...... .... 1 "We will cling to thc Pillars o. the Tcin It Iuust infell, I wrill Perish anmidst the Ruins." W.'F. DURISOE, Proprietor. EDGEFIELI. UARY 19, 18;53L1 UAY 9,183.m~m THE SE.C RET BENEFACTOR. .BY MRSI. C.L ,VF.I'. - "La-e you atteided to the business I Igke of particglarly, yesterd y '" asked Mir. LiabWrt, a 'akhy owner of real estate, tilaessing niiitekigent; lair looking young tWn, wi, sat at.. a desk, Wms the above named gentlenan en'tered his otlice. pCha,4s Durchard colored with embarrass. tient. For ininute his hand moved ner Vously itross lbrow, then rai.ing his andsoie ee~sthbis- eiployer's face, lie tcuisweredin a Frank, steady tone: 1I have negletied to ftllow your instruc " Sir!" e "1 am sorry *" S 1ry 7 -cried 1 I. Lambert, angrily, "sorrv' indeed ! and this is the way you at. tend to my. 4lijtrs! Yount man, if you think I- wil vs over this.arlessness-" I lheg jor -pardon, sanid Charles, with a luee like marble, but speakitng inl a cnan romt-ii" Iam guilty ol*'ino carelessness, Iave enldervored to do miny duty*" Sfour'.duty was-to foll*- my intructions. Number twenty-three n sgb.u-l siness for' 'ie long. enongh. miiily Slv~ had warning. 4.^eoul hae niilderstood. .1 ,told yo thnatif he Kent. was nt paid before tvave o'cl I N.ted the Imily," rejoined "and it seee'l.to de that had vou seena What I saw, ynd would not.have hatejip pi' the extreimity of the law to tieir miser. able case.' 'ihey are very poor'-they are sick-tTiy :Ie- suiffering. You VPuld not have had the heart to-" . "Oiarles Jiurchard," exclainied It:. Lam bert, jingri, "-you are fatghfui, honest, g1 gable-and I would not wiillingly part waha you; but sInce; Ao prefer your way of do. ing- business tp mine, andt presume to dietate, it is'not proner -that we should work togetluer any Yong-er." l'aver thoht myself," said CharlA, that since I cajnnot cofscientiously pursue the extrerftgs you hwe. necessary it will I best for n uit'yoursei-vie. I.api re Yead- iig his nnil eye-u P% yonr wages li.,........ Lambert, w-ho remembered his clerk's fididi tv and capacity was becoming solItened. "his is a new ting, however. But I pre. sIme you have been uinmg your money ad vantaeoIuslly V" I have tried to make a Christian use of it,"answered Charles, coolly. " Have vou been dealing in stocks!" " No sir." " Ah, you lost confhence in me, and thought proper to put your money into other lilands." I have neither made investments nor Ianus," said Charles, with a peculiar smile, - what sniu funds I could command I have "Yesu sir." "iliess me, Chiarles ! I thiought vou a steady y'ngz man ; anid how can vou have comnsum~ned your entire salary I am unnabIle to con:ce'ive." "And I presume I should be unable to expilain it to your satisfaction, sir. It is a subiject which it canm avail nothing to coni verse upon. ifi yu get a mamn in my pice - iimmnediately, I should lbe willing to save you the trouhle of instrul'.till' tu~n ml the state of 'your hru.ness." . "Certainly-if you pleaso-and you shall be paid-" "I (lid not make the offer, expecting re nmnerationi. I t rust that I have kep;t my aecemits in such a man'ner that it will niot requnire halft an hour to mnke ani intelligent marn nderstanid the enmt ire busariness." " Charles,'' excla~iimed Mr. Lmnhidert, " I di-elike. to part w'ith vou so.. We have al way s agree'd unt ii this~ time.' 's ix moniths aig.,'' re~plied Chmas. Burch-. nr,"this faunily in No. 23 couhti niot piay their quarter's rent. I had orders to turn thema into the street. I did not do it." "But-bitt the rent was paid." 