Year: 1875




flames, now pausing to study documents o
more importance, and anon, leaning his heac
upon his hand, ceasing his occupation in or
der to indulge in the retrospections which
many of these papers brought to his mind
Here was an old, yellow bill of Roberts, al
most illegible from age, which had beer
brought to him for payment, and had hidder
itself in the recesses of the drawer into which
it had been angrily thrust, through all these
long years, now starting up like an unqule
ghost to confront him with memories he woule
gladly have laid at rest for ever. There wa
a letter in the delicate handwriting of his frs
wife, written soon after Franks birth, while
he (the father) was absent on visit to tht
city and the old man perused the faded lines
until the tender, regretful thoughts they
aroused brought mistiness to his eyes thai
obscured them from his sight. How plainly
the happy family group arose to his view
The mother, beautiful and stately in her still
Youthful charms the two fair little daugh
ters, curly haired and rosy-cheeked, pressing
with eager interest to view the baby brother
Graded in her arms, and vying with eact
other in caressing and foudling him, especially
proud and happy when allowed for few min
utes to play the part of nurse. Gone-al
gone! The last remaining one, Anna, hi
gentlest and fondest child, had died of con
sumption ten years ago, leaving him utter
ly alone He sought farther, and out came
a crumpled fragment of note, written in &
round. childish hand, and commencing, "My
dear Papa" He smoothed it out and read


II do want you so to come home. Sister
Anna took my dolly away yesterday because
I slapped her, and cried till she gave hel
back to me. Old Ponto is sick to-day. Please
bring me pink silk frock when you come
Sister said 1 should not have plum-cake
please make her let me, cause l have got quite
we'll. Iwant you to"


The rest was torn off. There was no date
but he did not need one to tell him how long
a time had elapsed since the small, unskillful
fingers had traced those lines. His little
Alice, his baby, the child of his old age, the
darling of his flock. What tender memories
clustered round her name! How wildly now
could he recall the form of childish grace, the
floating hair, the beaming eyes, the dancing
step, that had made such fair vision te
brighten and adorn his quiet home laughing
tones, that echoed still in his ears; the CLASP
of dimpled arms wound fondly or coaxingy
around his neck {; pleading accents, suing fol
some fresh indulgence, at first perhaps denied
but almost always granted in the end. Ano
then in later years, the same face, more beau
tiful and matured, with its varying expires
sions of pride, tenderness, softness and def
ance almost in breath, rehecting the eager
ever.changing impulses of the wayward un
curbed spirit-ah there was bitterness min
gled with the sweetness of memory there
Bitterness inexpressible, in remembrance oi
the sad estrangement and angry parting, the
long years Of misery and selfreproach, and
vain yearning that followed. Mr.. Chester
bowed his head and yielded to the tide OF
retrospect that rushed almost overwhelming
ly through his mind A new idea, new res
oluton, that had lately formed itself in hi:
thoughts, gathered force and strength as he
unused. 1t was but lately that he had learned
through an indirect source, that his Alices
child was living, and under the care of Simon
Fielding, the step.son who had parted from
him, curly-haired youth, thirty-6ve years
ago. With the knowledge, had sprung up {
swift, eager longing to seek her out and bring
her to his home, to fill, at least, one vacant
place iu his heart. But he repressed it almos
as it rose. Her mother had chosen to place
her in the care of comparative strangers, why
not let her remain? The child was doubtless
attached to them, while perhaps she knew no
even his name or, if she did, had been taugh
to shrink from it in fear and dislike. Ant
how did he know but that in receiving her
even if she were willing to come, he might b'
receiving serpent into his bosom, who would
turn and sting him in the end. So his inborr
pride, his stern will argued to crush dowr
the yearnings of nature. But the pride was
weaker, the will less infexible now than il
former days, and the claims Of the heart wer'
not so easily put aside. In his loneliness, hi
longed, oh how intensely, for some one tt
love, some one to cherish him in his declining
years. He was very old man now, and th
time could not be far distant when the sum
mons must come for him to join those whom
he had parted with on earth and he shranl
from the thought of going down to the grave
without one near and dear to him, to watct
beside his bed when the shadow of death wa
gathering upon his face. So he unused ant
unused, and the voice of the heart grew stron
ger as pride shrank more and more out o
sight, and at last his resolve was taken-h'
would seek this orphan girl, and, if she would
bring her to his home and she should be tt
him, in place of the daughter, whose lovet
name she bore. Thinking upon this now, a.
he sat beside his fire with no companion bu
the dog at his feet, he could almost picture tt
himself bright, fair face opposite to him, {
girlish form whose presence would cast GLOW
and radiance, as Of summer sunshine, abou
the solitary room. His heart expanded at th'
thought. He would write to her, send fo
her at once-where was the use of delay
Or no, he would 90 himself. In spite of hi;
age, he was still strong and vigorous enough
to make light Of such journey, and if the
child saw him, she might the more readily
consent to come He would be so tender t
her; go kind! Surely, if he tried, he coulc
win her heart. Full of the project, he started
up from his seat, hastily thrust the remaining
papers back into their repository, and rang
the bell for Cato, his old and tried servant.


"Cato, pack up few clothes in my bag
and get yourself ready to accompany me OF
trip to the up-country. leave here to
morrow morning for Spartanburg district;
have particular business there, which may de
tain me for several days."


Tomorrow, master; in all this cold wealth
er! Amt you afraid of getting your rheuma
tism back ?" said the servant, in tone be
tween respectful remonstrance and the easy
half:afectonate familiarity which existed be
tween so many faithful slaves and their owners


"Not bit of it; haven't had touch o
rheumatism for weeks, and this weather is no
too cold-only bracing. A few hours of brisl
travel will do me more good than being coopee
,,. 80 La,,o oil tho timo-rv blood ,yo =,