The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-05-05

dropped her knitting on the floor, awoke,
| her eyellds heavier grew, arose and ST.
lently withdrew.
Along the creaking stairs she crept. 70
| the lone chamber where she slept, and
close the window curtains drew, to screen
herself from outward view. She stopped
the key-hole of the door. she set the
| candle on the floor, looked meath the
valance-half afraid to find man in
ambuscade;, ), then sitting down, aside
| with care she laid her garments on q
chair, slipped on her ghostly robe of
| white, took off her shoes, blew out the
light, then, in the darkness, from her
head removed her wig and went to bed,
curled up, with chilly sobs and sighs, and
| quivering shut her drowsy eyes,
Poor single souls who sleep alone, the
night wind hath q dismal tone to
your lone ears-you start with fear at
every midnight sound you hear, when
late at night with weary heads you creep
into your weary beds. The nights seem
long, your lips turn blue, your feet grow
cold-you know they do!
She slept at last she heard once more
the ripple break upon the shore again
she sat upon the strand, and some one
elasped her fair young hand, and words
were whispered in her ear that long ago
she loved to hear, and, starting up, she
cried in glee: &c. knew you would come
back to me-" She woke. Alas no
love was there. Her thin arms clasped
the vacant air. Twas but o dream. She
lived alone. Without she heard the night
wind moan, while on the window-panes
the snow was wildly beating. From be-
low the smothered sound of voices came
when still with Busby's social dame.
Their guest sat by the fading fire and
watched its feeting flame expire while
she listened, but no word they uttered
could be clearly heard but soon recol-
lection came that sent shudder through
her trame-the sausage to be fried at
morn, the BREAKFAST table to adorn, was
tn the bedroom where their guest would
soon betake himself to rest The clock
struck ten, she softly said, "I'll get it
ere he goes to bed"
The spare bed stood within q room as
chill and humid as n tomb twas never
aired, twas seldom swept in it's damp
corners spiders crcpt; they built their
bridges through the air, and no rude
broom disturbed them there. Tho rain,
That fell on roof decayed dripped through
The chlnks that time had made. and on
the whltewashed walls ran down III won
arous frescoes tinged with brown the
window-panes, with frost o'erspread,
were warmer than that icy bed. Cold
was the mating on the floor cold blew
the breeze beneath the door cold were
the straight-backed chairs of wood cold
was the oaken stanG that stood on spind-
ling legs that looked rs chill as lone, bare
pines on some bleak hill high rose that
hcd DER things below, like some tall ice
berg capped with snow Here every
highly hun"rcd guest, when bedtime
camc retired to crest"
Within its large and moldy press hung
Mrs BusDY best silk dress: her Sunday
bonnet, shoes, and shawl, on rusty nails
against the wall, by Mr.. Busby's suit of
blue, that at his wedding had been new.
Hero on peg his best cravat rcpOsed
within his old fur hat; here, shut from
sight of human eyes, were rows of mince
and apple pies, with rolls of sausage and
head-cheesc, stored on the shelves and
left to freeze.
From out her cot the maiden crept,
slipped on her shoes and softly stepped
nlong the hall and through the gloom un-
til she reached the chilly room. Unseen
she crossed the icy floor, unheard I'M
locked the closet door, snatched from
the shelf, in a firm hold, bag of saus-
age, stiff ana cold, then turning quickly,
sought to beat sudden. safe and sure
retreat. Too late! A light cleaned on
the wall, and sound of footsteps filled
the hall, then to the room came boldly
on the stalwart form of Iittlciohn! She
backward stepped and stood aghast
then closed the door and held it fast.
With chattering teeth and trembling
frame across the floor Lycurgus came.
He placed the candle in his hand upon
the spindling Uaken stand. Then closed
the door, and, with frown, within n
cold chair settled down. He threw his
boots upon tho floor, and, rising, tried
the closet door; but Aunt Rebecca, in
alright, clung to the latch with all her
might. To look within Lycurgus failed,
he turned away and thought it nailed!
Then, pulling down the snowy spread
ne put his warm brick in the bed, took
off his clothes, and slipped between the
sheets of ice, so white and clean, blew
out the light, and, with sneeze, close
to his chin he brought his knees, be-
meath the clothes he drew his nose, and
tried in vain to find repose; while "Aunt
Rebecca," from the wall, took down the
Sunday gown and shawl, she wrapped
them round her freezing form, and
blushed, to keep her visage warm
The paper curtains, loosely hung upon
the windows, rustling swung, while
through each quivering, narrow frame
OF frosty panes IL dim light came that
made the furniture appear like dusky
phantoms orouching near. Lyourgus
listened in the storm and hugged his
brick to keep him warm, but colder
grew the humid bed, the clothes con-
gealed around his head: to feel at ease in
vain he tried; he tossed and turned from
side to side; each time he moved, be-
meath his weight the bedstead creaked
IKE some farm-gate. His brick grew
coid, he could not sleep, q strange SEN
Satlon seemed to creep upon him, while
OppOaa tho Ann,, H. II