The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-03
Uncle Maurice.

1t Is with mems lives as with days-somc
dawn radiant with thousand colors, others
dark with gloomy Clouds That of my
Uncle Maurice was one of the latter. lie
was 80 sicxly when he came into the world
that Notwithstanding these anticipations,
which might be called hopes, he continued
to live, suffering and dcformed.
He was deprived of all the joys as well as
all the attractions of childhood He was
oppressed because he was weak, and laugh
cd at for his deformity.~ In vain this little
hunchback opened his arms to the world
the world scoifcd at him and went its way.
However, he still had his mother, and it
was to her that the child directed all the
feelings of Il heart rcpulscd by others. With
her he found shelter, and was happy, till he
reached the age when q man must take his
place in life and Maurice had to content
himself with that which others had refused
with contempt His education would have
qualified him for any course Of life; and he
became a clerk in one of the little oll-houses
at the entrance of hisnutive town. He was
always shut up in this dwelling of few
feet square, with no relaxation from the Of
tice accounts but reading and his mothers
visits. On fine summer days she came to
work ut the door of his hut, under the shade
of an ecmatis planted by Maurice. And
even then, when she was silent, her pres
cnce was a pleasant change to the hunch-
back; he heard the clinking of her long
knitting needles, he saw her mild and mourn
full profile, which reminded him of so many
couragco,lsly borne trials; he conld every
now and then rest his hand affcctionatcly
Oh that bowed-down neck, and exchange a
smile with her. But this comfort waa soon
to he taken from him.
His poor mother fell sick, and at the end
of few days he had to give up all hope.
Maurice was overcome at the idea of scpa-
ration which would henceforth leave him
alone on earth, and abandoned himself to
boundless grief. He knclt by the bedside
Of the dying woman; he called her by the
fondest names he pressed her III his arms,
as If he could so keep her alive. His mother
tried to return the caresscs and to answer
him; but her hands were cold, her voice
already gone. She could only press hcrlips
against the forehead of her son, hcave sigh
and close her eyes forever. Those who
were present tried to take Maurice away,
but he resisted them and threw himself on
that now motionless form.
"Deadl" cried he; ''dcad She who
had never left me; she who was the
only one in the world who loved mel You,
my MOTHER dead What, then, remains
for me here bclow?"
A stifed voice replied:
"Godl"
Maurice started, raised himself ,up. Was
1t a last sigh from the dead, or his own con-
science that had answered him2 He did
not seek to know, he understood the an
swcr, and accepted it.
1t was then that ! first knew him. I Of
ten went to see him in his little dollhouse :;
he mixed in my childish games, told me his
best stories, and let me gather. his flowers.
Deprived as he was of all external attrac-
tiveness he showed himself full of kindness
to all who came to him, and, though he
never would put himself forward, he had a
welcome for every one. Deserted and de-
spised, he submitted to everything with a
gontle patience; but those who might
otherwise have promoted him rs his services
deserved were rcpulsed by his dcformty.
AS he had no patrons, he found his claims
were always disrcgardcd. They preferred
before him those who were better able to
make themselves agreeable, and seemed to
be.grantng him favor when letting him
keep the humble office whcEh enabled him
to live. Uncle Maurice bore injustice as he
had borne contempt; unfairly treated by
men, he raised his eyes higher, and trusted
in the justice Of Him who can not bo de-
ceived.
-, lie lived in an old house in the suburb,
where many work k-people, as poor but not
as forlorn as he, also lodged. Among these
neighbors there was q single woman, who
lived by herself in a little garret, into which
came. both wind and rain. She was young
girl, pale and. silent, and with nothing to
recommend her but}her wrctchcdncss, and
her resignation to IT, She was never seen
speaking to any other woman, and no song
cheercd her garret. She worked without
interest and without relaxation depress-
ing gloom seemed to enyelop her like q
STROUD. Her detection affected Maurice
he attempted to speak to her she replied
mildly, but in few words. II was easy to
see that she preferred her silence and hcl
solitude to the little hunchback's good will;
he perceived 1t, and said no more
But Toincttes needle was hardly sufficient
for her support, and presently work failed
her Maurice learned that the poor girl was
in want of everything, and that thcstradcs
men refused TO give her credit. He immc.
diately wentato them and privately engaged
to pay them for what they supplied Toincttt
with. y .,p M nan0s1 tytsHy yE
Things went on in this way for eevera,
months. The young dress-mlakcr continued
out of work, Until slie was at last frightened
at the bills she had contracted with tho
shopkeepers. When ,shc came to an ex,
PLANTATION with them everything was discoy,
ered Her first impulse was to run to Uncle
Maurice and thank him on her knees Hel
habitual reserve had given way to burst
of deepest feeling. 1T seemed az II gratitude