The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-12-20
KIND WORDS OF WARNING.

KIND WORDS OF WARMING.
Twas a merry, happy crowd
Girls in their dainty evening
dresses and sunniest smiles, and
boys parading their most gallant
manners. They laughed and
talked and tattered: and jested
as the minutes flew swiftly by.
Perhaps in that assembly OF
young folks there, were, those
whose shoulders daily carried a
a heavy burden in whose inmost
heart lay buried a great and
woeful sorrow; but if so, they
had laid them all aside and had
given themselves up to the keen
enjoyment of the spring Of love
and youth.
A boy and girl who had danced
and sang themselves weary sat
down on the sofa for a short sea-
son of rest. Just time to catch
breath, they said, as they were
urged to come come right on and
Jon the next game. Aline Will
cott pushed back her brown
curls and famed her flushed,
glowing cheeks. Alfred Nelson
looked at her with eyes overflow
ing with admiration. Presently
an unusually merry peal of laugh
ter called their attention to a
couple who occupied the window
seat, just a little way from them.
They were also indulging in a
breathing spell.
That girl in pink, [ have for
got their name, seems very hap
by, said Alfred, watch how her
whole face lights up when she
talks.
Aline looked again ir the di-
rection of the pink dress. AL
fred following her glance, looked
also.
She has on her white ribbon,
said Aline, and I forgot and left
mine home. I'm real sorry. And
the serious, regretful expression
that so suddenly clouded her
face proved that she spoke the
truth.
Alfred looked at her while she
spoke, bat as soon she finished
he turned away without making
any reply, and commenced look
ing idly around the room and,
keeping time to the music with
his fingers On the arm of a neigh
boring chair. His face plainly
expressed the wores; If you
choose to talk on that subject
you talk to yourself.
Aline continued, The white
ribbon is our temperance badge.
Politeness compelled him to look
at her.
We mean it, we're in earnest !!
We really try to make the world
better by it !! she exclaimed, al
most tearfully, as she saw by
his face, that in his heart he
was mocking her.
We work for the cause Of God
and for the benefit of humanity,
she said enthusiastically.
You, do? he said, and laughed
at her eagerness. Yes, we do,
aud we feel that He approves of
our work and blesses us in it.
At the weekly prayer meeting
is there a petition offered up for
your work? he asked, as though
he felt it his duty to manifest
some interest on the subject that
seemed to so arouse his COM
panion.
No, she said, it's more than
that. Each day at noon every
white ribboner in the world
prays heavens on our cause.
If I were a member you would
have to excuse me there, re-
piled Alfred, carelessly turning
away.
And why?
Because I never pray, was his
calm reply.
Never say your prayers! ex.
claimed the girl, and she seemed
so amazed and hurt that it really
touched him.
No, I never say my prayers
now, he said, and his accents be-
come more gentle, and his voice
softer. My mother taught me to
to pray when | was child, but
since she died I never pray.
Oh! exclaimed, Aline. Oh! you
must pray. You must! she said,
as another admirer carried her
off for his promised dance. Al
fred sought another gay partner
and joined the dance also.
The laughter, song and music,
continued. Aline, together with
her serious thoughts and ruffied
feelings was carried away in the
whirl. The weak voice of Al
fred's long hushed conscience
was soon drowned by his gay
and laughter.
Alfred chanced to be with Aline
no more that evening. At one
i,nna when be WAS alone. search