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

For half an hour they remained as VIC
have pictured them above; and then the
mother tendcrly placed her little one upon
! the bod that stood i'm one corner of the
room-cradlcs were luxury unknown in
those days-and glanciug at the clock that
pointed to the hour Of eight, said,
"Come, Frederick, put away your cobs,
| dear. 1t is bed time for little boys"
"Oh, wish it wouldn't be eight o'clock
so soon when am making cob-houses," re-
piled the child 'just wait one minute,
mamma, until [ make chimney-then my
house will be done. There, now-isn't it
nice one p So saying, Freddy gave the
flushing touch to his cdifico-lookcd at it
admiringly Tor Il moment, then giving it
u 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 "child of larger growth" who
tolls month after month, year after year,
building a temple, it may be TO love, or
wealth, or FAM. and then, when it is near
ly or quite complstGd, by single false step,
or single il-regtfated action, destroys the
shrine he has been rearing with so much
care and labor But here the similitude
ceases. You laugh and clap your hands in
childish glcc at the downfall of yom 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 4 cloud upon his brow,
as he watched his wife while she uudrcsscd
the playful child, and smoothed his dark
curls preparatory to the nights reposc.-
Then knccling by her side, and folding his
little hands together, Frederick repeated
after her 4 simple praycr-a childs prayer
Of love and faith, asking Gods blessing up
on those dearest to him-hs father, mother
aud little sister, and His care and protection
through the uiSht.
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 50 quich 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 low, sooth-
ing voice, told him story of the birds and
lambs and flowers Presently he was fast
asleep. and pressing the tendcrest of kisses
upon his rosy check, Amy returned to her
seat by the iircsidc
Dear little icllow.ho swcctly he sleeps"
said she, moving her chair as she spoke
nearer to her husband Il 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
fore me- ] should fear to turn to the page
which on his destiny is inscribed"
81 hope, at any rate, that the word ,cealM
is written there" said Andrew Gordon,
speaking for the first time since he had ia
ken his wontcd seat by the fire that evening.
II am not very great believer in books of
fate or in irrcvocablc destiny. Man makes
his own destiny, with some little help from
others and Frederick shall be rich man
before he dies, if my exertious are Of any
avail"
''lle may be taken from us, even in child
hood, Andrew )" and the mothers eye
turned anXiously toward the little bed, as
if the bare thought of death was enough to
awaken her solicitudc 81 would rather he
would be great than rich-and good than
either"
"IIc will be great if he is rich-that is,
he will have influence, and be looked up to !;
and as for goodncss-pshaw !. who ever
heard Of a rich mans doing wrong?" he
continued, with that bitter smile, Of which
we have before spoken, curling his thin lip.
''lfa man possesses wealth, he may opprcss
the poor, strip the widow aud the tathcrlcss
Of their last penny, cheat his ncighbors, and
rob his own brothcr-but it is all rijht
Then may God grant that our boy may
never be rich man, Andrew sad his
wife, solcmnly. but you speak too bitter
ly, dearest. Your own misfortuncs have
made you unreasonable upon this point"
And .Amy lifted, carcssingly, the dark locks
that fell over her husbands high forehead.
unreasonable, Amy. Have not cause to
speak bitterly? Have | not been delraudcd
cfmy just rights Have not been robbed
-ay, literally roJbcd Of the fortune my ia,
thcr left me when | was too young to know
its value Can | forget that one, one Of my
own kith and kin, too, lives in the dwelling
Of my torctathcrs, and calls their broad lands
his when he knows and | know, and the
world knows, that | am the rightful heir?
(',p f,rpnt I'll thic opl tb,t I .,, L.,