The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-02
THE TURNING POINT.

down in the dining room at the equire's
residence, which was found to prevent
the door from opening and shutting
easily, SO Wedge, the village carpenter,
was sent for to ease it.
At six o'clock, while he was at work,
carriage wheels were distinctively heard,
and the squirc's lady, with her children
came down into the hall ready to well
come home Mr.. Cary, who had been that
day to town.
Wedge, who was working inside the
dining room, listened with astonishment
Us he heard the shout the children gave
when their father stepped out of the
carriage. He saw also, through tho door
crack, that the two eldest had caught
hold of his hands, while the young ones
were clinging like little bsrnacles to his
coat tails; all dragging him along us if,
once having got him into their net, they
meant, spider-like, to bind him hand and
foot and devour him, as that interesting
insect would a great blue-bottle, 1T
Cnelr leisure.
That the squire's return should cause
such delight was a puzz.er for our worthy
friend; for had he not with his own ewes
scenthis gentleman 60 off at half-past nine
in the morning, no one could have per-
suaded him otherwise han that he must
have been away n month, to put it at
the lowest figure.
He saw, moreover, that tho squire was
holding tightly in his hand a little par
Gel, which, shaking off the children by a
number of little lodges of which loving
fathers only know the secret, he quickly
united, for all the world as if he were a
boy of five years old (and not a great
man of fourteen stonc wcight), who
could not wait a momen for anything.
In a shorter time than we take to
write it he pulled out the contents and
gave them to his wife, with three distinct
kisses.
Wedge could swear there were three,
for he counted them, and wondered how
many more there were to come.
This was evidently a very beautiful
present, for the children. as we'll as Mrs.
Cary, expressed their admiration in the
ivcliest manner, and all seemed, if that
were possible, more pleased and happy
than before.
Soon the merry party went upstairs,
the echo of their voices died away, and
Wedge was left to fiaish his work on the
door, while his heart and conscience
began their work on HIM.
He, too, had a home and wife and
children; he, too, had been away all day
but the thought struck him uncom-
fortabiy that his welcome home, if in
deed he got one at all, would seem poor
and cold after that he had just wit
| messed.
This reflection was not so sweet as to
make his work go smoothly; his saw
seemed as blunt as a doub!e-bladed six
penny knife, and the wood of the chair,
whose legs he was cutting down, as hard
as bog oak.
In fact he was feeling jealous of tho
squire and discontinued with his own
wife and children. Why were they not
eager to rush out and welcome him after
the fashion of the squ;re's' family2 He
frcwned as he thought how badly he was
used, and his saw grated away as though
very dull.
But conscience had a word to soy to
him, and said it loud enough, too, for
him to hear, although he was making
noise enough to prevent any one from
i, trying to gain his attention.
1t told him the fault was chiefly in
himself, for if his wife and children
were not like the squire's, neither was
his likeness to that worthy gentleman
particularly striking.
He couldn't blame his wife for not
making enough of his presents, for he
we'll knew he never gave her any; nor
did he greet her with those kind words
which would not have failed to draw
the same from her.
Wedge was a good husband without
being q kind one, spending his money
for tho most part on his family in q hard.