The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-02
Our 1aniIp storp.
POLLY'S RELIGION.

E...... -sL..H HNH.t. .tLaEHII
Life TO the BEGINNINGS took on a new
meaning when joe brought his wife
home. None of the family had ever
seer her. They knew she was II OF
the Austruthers of kentucky.
There are Austruthers in our
Church in that State,r said Grace.
II hope Mary belongs to u member
ship"
so, yes, certainly ~ said Joe, eager
ly. He was just starting to be mar
ried, and he was anxious that they
should all love Polly in advance.
Does she sing ia the choir ?n asked
Isabella.
81 think not. But she has n of
the sweetest voices-a low contralto.
And you ought to hear her laugh,
Belle. The merriest ring |! oh, she'll
bring new life into this house."
The girls smiled. They were fond
of Joe, and ready to welcome his wife.
J" But L hope she is ready to take u
leading part in the church, said
Grace, after he had gone. Joe will
fill fathers place some day, and his
description of her does not give me
the idea of an energetic, religious
woman"
wen hope for the best" said
Isabella. She was busy making an
imitation stained glass window for the
Sunday school room, and was anxious
to finish it before Mary arrived.
"Uncle Ben must be kept in his
own oom when she comes, and Tom
Gamble sent to the country for u months
visit" Grace said, her delicate face
flushing painfully.
There were two skeletons in the
Demming household. The Squire's
brother, Ben, who was q paralytic old
soldier, and a most cross-grained, pro-
fame old fellow, occupied one wing of
the mansion. He had q man to nurse
and read to him, for his oaths were
intolerable to his nieces. Tom was
their brother, younger than Joe. Tom
Demming had disappeared for three
years after he left college, and had
come back q haggard, dissipated loafer.
Nobody in Balls Ferry knew just
what he had done in that gap of time,
but all were certain that he was under
ban. The family treated him with
gloomy patience. They had taken up
their cross and bore it; but it was
heavy, and he knew it. Tom was
never seen by visitors, at the table, or
in the parlor. AT dusk he would skulk
out to join some of his comrades ut
the village grog shops, and occasional
ly, but not often, was brought home
Drutally intoxicated.
Joe's wife disappointed them all.
She was a plump, merry little girl
nothing more.
"A very pleasant little heather =
sighed Grace, after two days had
passed. 81 named some of the best
books Of religious fiction, but she has
never heardcof thcm and she did not
know a single ono of our foreign mis-
sionaries."
Good Mrs. Demming was uneasy al
this, and that very evening turned
the conversation on doctrinal subjects,
Polly grew red.
"Im afraid" she said, 81 am not
clear in my ideas concerning these
different points. The truth is, after
mothers death | had tho charge OF
my four brothers, and | had SO little
| time
you will have more time now,'
said Isabella. 81 will mark out a
course of doctrinal reading for YOU"
But Mary made slow progress with
her course of reading. AS time passed
and she settled down into her place in
the family, she proved to be a very
busy little She had a positive
talent for finding work took her part
Vi Iuc family menulnS, tossed up
dainty little deserts, helped Joe with
his accounts. When Joe had zone to
his Office, she took tremendous walks,
advised Mother Demming about her
fancy work. or copied the Squire's
papers for him.
What q clerkly hand you write
said Grace, one day. 81 often wish
mine were not so delicate, when father
worries over those papers. But as
for mothers embroidery, women of
her age ought to give up that useless
work when their eyes + failing"
ut does not seem useless to me-
said Polly, gently. "She thinks you
all value t."
where can Mary go on those in
terminable walks ?" said Isabella, one
moring, to her father. "You should
warn her about Black Lane. She
might wander into it and bring home
typhoid fever"
You ought to report the lane as q
nuisance, father" said his wife. ut
is q perfect sink of filth and vice."
1T is Il disgrace to Balls Ferry