Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-03-30

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sophy, now one of the the richest property
holders in the State, could afford to dispense
her bounty with lavish hand, and did so, not
only then but at at all future times.
Both she and Harry had decided, from the
first, not to occupy the house and place left
her by Mr.. Erskine. She shrank from the
thought Of taking possession of it as the wife
of another, recalling the care and pleasure
which he had given to the occupation of fitting
it up for her, when he had looked forward to
bringing her there rs his bride. So it was
turned into benevolent institution, for the
protection and bringing-up of poor children
whose parents could not provide for them and
within year from its establishment, its owner
had the satisfaction of seeing her enterprise in
fair way to bring forth such fruits as would
amply repay her for her liberal gift and design.
The pair made their home with Mrs. May.
The old house was so completely renovated as
to be scarcely recognizable, and in addition to
other improvements, large piece of ground
lying adjacent to the property was purchased
and taken in, and twined into beautiful
park, enhancing greatly the value as we'll as
the aspect of the place.
Sophy fell naturally into the position of the
Lady Bountiful of the neighborhood. Not
withstanding the simplicity of her education,
her new honors sat easily upon her. She was
ably assisted in all her benevolent projects by
Harry, who, having had enough of sailors
life, and finding the prospect of farther sep
aration from those he loved not to be endured,
made up his mind, to sophy's infinite delight,
to remain for the future quietly on shore.
Mrs. May, now that her daughters welfare
was so happily established, gradually recover
ed her former cheerfulness and composure of
mind, and with her mental, her physical con-
dition improved, SO that in few months time
she could no longer be considered an invalid,
though she was never again very strong. The
old Captain, in regaining his nephew, seemed
to have almost regained his own youth and
in watching the happiness of the two young
people who were so dear to him, felt that Prov
idence had left him unfurnished with nothing
that he could desire. Hislittle cottage, which
he stoutly refused to have altered or enlarged,
was always kept in the most perfect and invi-
ting order by Sophy's loving care. Both she
and Harry spent much of their time beneath
his roof and sitting at his front door with
one of them near him, and, as years went on,
with their children playing about his knee, he
would declare, as he contentedly gazed out at
the blue bay with the white sales fitting over
it, that 10 king alive had more to be thankful
for than he He lived to good old age, and
at his death left all his little fortune to Har-
ry's eldest boy, the younger Harry, who SEEM
ed to have fallen into the position occupied by
the former in his childhood, and was the idol
and darling of the Captains heart.
In the little cemetery adjoining the village
is Mr.. Erskine's grave mound kept always
green, and blooming with carefully cultivated
flowers. At its head rises shaft of pure, pol
ished marble, the only conspicuous monument
in the enclosure. Like his own character and
life, it is simple, lofty, and unsullied by stain
or flaw. Few, perhaps, could leave more ell
viable record From his earliest years, the de-
sire to make others happy had been his, and
the benefits conferred upon those with whom
his last years were passed, had only been a
small part of the good that he had succeeded
in doing. If fortune had been unkind tOh him,
in blighting his fairest prospects, still his fate
was one which none could pity. For what
can man desire more than to leave behind
him the memory of just and good works, of an
unselfishness which blots out personal aims
and motives, and which sacrifices, for the sake
of others, the dearest and brightest hopes ever
awakened in the heart ?
1.-THE END