Year: 1868

pot, too, with a, kettle, was placed by the dying
embers, showing that our two Way-farers had eve
ry disposition to make as comfortable meal as
circumstances permitted


The two individuals before US were in striking
contrast in nearly every particular. One was
mere youth, whose age one might rate somewhere
between seventeen and twenty according to the cir
cumstances under which he was viewed. Almost
feminine in appearance, he seemed, at times mere
boy, until in his dark brown eyes, so quiet and gen.
tie one read, at times, fash that revealed the
spirit of heroic daring burning in his bosom. Care
full and tender nurture and aristocratic breeding,
were recognized in his manner and bearing at the
first glance. These are often the concomitants Of
wealth; yet riches do not produce, and poverty
cannot take them away. They spring from intrin-
sic excellence, and are as often found in the home
of the unfortunate and poor, struggling against
destiny and fighting the hard battle with Gfe as in
the mansions where wealth and plenty preside,
and felicitous fortune, like the slave Of the lamp


in the eastern story, stands ready to crafty every
capricious and extravagant wish, as soon it can
be formed.


Victor Garnett had all the culture that accompa-
MES refined wealth but, in truth, his family was
poor. He was the only son of widow in greatly
reduced circumstances, who lived decently, and
even tastefuIy, upon an income far less than her
most intimate associates dreamedof. Robert Gar
nett the father was skillful and able lawyer, who
worked hard lived high, and died at an age before
the emoluments of his increasing business had en-
abled him to accumulate the means of leaving his
family provided for. His widow, Isabella Garnett,
uttered no complaints over her changed and altered
circumstances but from her narrow and contracted
means, honestly discharged all debts to the last
farthing; and BY carefulness and close economy,
contrved to live in nearly the same style-so far as
the public could discover-to which she had been
accustomed in the lifetime of her husband.


One wealthy relative she still had to whom it was
presumed, she could apply, at any time for assist
ance, with the certainty of success. Jacob Read,
her maternal uncle, was childless widower, nearly
sixty years of age but still hale, robust and with
the promise of many additional years. Isabella
Garnet was the heiress presumptve to his immense
estate, for though he had niece married at the
North, she had been separated from him 20 long
that he might we'll have been thought quite to have
forgotten her; and BESIDES his denunciations of the
whole people of the North were so bitter and un-
sparing, that it was very reasonably concluded that
he would carefully provide that no one of Yankee
birth should inherit cent of his money. With
so wealthy relative, Mrs. Garnett would no. have
been considered poor by any one of her numerous
acquantances and yet to confess the TRUTH she had
never, since the death of her husband, received
the smallest aid or assistance from her wealthy rel
ative.


Jacob Read was an extensive owner of slaves,
and annually sold from two to three hundred bales
of cotton. He owned several shares in Bank, was
a large bondholder, and year after year added
greatly to bis overgrown estate by the purchase Of
property. He was prosperousand thriving plan
ter, and did not disdain the smaller gains which
accrue from sending to market all those smaller
productions of his plantation, which add so much
to fba ipoono of fho p,1,dopt opd fbriff1, Reaf
mutton, pork, and articles of daily family consump
tion were two or three times week brought into
market from his plantation and exposed for sale.
Yet never had it occurred to him that an occasional
present of such articles would have been most ac
ceptable to his widowed niece Two or three times
month, at stated periods when business called
him to the village, he invariably called and dined
with his niece, at her plain and modest, but well
furnished home. She knew the day when Uncle
Jacob would come, and warm welcome and a
choice dinner ever greeted him. Cheerful and
high-spirited, and loving hospitality as a duty,
Mrs. Garnett delighted to set before him the best
dinner that her limited means could command; and
she even repelled hethoughtfrom her own bosom,
ative, made her fare the poorer and more scanty
for days to come Oh! it is spectacle that must
sadden the eyes of guardian angels, to look down
upon the proud and toiling widow, unmurmuring
and uIcomplaining, who, under serene and smi-


ling face, hides the secret of her poverty and dis
tress, and with unshaken fortitude and courage,
fights the fierce battle Of life, struggling to feed
and clothe with decency, the young charge that
God has entrusted to her hands. Who can fathom
her midnight thoughts when the struggle of one
day is successfully ended and she begins to think
of the coming morrow, with its wants looming
fearfully up, ike dark cloud, and hiding the ever
ready hand of benignant Providence The his
tory of her struggle is narrowing, but its lessons
are sublime.


Jacob Read was not addicted to meddling with
the affairs of others. He never ventured to en-
ouire, even of his niece by what means she mana
ged to live so decently and genteelly. Proud and
lady-lke, she never ventured to obtrude her busi-
ness affairs upon his notice, though he was the
only living relative to whom she had access. Per
haps be shrewdy suspected the true condition of
affairs and felt that it would be quite awkward to
learn from her own lips the story of her poverty
and hard struggles, without offering to aid and re-
lieve her. Blunt and plain of speech as he usually
was, he had sufficient shrewdness and tact to keep
out of sight and hearing of distress that it was his
duty to relieve. He was always on helookout for
shoals of this description, and managed to give
them wide berth. But his senses were equally
as keen for every prospect of gain or advantage
IF there was a solvent note which the holder


was willing to part with at large discount for
H., IN instinct 1Lo {bof uhioh o1,idoe