ing heartily at the havoc he had made, he
hastily gathered the cobs in basket near
him, and sprang to his mothers side
All, Freddy, Freddy how like you are
to many a "child of larger growth" who
tolls, month after month, year after year,
building. temple, it may be TO love, or
wealth, or fame /; and then, when it is. near
ly or quite complsted, by single false step,
or single ill-regdmted action, destroys the
shrine he has been rearing with so much
care and labor But here the smilitude
ceases. You laugh and clap your hands in
childish glee at the downfall of your house,
he sits down desolate and alone by the ruin
he has made, and mourns over hopes and
prospects buried beneath it.
Thoughts somewhat like these may have
passed through the mind of Andrew Cor
don, for there was q cloud upon his brow,
as he watched his wife while she undressed
the playful child, and smoothed his dark
curls preparatory to the nights repose.-
Then kneeling by her side, and folding his
little hands together, Frederick repeated
after her simple prayer-a childs prayer
of love and faith, asking Gods blessing up
on those dearest to him-his father, mother
and little sister, and His care and protection
through the night.
"Now ! must kiss papa goodnight" said
the little boy; "and then, mamma, wont you
please to sit by me, and tell ME pretty
little story? will shut my eyes up, and
so right to sleep SO quick if you will.
The goodnight kisses were exchanged !;
Frederick soon nestled closely in his soft,
warm pillow, and true to his promise. closed
his eyes, while his mother, in a low, sooth
ing voice, told him story of tho birds and
lambs and flowers. Presently he was fast
asleep, and pressing the tenderest of kisses
upon his rosy cheek, Amy returned to her
seat by the fireside.
'Dear little fellow! how sweetly he sleeps"
said she, moving her chair as she spoke
nearer to her husband. II wonder what
the future hath laid up in store for him."
she continued, musingly, with her eyes fixed
upon the bright blaze that went roaring
and cracking up the broad chimney. "And
yet if the book of fate were laid open be-
fore me, should fear to turn to the page
which on his destiny is Inscribed"
"1 hope, at any rate, that the word wealth
is written there" said Andrew Gordon,
speaking for the first time since he had ta.
ken his wonted seat by the fire that evening.
81 am not 4 very great believer in books of
fate or in irrevocable destiny. Man makes
his own destiny, with some little help from
others and Frederick shall be rich man
before he dies, if my exertions are of any
avail"
"He may be taken from us, even in child.
hood, Andrew" and the mothers eve
turned anxiously toward the little bed, as
if the bare thought of death was enough to
awaken her solicitude. "I would rather he
would be great than rich-and good than
either"
"He will be great if he is rich-that is,
he will have influence, and be looked up to |;
and as for goodness-pshaw ! who ever
heard of rich mans doing wrong?" he
continued, with that bitter smile, of which
We have before spoken, curling his thin lip.
elf man possesses wealth, he may oppress
the poor, strip the widow and the fatherless
of their last penny, cheat his neighbors and
rob his own brother-but it is all riqht
"Then may God grant that our boy may
never be rich man, Andrew" sad his
wife, solemnly. ".But you speak too bitter.
ly, dearest. Yout own misfortunes have
made you unreasonable upon this point"
And Amy lifted, caressingly, the dark locks
that fell over her husbands high forehead.
Unreasonable, Amy! Have l not cause to
speak bitterly? Have not been defrauded
Of my just rights ? Have not been robbed
-ay, literally robbed of tho fortune my ia.
ther left me when was too young to know
its value Can 1 forget that one, one Of nv
own kith and kin, too, lives in the dwelling
of my forefathers, and calls their broad lands
his, when he knows, and I know, and the
world knows, that am the rightful heir?
Can forget all this and that am here2o bo