The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-21

this time O vt':...
well, sir, | got thc., to prayin' fer
sight O. the light begged the AL
mighty to let it shine OFT rs Il s:Sn L
was forgiven fer my crime. but it was
slow a-comin', an when it did come
said to myself that man was 4 fool
to ask the Lord to make O. sign out o
somen' that wasn't any moren natu-
raj, so wasn't much comforted over
that. Howsomever, did feel little
mite better. 1t seemed so steady an
bright an peaceful away up thar among
the stars, above them rough rocks an
deep gullies. started right fer it.
The road got so bad I had to git down
an lead my hoss. Sometimes we'd have
to step over trees that lay across the
way, an then thar I'D be branch or
a creek to ford an fences to let down
an briers an rocks an steep places.
But kept up my heart. Sometimes the
light I'D be out O. sight completely, an
then agin it I'D blaze up steady an
strong like promise writ in fire.
81 got to prayin' more hopeful. Ever
time the light I'D flare up out O. the
gloom my sperits I'd rise, till after
awhile I felt as light as a feather.
sung an shouted an prayed an huGged
my boss. It seemed like was climbin'
up to Cod The light on the mountain
was his presence Once fell down
steep bank in the dark, but I wasn't
hurt, an then ag'in I slipped on some
rocks while was crossin' branch an
got wet to the waist, but when scram-
bled out the light was a-shinin' bright
er than ever. Finally I crossed a old
field an seed the open door OF her
house. A dog run out barkln', but l
wasn't no more afeard Of i'm than the
apostles was o snakes. l walked
straight at i'm, called to i'm in trm,
friendly voice, an patted i'm on the
head, an he licked my hand an pranced
about in front O me like was old
acquaintance he was glad to see. Mis-.
Hambright was at the fireplace cookln
some'n' t eat when got thar, an she
invited me in. went in an shook
hands an set down in the chair she
give me, an she put more WOOD on the
fire, fer she seed was wet.
"sYou don't know me, Mrs. Ham
bright says I.
"'No,' says she, I don't know you,
sir: but that don't make no difference.
I take in lots G folks that git be-
nighted up here. Nobody would be
mean enough to rob ur harm a woman
as old as am
"'That's So says L.. Her head was
as white as cotton, an she was all bent
over, but she had the sweetest, most
patient face I ever seed. 1t made me
feel easier about tellin' 'er who was
an what I'd come fer, but l acknoWI-
edge I was afeard. Then she proposed
to set the table, fer she said she know
ed I was famished, but wouldn't let
'er.
"sNo; wait says l, wait till I've
told YOU who I am, Mrs. Hambright,
saws I, an I couldn't look at 'er then.
I'm Hiram Hillyer, the man who tuck
yore pore boys life
81 seed 'er sorter jump little, an
then she got as still as a grave rock.
I was afeared to look at 'er. All my
new found hope seemed to be leakin'
out O. me. I bowed my head an wait
ed fer 'cr verdict God knows was
miserable, but I was prayin'-pray1n
fer pardon-prayin' both to her an God.
She was still long time. I reckon
she was stuGyin' up what to say to
me. Then she spoke. Did you come
away out here jest 10 see me, Mr.. Hill
yer? she aNed in 4 trenbly voice, an
I nodded, still afeard to meet her eye.
T come to make a confession an I'M
plore you to pardon me- I said.
"Pardon your she said, slowlike an
saft.
esquire Trabues dead I told 'er'
He died two days ago.
"sI heard he was low she said, an
1 was sorry 70 hear it, fer he was
good man, but is that all you wanted
to tell me:'
"'No,' says I, ''twasn't. Mrs. Ham
bright, the pension he's been payin
you all these years never come from
the government. It was from me-
"sHiram Hillyer,' says she in her
sweet old voice, I've knowed that fer
twenty-five years. Squire Trabue told
me an axed me never to let on to you,
fer he'd promised you never to let me
know; but, Hiram, ef I've prayed God
to bless you fer it once I have ten
thousand times. couldn't "a lived
without that allowance. 1t has kept
me in comfort an enabled me to help
my neighbors in time O. sufferin'. I've
wanted to tell you how grateful felt,
but the squire wouldn't let me an said
you never wanted that old trouble
mentioned, an so couldn't do it.
"Then, George, I broke down COM
pletely. I couldn't hold in. I set thar
an cried like a child. I told 'eT how
long an hard I'd suffered an how /
had tried in all manner O. ways to git
forgiveness an feel right, an L never
seed sech :; look on q human face as
was on her'n She actually set down
on the bare floor before the fire an
laid 'er thin, bony hands on my knee.
Hiram, my boy, my pore boy1 says
She 'Shorely you hain't been all that
time thinkin' yore God was that sort
Of God. Why, he's all goodness, all
glory, all infinite perfection. You've
been blamin' yoreself fer sone'n an
ether man done. 1t was a man you
hain't seed in thirt.. odd year that shot
my son in a hasty passion. God don't
hold you-the Lew man-accountable
fer that. but he's been holdin' you ac-
countable fer thinkin' so Ill Of him, fer
all yore worry has come from wrongly
accusin' yore Holy Maker!'
"Oh, George. she made it as clear to
ne as daylight. She was rlght-she