The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-09
'N4t'''' !. = y y y ,HI = Y" Ut. y
Neighbor Goodwing's Story.


doubt If he ever Knowingly trod upon q
worm, and IN venture no word ever es..
capped his lips that he would wish to recall.
he early found the peace Of heaven, and
has been all bis days thanking God that
the blessings vouchsafed to him arc sd
manifold. 1t Is, as l now call to mind,
some eighteen months ago. AZ my spouse
stood under the maple tree that is near our
porch, busy, as Is her wont, with some
dairy matters, that she heard the clatter of
hTses hoofs, and looking up whom did
she sec but hor nephew, Nathan. He rode
up to her. and without dismounting, salu-
ted her, bending low, to. do 80, and after
presenting her with fat and neatly pluck.
ed fowl, made diScoursc which will re-.
peat, as nearly as my memory bears out
what my wife did tell me.
'vThe Lord hath beenvcry good to me,
my Aunt Charity" =
$50 he hath, Nathan"
MY blessings are more than l can reck-
on, my Aunt Charity"
'rruly, you do well always to bear that
IN mind, Nathan"
"Yet fear that, through SO many mer-
eles, | shall be unmihdful OF my spiritual
duties, and become attached to the things
Of time and sense my Aunt Charity"
'"You must pray to be delivered from
temptation, Nathan" -.
'@ ~ have cast my eyes about, seeking
some means by which may be tried as by
tte, myiAunt CHARITY "
You do wrong, Nathan The Lord
works In His own way" ...(,f. -l\ g
Therefore, believe tnat He hath d.
rectcd my thoughts" ,.t
"What mean you, Nathan2"; ~
Toward Mrs. Polly Prcntiss, my Aunt
Charity" sx ,un -,
s.Now, If know My spouse, ss nieishborrs, /"
said Mr. Goodwng, interrupted u the course
Of his narrative; land to Judge by the
flash Of indignation that was in her eyes as
she told ME this the answer that she gave
Nathan was not gentle. Her words were :
''Toward that shrew! Why, she hath in
her to atflict man worse than him from
whom our Lord did drive seven DEVILS" "
''Yet, knowing that desire Mistress
Polly In marriage; surely in that way, If III
no other, may make self-sacrifce, and be
tried as by fire" >, H.. IUt4'l IN,i
"You are pleased to jest, Nathan"
81 never jest, my Aunt Charity;for every
light word we are held to account y
s'But heaven doth not command you to
eat bread that hath nodded, nor to- take q
wild beast to your home, Nathan"
;"Nay, butit has come upon mo with
the force ofconvictlon; my Aunt Charity,
that must have such trials as will wean
me from the world, and If i marry this
woman shall have such trial ever pre-
sent" a.. s Il
ssrhereupon MY spouse,S again Mr..
Goodwlng sad by way of interruption,
''did call him stupid fool, and did pray
oSt ri t,'f Lo Il
to him, also, that to wed that woman wonld
be to seek a grave or the madhollse. but
he shook his head, and without further re-
comfort herself by the thought that, two
ly would drive the notion from his head.
"a week later Nathan came again.
s'Sho hath promised to wed me, my
Aunt Charity" ..s
''She hath promised to wed you, Nath-
,an2 Have you in truth asked her hand 2
I could cry with VOCATION and SORROW" i
'tHow else, my Aunt Charity, could
she promise to wed mo unless l asked her
hand2' 7FY
elbow else7 Woy, the slirewd, had she
to you or any man and demand marriage.
or course, she promised you. Little chance
had she of husband. Why, Nathan,
why did you not wed the Widow Abigail
Spence Tell me that. =. A. good women,
thrifty house@ifeS Z Sand:a gentle soni,"1
"Ah, my Aunt Charity, much did de-
sire to do so, but that would have been toe
great . blessing. Sorely wasj j,I tempted to
ask the widoW's hand Sn the day that lhei
ssss' shst s7s"ins Il 9sn ys sae wdoS
as she kuilted, and marked her grace O,
manner and >comeliness; and made men.
ition oy Lydia's happiness, and when die
ithl5, Abigail turned to me with tender eyes
and cody Raid:
"Will you not take ity on Lydia's lone
ly sisters" and for instant, even many min
utes. Ibid have sore temptation to woo
heEforiI judged by that remark shc might,
II urged, given me her hand. Then came the
words of the Scripture to ne, to flee temp
tation, and I'made great effort and quittet
her. 1have not seen her, since, except II
church, where she does gaze on Ine With
sad eyes."
''YGu are wicked man, Nathan Ap
pleby, thus tb break the heart of goot
woman and to take up with O shrewd
Still, having done SO, Nathan; tell inc o.
your wooihg OF Polly."' 35A 1.,,', ~ =
'I"lt was On tho evening df the last Lord,
day, my Aunt Charity, as the sun Wen
down, that T made, my way to- Mistress
Poly's' dwelling" heard tho sharp ton,
of her voice, as | approached. If
miss took 'tptj, an Was speaking 2 to on,
''of her fathcf's farm hands, and she said
"You great sced.sowing numbskdll ou
Of my sight, you lll-favored, hldeous-man
nored clodl"
And yet you pcrsovered in your inten
tons Nathan2" 3
''rruly, did, and had heard her say
II hate o man, great, stupid, iil-begottei
things." Then her father replied ~ fea
you will never have opportunity to d'
.apght, but hate q mani (" 'To this she said