The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-01

Now is not the forever. and the future waits.
-ChuS. ". Coleman, .Jr., in Harper.
MEAN HET.
Away up among the Boston mountains,
in Arkansaw-near a stream so rapid
thatit seemed a torrent of hurry and worry
There stands an old stone house. Here
aud there, high up among sudden coves
and down below in little valleys, luxur-
liant crops of grain and grasses grow.
Tho place is owned by old Nathan Bill
ingsly, a man whose reputation for plety
spreads far beyond the boundary lines of
the county. Mrs. Billingsly was pale
and pious. She worked so hard in sum-
mer, cooking for the hired men, that she
barely had the strength in winter to en-
ter the revival work Of the circuit anddo
herself justice. To this devoted old
couple only one child had been born, a
girl who had grown up to be anything
but a Joy to her parents. They had been
married many years when the child was
born, and the old man, in an ecstasy of
delight. declared that the little thing wasa
sunbeam that had fallen on to the shady
side of his life. Years failed to verify this
hopeful assertion. The gill, known all
over the neighborhoed as Mean llet, was,
TO her parents, q constant cause Of veXa-
ton. and sometimes she was the cause of
humiliation. She was small and of en-
cecding feetness of foot. Her face was
of that peculiar palencss which no cxcr-
else tends to rcdden. Her eyes were as
dark as the interior Of 4 cave.
"lIettic," said Mrs. Biliingsly one
evening, ''whcrc have you been all day!'
She took a small fish from her pocket,
threw it on tholable, pointed to it and
said:
"Worked all day for that little perch.
Lost al my bait, and had to catch this
young sinner with a cricket"
"You ought to be ashamed of your
self"
clam. Anybody that couldn't do
better than this, again pointing at the
fish, fought to feel ashamed. Got any.
thing to cat, handy2 l am hungry as q
wolf"
"Ah, child" sighed Mrs. Billingsly, as
she turned to the "cubbard" to take
down the dishes containing the dinner
which had been kept for the girl, Il
don't know what is to become of you.
Hettie, do you know that you are sixteen
years old to-day"
"This curly mustard makes splendid
greens. don't it?"
Ibid you hear what l said to you?"
s.Yessum. I never would know how
old I am unless YOU were to tell me.
Sixteen years old-siyteen. Why, don't
feel old, mother, and after all l am not
as old as you are"
"Hettie, don't be so foolish"
''Whv, mother, is it foolish to tell the
truth? If 1 were to say that l am as old
as you are it ould be foolish, and at the
slme time it would be untrue"
FLUSH, child. Here m your father.
He is mad"
The old man entered the room.
"Het, where have you bcen:"
Gushing"
'Ill fish YOU"
He walked out toward an apple tree.
The girl dropped the knife and fork.
Smother, he's going 70 whip me. Don't
let him. know I'm mean, but it hurts
so when I'm whipped. Please don't let
him whip me-"
The old man, stripping the leaves
from an apple tree sprout, walkedin with
a deliberation which showed his strength
of purpose.
''I've fooled with you as long as I AN
goin' to, you good-for.nothin' thing,
III"
"IIellom some one called at the gate.
The old man dropped the switch and
went out. Mrs. Billingsly and the girl,
seeing that the old man was conducting
someone toward the house, went into
the sitting room, where they were pre-
scnted to young Mr.. Wilkins. the newly
appointed circuit rider. The young
man, during a course of theological
study, had grown pale. but his face col
orcd when Hettic, with miscellaneous
frankness, extended her hand.
II an under many obligations oyou,"
said Hettic, still holding the hand of the
DluSLIuS preacher.
The old man glared at the girl. The
old lady violently cleared her throat.
obligations to me? Why, Miss Bill
lingsly, l do not understand YOU"
"Yes, l am. Father was just aboutto
larrup me with an apple tree sprout when
you came."
"Leave this room" demanded the old
man. go on, I tell you. That switch
is still handy, and you shall feel it vet"
The girl left the The aston
ishcd Mr.. wilkins sat down, and recov-
cring somewhat from his embarrassment,
said,
'Brothcr Biliingsly, how is the con-
dition of the church in this neighbor-
hood!"
"Pretty fair"
"At the last meetin'," remarked the
old lady, 1--WE had three of as bright
conversions as I ever saw. There has
been a little backslidin' lately, caused by
bran dances an the like, but with the
right sort of work the church can be put
in first rate condition. This is your first
charge, amt it?"
Eyes, l have just come from college.
Although have never been actively en-
gagged in the vineyard, yet l belivc that
l can do good work. l have"
The minister uttered an exclamation
and ran out into the yard. His horse
was galloping away. A giggling girl
drew back behind a corner of the house.
preacher by climbing fences and crossing
rugged places, succeeded in catching the
horse, but at least two hours were spent
in the p%erplexing exercise.
GLOW is this, Brother Billingsly?"
"What, Brother Wilkinsl"
"Wby l tied my horse securely, but
you see he has the bride over his head.
This Is certainly strange. Won't you
ride to the house, Brother BillingslyW
ooh, no, l am used to walking"
"Well, l will ride"
He mounted the horse. The animal
lunged forward, kicked up and threw
the young man.
Mr.. Billingsly caught the horse. Mr..
Wilkins said that there was surely some
mistake. "Why, sir, he never acted
this way before" .
The old man adjusted the saddle. A
fragment Of flint rock fell on the ground.
The old man shook his head and sighed
deeply.
"What is the matter, Brother Bill
lingsly?:
II was thinking ofthe sinfuluess there
is in this world"
eyes, the world is full of sin; but it
is our duty to radicatc it,"
"Wcll, let us go to the house."
When the preacher had gone to bed,
Mr.. Billingsly having secured the apple
tree snrnnt callnd his dannhtnr