Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-01


AS to Mrs. Thorndale, her devotion to he
charge knew no bounds, and she was soon a
completely wrapped up in him as though h
had been her own child. Not knowing hi
name, or whether one had ever been bestow
ed on him, they called him Edward, adding
the surname of Hall, as being sufficient,
common and unpretending not to attrac
comment, while at the same time, it was no
borne by any of their family or friends.
Little Edward Hall, as we must therefore
designate him, grew rapidly from infancy
into childhood, acquiring with each added
year, frmer sway over the household, which
seemed without reserve to yield to the potency
of his youthful rule. The domestics idolizee
him, and cheerfully indulged his whims hi
might often have been seen mounted upon ont
Of the cart horses, as those sturdy animal
pulled load of wood or hay, 'brandishing hi'
little whip, and amts:ng with his prattle thu
driver who walked beside; or he would trudgt
along behind the plough, fancying that hi
was helping topush it with his baby hands
while asking hundred different questions
about planting, the philosophy Of crops and
all the various branches of farm industry
until, as old Thomas, the head man on thu
farm, declared, when he was five years old ht
knew 'most,as much as the master himself
Possessed of quick intelligence, and untirins
activity, he dipped into everything and gain
ed some useful knowledge out of every new
experience. From early dawn until sunset
his feet were never still, and the little figure
with its belted blouse and short trousers, ant
wide straw hat sheltering the curly locks
fitted perpetually from garret TO cellar, from
dairy to barn, from garden to orchard, nov
perched on a fence, now swinging from
bough, now racing, shouting; skipping, climb
ing, as though it were the embodiment O.
perpetual motion, Of frolic and fun. M
wonder that such blithe and happy pres
ence in the house should cast cheerfulnes'
like sunshine over everything around and
Mrs. Thorndale, pressing her husbands hand
would sometimes ask him when they were
alone ..... ..
"Now John, isn't it blessed thing for us
that we kept that boy? Isn't he the comfort
of our declining years."
And the farmer was fain to assent, for il
was true that he was never so well satisfied al
when little Edward was near him. Holding
him on his knee in the evening, on the vine
covered porch in summer time, or beside the
cracking fire in winter, he would tell him
long and wonderful stories, to which the boy
listened with deep attention, pleading always
for another and another. "Just one more, Pap
py !" until he was carried off to bed Of hi:
own accord he had bestowed the appellatior
of "Pappy" upon the farmer, though he hao
been taught that there was no real fatherhooo
in the case. Mrs Thorndale he called "Tatty,
probably a corruption, of Martha, as he heard
her husband call her. But after while il
was deemed expedient to change these child
ish epithets into some more suitable and be-
fitting his advancing years. -.
Edward" said Thorndale one evening, as
they were sitting as usual together, waiting
for the supper which Mrs. Thorndale and he'
assistants were preparing, 81 want to have
little bit of talk with you, instead of telling
you any more stories before you 60 to bed
You know you are getting to be big boy
now, aren't your"
20, yes" proudly rejoined Edward. "In
most as tall as Jake, Thomas says"
Jake was one of the farm hands, a very di
minutive, odd-looking little fellow, of whom
Edward was constant companion and play
mate, Notwithstanding the disparity in theil
years.
ayes, I reckon in three or four years more
you'll be- pretty near on a level with Jake's
head Well, my man, I've been thinking, a:
you're growing so TALL and so sharp, it's about
time to be sending you to school. How would
you like that?' ..:. .. ~. ......
Edwards countenance fell, and he looked
very serious for a moment or two before an
swering 81 couldn't play then, any more,
he remarked slowly, at last. ..
"Why not? You would have plenty o.
time for play. All the afternoons, and early
in the morning before school.hours, you could
have all the play you want And don't you
want to be clever, educated boy, and reao
all about travels, and whale. catching ano
lion.hunting, and Captain Kane, and fairies
and giants, and all those fine sGories you like
so much to listen to? Just think, wouldn't
it be first-rate to know how to read them youl
own self?" .....
"Why, did they come out of books ?" asked
Edward. 81 thought they just came out O.
your own head" ...
"Oh no; most of 'em are out of books
though make up few myself. And wher
you can read, then YOU shall have lots o
books for.your own" ......
"Shall II" Then I do want to learn" ex
claimed the boy, Immediately won over BY
the prospect of having so much treasured lor'
at his own disposal. "Did you learn to reat
when you was as young as me?'
"No, my lad. In my early days, education
wasn't as much thought of as it is now, and
picked up mine mostly by scraps, till I was
big boy and got myself sent to grammar
school. I want you to be better scholar
than am, and you may easily be, if you try
You've just got to set your mind on you
tasks and be obedient to your masters, ane
you'll get along first rate, and make me prout
of you one of these days"
"And Tatty'Il be proud, toe" said Edward
"Iook here" said the farmer, stroking hi