Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1880-12-23

Oh friends, / pray to. night, ii
Keep not your kisses for my Dead coiu
brow
The way is dark and lonely, let me feel
them now,
, Think gently OF me: l am travel worn;
Ny fsftarinS feet are pierced VIII many
Eo,g,ue, ul, hearts ~estranged I; forgive ]
when dreamless rest is mine l shall not
The tenderness for which I long to-
night.
THE FATHERS RETURN.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.
What a pleasanslittle home it was
TIE family sitting-room had never
before looked SO bright and attractive
ss Oh that autumn afternoon. Acheer-
full FIRE blazed on the hearth.stonl
80 crimson curtaina were closely
drawn, filing the room with a warn
r,aeate light. and in the midst OF this,
IN hes low. sewing.c chair, sat the
Young wife, a dainty bit Of embrold-
ery on her lap, at which she worked
away with def. fingers, humming all
the while a gentle lullaby 10 the lit-
tie sleeper in the wicker cradle at her
side. On the rug. at her feet, lay a
l;tsle girl, her f~rst-born, worn-out
with play, her curly head pillowed
non a great, shaggy Newfoundland,
Ind both fast asleep.
Richard Standish, the husband and
father, stood noiselessly on the TIRES
hold. contemplating this pretty home.
picture with a full heart. After a
lew moments he made a step into the
SeOm. His wife locked up quickly,
herr ,es Frightening with pleasure.
"oh. hssband! is it your" she
sud; how SAL am. I was so
afraid you'd be detassed late. Come
IN, I want
But something in his face sneueed
her all ut once, and she sat looking
up at him with tender, entreatins
-He, spoke at last. his voice
sud unsteady.
'Albatrossa sails tomorrow
Z, Violet" he said.
nce fell between them. broken
y her passionate inquiry.
Dick, Is there no help? Must
., you. GO"
Violet"
no more. kuowingth that his
was inexorable. Once be-
since their marriage, he had
5ns, leaving her for a whole dreary
-snd rev he was going again. the
embroidery fell from her fingers, and
she sat gazing into the red Goals,
while the babies slept at her feet,
thinking of the desolate hours in store
for her ana them. Her husband
watched her with a swelling heart.
After awhile he approached her, and
ssroking her bright, ripping hair
said tenderly.
Poor Violet, poor, little wife, you
mustn' take it so hard"
She made no answer, but throwing
her arms round his neck, sobbed for a
few moments on his bosom; and then
she vas ready for herwork, and there
was plenty to do. Clothing to over
! look, socks to darn, besides all the
packing. The whole night long she
was at it, and in the chill, drear
dawn, pale and weary, but with wlde'
sleepless eyes. she followed him down
TO the wharf. The "Albatross,"
swung at anchor. all ready for her
departure.
BE had kissed the babies as they
lav asleep in their little cot-bed, and
uos he turned to his wife.
.
"Gocd.by, Violet" his bronzed
features working with the emotion he
struggled to keep down, 81 may as
yell say it at once, as it's cot 70 be
asne; take care of yourself and the
babies, and don't worry about me-
ayear'll soon slip by, and then III
Be bach again, God willing. Kiss
az, and run home like a good little
wife; you're shivering with the cold
now"
She kissed him, clinging to his bo-
aom for a moment, and then she hur-
ned away. But on the top of the
hill she paused to look back. She
could not discern his face or figure in
men that thronged
gazed through the
Suing, wistful eyes,
of departure came;
and shouts, and
"Albatross' start
be, her white sails
Qgs in the un-
yard, the
peed her
aching
All