The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-19
''Home, Sweet Home. }:
BY MADGE II. TUCKER.

II LOOKING at Gne large WOOu PIE lIaL
lay before him, but it was evident his
thoughts were not of that, for every
few minutes he raised his hand and
brushed something from his eyes. At
last he selected one of the sticks and
fell to saving with a vigor which was
surprising in one of his years. AS he
sawed he soliloquized as follows:
"Well its probably best for her to
60, but its hard to have her leave US
when she's all we've got. God knows
we've always done our best by her;
gone in want ourselves and given her
all, but we've never grudged it; no, not
once, and if we were to live the past
over again would do the same. I
s'pose its only natural for young folks
to want to see the world, and if it was
only for a little while, but five years
Oh, Lord, how can we stand it?
Again he brushed something from
his eyes, and turning, gave a long look
at the old house that had sheltered
many generations of the Silas family,
but only this old man, his wife and
daughter Annie were left. At length
he turned again to his saving and his
rGverie.
"Go away and learn to 81 G ! AS if
she couldn't sing now; why she fairly
beats the birds themselves. Hark !
listen to that ~ From the house came
the sound of a fresh young voice sing
ing the song that will never grow old:
"Home, home, sweet. sweet bone.
Be 1t ever 80 humble, there's no place like
home."
The voice was unusually sweet and
rich, but it lacked power and express
sion that training would give it.
"Tbat's right; there is no place like
home, and she'll find it out mighty
soon. But she will not 60 wrong! We
can trust our ANNIE" the old man
thought.
The summer before there had come
to this little mountain village one of
the worlds greatest singers, and she
had seen great possibilities in Annie's
voice, and offered to take her to the
city and give her the training she
needed, but she would have to be gone
five years with only an occasional visit
home. Annie vas delighted with the
offer, and accepted it at once. with no
thought of trial it would be for her ia
Their and mother to part with her.
"Why mother" she said, as the
mother couldn't keep back the tears
when Annie told of the plan, 81 didn't
think you would care so much; indeed,
if you say 80, L won't 60 at all. But
Just think of the great benefit it will be
to me, and some day I may be a great
singer, then my dear old mother and
father need never do another days
work."
Then the rough old farmer had
spoken: Little girl, no amount OF
trainin' as you call it, will make your
voice sound any sweeter to your ma
and me, but if you want to go, nothing
shall stand in your way"
mo, Annie" her mother said
through her tears, "if you think you
!. need this trainin' we wantyou to have
it. There is One who cares for US al
and He will care for you when you are
Z far away from US, and here in this lit
: tie home an old woman will pray fol
q you every night, that you may be KEEP
from all danger and returned to us in
: Gods own good time"
a 1t has been ever thus, mothers anC
a fathers have sacrificed everything fol
their children. Have babe them fare
, we'll with aching hearts and tear-dim
b. med eyes, to see them come back
. some only wrecks of their forme.
selves, and some grown into a noble
4 manhood or womanhood.
And Annie Silas went to the city
! little thinking of the sadness and DIES
olation she left in her childhood'i
home. Many q. night they would 81
by the fireside, thinking of her wht
was 80 dear to them.
The fire would get lower and lowe,
g until only a spark remained; the moth
er's head would be bowed on her hant
while the tears ran unchecked dowr
her cheeks, and the father-he wht
was usually so cold and stern-wOult
feel q mist gathering before his eye
q and his thoughts would wander bach
to the time when a little golden-hairec
child played about them and he hearc
her merry childish prattle, then, rising
abruptly, be would fix the fire, and &c
to his wife and lay his hand on be-
head in an unacUustomed cares, anc
say in, tones that would tremble
"Come, mother, cheer up, it isn't as j
we had lost her forever, as if she lay
with the others on the hill, but she
will come back to US some time and il
won't be so very long either. And We
hear from her every week; that Il
something to be thankful for, for she
. might forget all about US you know
"Our Annie would lever do that
the mother would answer, ''ter she
loves US, even if we are old and poor
And so the years passed, to the CIR
in the far-off city filled with work
and ambition, to the folks at home
filled with patient waiting. At last
the time came when Annie was tC
make her debut. She was to sing in 8
concert for some charity. Very beau
tiful she looked as she stood in hel
white gown, waiting for the pianist to
play the prelude to her song, which
was the old Scotch ballad, Land o.
the Leal," for it was in songs like this
that she eXcelled.
Certainly her first appearance was q
success; every one was enthusiastic
over her and all the fiattering notices
that appeared in the paper she sent to
the old folks at home.
Another night she sang at the enter,
tainment given to some poor news
boys, and one little lad said to a gen.
tleman:
"Was that an angel what just sung
to us, sir?" And, upon being an
swered in the negative, he said &: 81
don't b'lieye an angel could do any