The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-04-21
CHAPTER II.

| Aunt Nora was very angry tIat IlrSt
evening, at Becky's long delay in bring
ing the basket of shavings. Then, rs it
grew late. and the child did not come,
she was alarmed about her, and perhaps
little conscience-smitten at the thought
of her own harsh treatment OF the or
phan girl.
Tom found the empty basket the next
morning, in the old Dimmock house;
but nothing was heard of Becky for two
days. Then came a letter from some
unknown person, in which were these
words:
"Do not be anxious about the child:
She has home among friends who will
be kind to her. They are as glad to re-
ceive her rs you will, no doubt. be. to
know that you are relieved of Il burden
of which you have so often complained. !"
Good riddance!" was Aunt Nora's
first petulant exclamation. on reading
this letter. But she was not long in find
ing out that Becky had been, after all,
less burden than help.
When the dishes were to be washed,
or errands to be done, the good woman
scoded well, because she missed the
services of her little drudge. Finally,
however, seeing every day how proud
and ungrateful her own daughters were,
she hegan to cherish very tender, regret
full thoughts Of poor. Becky, and to hold
her up as a pattern to Josephine aud
Laura.
Becky never would have answered
rae in that way! she would say; or,
Becky would have been kinder to her
aunt than you are to your"wn mother; I"
"Why didn't you treat her decently
then. and keep her, if she was so lovely" y"
the young ladies would retort.
1T was to make ladies of you that |
made a slave of her, and this is all the
thanks l get for it," was the usual reply,
winding up with sob.
Years passed; and never aword did
the aunt hear, from the lost one. Mean
while, the world did not prosper with
the poor woman. Tom turned out a
spendthrift; when in want he would
always come back to his mother, just as
he was always sure to desert her again
when she was most in need Of him.
Josephine, too, forsook her, but after
ward came home to die in her forgiving
arms. Laura married an actor, and
finally accompanied him to California,
leaving two young children to be cared
for by her mother.
Fortunately, Aunt Nora owned the
house she lived in, and by letting every
nart of it except two small rooms, she
managed to live, though in miserable
way. But at last, to help Tom out OF
one of his scrapes, and save him from
prison, she had to raise money by mort
gaging her house.
This money the scapegrace promised
to work faithfully and repay; but, ol
course, be never did. 1t is not easy foI
a young man to charge bad habits
formed in boyhood. Tom could not
+ Perhaps he hau not character enough
left even to try. For that is the most
terrible punishment of wrong doing
/ one loses the power, often even the wish
Y to do right.
, The end was what the neighbors fore
saw. The interest on the mortgag'
could not be paid, and the house WA
7 advertised to be sold.
The day of the auction arrived. Aun
1 Nora had no shavings, nor anything
# else, to kind le y fire with that morning
u. and she, and the little ones Laura hat
e left with her, would have fnred badly
had not the ncighbors kindly sent il
f something for them to eat. The poo
o woman was sick and in despair. Sh
n was no longer able even to take care Q
n herself: and in a few hours she woul'
e be without home.
She sat moaning in her chair, rockinl
sadly to and fro. The children were a
e play in the court. The doors wer
l. open, for it was pleasant summe
It weather. Suddenly Aunt Nora hear'
n a voice. and looked Up.
d A young lady, tall and well dressed
e stood on the doorstep, bearing in he
a hand an object which presented tn
y strangest contrast to her cultivated
e manners and fashionable attire.
h Aunt Nora, may 1 come IMP" sh
le said, pleasantly. i've brought tn
A hasket of shnvinpsl'