The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-21
The Old Chalk-Pit.

. : . 8 e.. d.
South Down, though charmingly situated
In one of the eastern counties of England,
is not place of general resort.
Here and there cottage Or two may be
found, making pleasing variety in a land
scape rich in natures lovelincss; but as our
narrative has only to do with that part of
South Down in the immediate vicinity of
the cllalk-pits, we will briefly introduce the
reader to Adam Raw ley and his wife, an
old couple occupying one of the little dwell
lings near to this locality. 'v%'|"b
Adam spent most Of his days In carting
away mud and rubbish from the roadside,
and at other times he would work in the
pits, earning enough to keep himself and
wife in comfortable circumstances.
These old people lived on from day to
day, from season to season, without change
in their mode of lie. They were quiet and
orderly, causing neither trouble nor anoy-
ance to their ncighbors; but for all this they
were no favorites.i i'..a&! sHet ! .5a'%|
The fact is, Deborah Rawley and her
husband lived only to please themselves.
Possessed of every comfort-for, besides
the bread-winncr's. earnings, they had a lit
tic income of eight shillings a week coming
in rcgularly-and, cngr.ssed in their own
concerns, they never troubled themselves
about Eeing' neighborly; thus much of the
sunshine of life was unknown to them,
through the unapproachablonos of their
own characters, ~ fss,g,izt s4,.3t,sni.
They, were certainly . striking contrast
to the rest Of the inhabitants Of Lime Cot
tages, rs the collection Of little dwellings
was 'called,-among whom thare was a feel
ing of friendliness, and many helpful deeds
made ife's day brighter to many of them.
But the Rawlcys were strangers to acts
Of kindness, and so long as no misfortune
happened to themselves they never thought
of relieving the Ills of other folks
Mrs Higgins, their next-door neighbor,
whose husband was down with brain fever,
and required constant watching, day and
night Ind three of her little children laid
up at tho same time with inflammation Of the
lungs3 yetsi in her demestip difficulties she
never ventrred ON asking aid from Mrs
Rawlcy; but Mrs. Keen, a busy matroh,
with half a dozen little ones of her own,
and engaged nearly every hour of the day
In ministering to their wants, proffercd the
necessary help, even before it was solicited
The whole community, with the. exccp-
tion Of old Deborah and her husband, Wed
gins through her trouble ''''" ff7
4NDb CFoll NiIu itQ" Viz |lI-
yalids wore progressing passed tho old
laid eggs, that Mfs. Rawley 8 hons! supplied
her with 30 plentifully, finding their way
into their sick ncighbor's house, such a
slvo them @ aWay tEey we're g alowed te oFnp- S'.
mont tho shelves IN the little parlor till they
became too bad to bp patpn by any one,
Tho faculty lof performing kindnesscs
certainly did not belong to these old people.
All their lives they had closed their hearts
to works Of beneyolenae, and now, IN their
declining years, no gentle prpmptipgs from
earth or heaven soomDd to arouse them
to deads Of loye., ,syxF g3sYxesavaag3
Il Once oily an angels Whiaper ,reaohed
Adam .Rawley, making him for q moment
see,p3troubled and uneasy; but tho bright
spatE which, had he .alloweaEtt 10 kindle,
wodIdh have filled hissrpgged countonanoa
with ainsliins daenohetl t'9 sass;he. lh,s. NUT
"Whssis ITO us if they do want new
laid Ssggs2 let, them keep fowls Of itheir
ownFsnd they'lI Bet sonae.s''
Sosthes contamination which he had
overheard Irs gink lnak4 t0sAa friend
canEerning the Tex 9iiiftfdentS Of her sick fa4
milf was blotted from his mind, .Rsshe con.
yiRSsls shinseIt that jtewas not sheedful ID
hpthef himself fwith 9ther pe4p)e'a troubles!
NcYsrttelcsa ils repeated What he had
oyerheafd to his Awife, and as a3woman'a
influence in Whatever rank Of life Is all
powerful, Mrs Rawley's reply, hadSit been
in favoEof d charitable action, might have
done MUCH toward its mplishment, IN.
stead OF which her verdict, 8 Let them gel
eggs fbr}} 4berpselYees'jf, they Rant"., theni
atreptgheneai her husband alni hia 'opinlon
that the master was npt o0n npernaf ftheirsA
- So,s While others with fag gsoepter means,
In order to relieve the pressing wsats soi
Mrs Figglns' household, this old 6odple,
who, In oomper isop, could have gigan q
Stheit abundance, siht Their ;Syes aid agaM t
their enefghbUfB' netcssiti though ,ntors
sihAd one of fhs ihvalids might ikAve Beer
.f1pd8G a&4fS 5ossssf AGSG