Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-06

then she would sit down and make them botf
up with all the skill of an experienced man
tau maker.
Susan handed me some bills, one day tina
she said had been left there by collector
including one for our rent, and one for th'
last suit of clothes which had been unwil
lingly forced to buy in order to keep up {
respectable appearance. My countenance fel
some degrees I fancy, for had no money
to pay them.
Mrs. Jones was bustling round the dinner
table, and she said rather sadly, that she fell
that she ought not to be living upon us, ane
perhaps she had better 60 away:
"Never, my good friend" said |, and "Nev
er," echoed Susy.
I assured her that I would not listen te
her leaving us-that trusted very soon tt
get business, and that come what would she
should share our last loaf. The good OLD
soul hugged US both at once, and then setting
her cap and wiping her eyes she went quietly
back to her work. After dinner she went
out, hut we reiterated our injunctions that she
should not seek another home as long as she
could put up with ours.
I called round in the evening at the vari
GUS places from whence / received the bills
To my utter surprise, the answer was that
they had all been settled. / inquired by
whom, but no one could recollect. They
were all cancelled on the various books.
was thoroughly amazed, for knew no one
but Mr.. Russell who could do it for me, and
hardly thought it Of him.
Susy was as surprised as myself, but she
rather inclined to the belief that it was her
father, so quietly let her indulge her pleas
ant belief.
We got through the summer, but winter
was coming on, and actually trembled at
its approach. Industrious as was-prudent
as Susy had ever beehive could not hope
to get through the cold weather without both
suffering and toll, and with debts superadded.
had been at the Office all day, on one
gloomy time in November, anxiously deba-
ting whether 1 should 60 to printing again.
I considered all the why's and wherefores,
counted the costs again and again, and By
the most careful arithmetic, could not find
that the change would benefit me a sou. |
was toiling unremittingly now, and l should
have done 80 if I returned to printing, and
with scarcely even so much success as now.
became heartily discouraged with the prfs'
pect before me. Had | been alone IN the
world I could have borne it patiently. Suf:
fering and privation brought no terrors to me
individually, but the thought of those who
we're dear to me at home, unnamed me.
And the darker the prospect, the more l
shrunk from allowing Mrs. Jones to feel that
she was burden upon US. No-come what
might, the good old woman should not be re.
moved from the circle in which she seemed
to have placed all her happiness. She should
live with us as long as she lived at all, and it
we were reduced to beggary, why we would
beg for her too.
I started up and paced the Office with an
impatient step. 1t may seem strange that
strong healthy man, should be SO powerless
as I was to procure living for my family ;
but so it was. 1t was growing dusk, and felt
it was near my time to 60 home. | had in
tended sending some fuel to my house, but l
was disappointed in some money that GER
tain publisher of daily paper was owing ME,
and I now dreaded that there was darkness
on the hearth at home.
I was just locking up, when boy came up
to ME with folded paper. read it under
the lamp post. 1t ran thus:
"Come to No., fremont Road at six
o'clock"
l saw no alternative but to do as | was
asked The boy was gone, so | could make
no excuse and | walked over the damp
leaves that crushed upon the sidewalks, which
the November blast had shaven that very
hour from the trees. / went over the ground
rapidly, for l wanted to learn the errand, and
be away.
rang at the number designated. 1t was a
good brick house, with substantial granite
steps, we'll lighted ves,ibule with glass doors,
and I could see that the whole front was we'll
supplied with gas. l heard little feet scam
pering through the hall, but as the doors were
of grooved glass, l could see nothing.
A servant came to the door, and waited on
me to a handsome drawing. room, with plain
but new and good furniture. waited in
curious speculation for some minutes. There
had been no plate upon the door, so | could
not even tell the name Of the person wishing
to see me. l was standing before the chin.
ney.piece, examining picture, when child
ran into the room. 1t was 80 like little Kit
ty, that would have called her so. had not
the pretty embroidered robe and silk apron
looked so different from our children's plain
clothes. But another little head was peeping
in at the open door, and that was little Char.
ley, only for the scarlet frock and neat gal
ters; and then the two made long rush
across the floor, and ran into my arms while
slowly and majestically, sweeping along in
her ample grapes and bonn lbazines, came port
ly Mrs. Jones, and behind her Susy, smiling
and blushing like the dawn. / think | had
womanly feeling come upon me just then.
l felt sort of faintness, and l passed my
hand across my eyes, to be sure that was
wide awake. Susy laid her hand upon my
shoulder.
you owe it to this kind friend here, -
whispered she. "She has been trying you
deeply"
"Trying me?" I said aloud.
eyes, nv good friend," said Mrs. Jones.
herself 81 was rich, and had no one about
me but selfish and interested people, who
wanted all my money. | have long owned
this house, and lived in it when / met you
first but a thought suggested by your invita-
ton to 20 to you induced me to try whether
you would keep me if l had happened to be
poor, and l am abundantly satisfied with the
result. We made money at the old house in
Howard street, which no one but ourselves
ever knew of, and always intended to find
you and make you my heir l had, however,
rather that you would enjoy my property,
while can have the pleasure of seeing you ;
so I invite you to return my visit: You will