Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-04-21
The Stury Teller.
THE TIMELY WARNING.
A THRILLING STORY.

MY 1atner, aILer an dDSeiCe vi tuiee yeaiS,
returned to the house so dear to him. He
had made his last voyage, and rejoiced to
have reached a haven Of rest from the per,
lis of the sea- During his absence | had
grown from child and baby of my moth
er's-for was her youngest-into rough,
careless and head strong boy. Her gentle
voice no longer restrained me. l was often
wilfu], and sometimes disobedient. l thought
it indicated manly superiority to be indie.
pendent of a woman's influence. My faith
ers return was fortunate circumstance for
me. He soon perceived the spirit of insub-
ordination stirring within me. | saw by
his manner that it displeased him, although
for a few days he said nothing to me about it.
1t was an afternoon in October, bright and
golden, that my father told me to get my hat
and ia Ike walk with him. We turned down
a narrow lane into fine open feld-a favor
ite playground for the children in the neigh
borlrood After talking cheertully on differ
ent topics for a while, my father asked me if
l observed that huge shadow thrown by
mass of rocks that stood in the middle Of the
field. l replied that 1 did.
"My father owned this land said he. "It
was my playground when boy. That rock
stood there then. To me it is beacon, and
whenever I look at it recall dark spot in
my life-an event so painful to dwell upon,
if it were not as warning to you, should
not speak Of it. Listen then, my dear boy,
and learn wisdom from your fathers errors.
My father died when | was mere child.
I was the only son. My mother was a gen.
tie, loving woman, devoted to her children
and beloved by everybody l remember her
pale, beautiful face, her sweet, atfectionate
smile, her kind and tender voice. In my
childhood l loved her intensely. l was new
er happy apart from her; and she, fearing
was becoming too much of baby, sent me
to the high SCHOOL, the village. After associ-
ating for a time with rude, rough boys, lost,
in measure, my fondness for home and my
reverence for my mother; and it became
more and more difficult for her to restrain my
impetuous nature. thought it indicated a
want of manlness to yield to her authority
or to appear penitent, although | knew that
my conduct panied her. The epithet [ most
dreaded was girl boy. l could not bear to
hear it said by my companions that | was
tied to my mothers apron strings. From a
quiet, home-loving child, I soon became a
wild, boisterous boy. My dear mother used
every persuasion to induce me to seek hap
pine$s within the precincts of home. She
eXerted herself to make our 6reside attract
i've, and my sister, following her sacrificing
example, sought to entice me by planning
games and diversions for my entertainment.
saw all this, but did not heed it.
1t was one afternoon like this that I was
about leaving the dining table, to spend the
iutermission between morning and evening
school, in the streets as usual, my mother
laid her hand on my shoulder, and said
mildly but firmly, "My son, wish you to
condkSith me-" I would have rebelled, but
s,mething in her manner awed me. She put
on her bonnet, and said to me, "We will take
little walk together" followed her in
silence; as | WAS passing out of the door,
observed one of my rude companions skulk-
ing about the house. and / knew he was
waiting for me. He sneered as | went past
him. My pride was wounded to the quick.
He was very bad boy, but being some years
older than myself, he exercised a great inau-
ence over me. | followed my mother sulki-
ly, till we reached the spot where we now
stand, beneath the shadow Of this huge rock.
O, my boy could that hour be blotted from
my memory which has cast shadow over
my whole life, gladly would l exchange all
that the world can offer me for the quiet
peace of mind | should enjoy. But no like
this huge, unsightly pile, stands the monu.
ment of my guilt forever.
My mother, being feeble in health, sat
down and beckoned me beside her. Her
look, so full of tender sorrow, is present to me
now. would not sit, but continued standing
sullenlv beside her.
"Afred, my dear son" said she, "have you
lost all love for your mother? did moi
reply. 81 fear you have" she continued
land may God hel you to see your OWL
heart, and me to do my duty" She ther