'You permittedl me to give them a few day's grace ; you permitted this on my pro. mise to see thart the renit was paid. You arc right-it was paid; thme next quarter's rent was panid. At present, they cannot pay . iKnowing the condition of the family, I enn tiot follow~ your inistructins." "Wel," saidi Mr. Lnambiert, hamrdIening himnself, "' I have rules with regzard to pier Somms in my emploiy, whielh mm' thing can iin dneie me to break. JTusltir in mv mootto. It is a good one ; I shall stand hy it." " er is a better one, sometimes," re plied Chnarles, softlyv. " .1ustice is admiirat. ble ini all-but, mercy in the powierful is godlike." Thus Mr. Lambuhert partedi with his faith. ful clerk. Another tooik the phaoe of Chas. IUnrehamrd, and the latter was without a situ atio'n, A bont. thme firr~t biusiness M r. Carrol, the new clerk, attended to, concerned the poor family in No. 23. " hyvacate the premnises immediate. Iv," hue said to .\r. Lambhert. " lIut there is somec mystery about flhat family ; they muade aillusions~ to yourself, wichel I wvas un-~ able to iiuderstand.'' 0 'To me ! "Yes sir; they spoke of your kindness to them-.. ".\v kindness !" Mr. ,:ambert colored. "The woman is an invalid," said Mr. Carrol. " The mn is a fine-looking, intellectual person, with thin cheeks, a broad pale fore had, and brighit expressive eyes. lie hias been fioj a .year aWwork on some meclanni Cl inventmu, which Ile believes is going. to be afvztst bettefit to manuflacturere." "I- have lie.ird Mr. Durchard speak of tiMat," replied M5 r. Lambert. " But what did thjese people .ay of mfe " That thdy had been iyebted to you for numerous favors-" Favors !" " Yes sir-at work a his invention, which of course, can atliord nifA -no-income until completed, Mr. Ward has not leen able to do much toward4 the support or his family. Mrs. Ward, as I said,,is an invalid. Their o:ly child-a daughter about eighteen, and a i l f oe accompulishments-has- dune -- ii I of so:m tdonerd coisiderabl toivards tLhir support-" " I have heard all this from 31r. Burchard. What did t!hy svy of me ?" . "That in these circumstances thev have receivetL'henielits from you, fur which they are very grateful." It is a mere taui-insolent irony," mut tered Mr. Liainbert. I assure you, sir, therewere tears in the poor wom'an's eyes, when 'she said t t she was sir-7ere." " Hlimph !" "They -appreciate~ttlese'favors so much the more," said Mr. Car4ol, " from the fact that .s M*Ward's inventioa is a secret, and as 1'lhis'instrumrents atnd contrivainces have bet n in the hoasgit wyoukf have been a sore disadvantage to 'eob iged to move. .1is itVent i ...eve of .cotpletioni, of ..O abl to iteres, ca imhert a ~reatly perpu xed by t iimxpliacabule 'conui-satin of his clerk; bu11t he. onicealed his feel s, and leaving Mr. Cariol to believe he is a man who dil a great deal of good in anqniet %way., went hiuaself to make na attem4t to ixplore the mystery, ly visitingiNi. 23. He found thei Wards making preparations to vacate t'e p/emises. To -heaatiful girl with a landkerief over-herlhead, who was C'irrying small articles of furniture to the h:all, he0 made known his wish to see Mr. Wa rd. - This lentleman was engaged in packing up his machinery ; bait oon coniimg o.it of his secret rogM 1iil loc ing the door hiind him, he apea'r I 6eftre Mr. Lambert. As these two- in iid.t -.never net, tie landlor 4fring il o iioweeiimself. tafel hildy honored-l analikfa of the patent right; but, sir a manulacturing company are ready to negotiate -ith me fir my machine, amid in a very sho'r time I shall be able to pay mily debts." Mr. Lambert had hitherto regarded his tenaint as a visionary. lie did not look like one ; he did not speak like one. The thought struck Mr. Lambert that lie might after all he ale to pay his rent. I have concluded that I might as well permit you to remain here a shot time longer-althongh I am myself pressed for mon'iiiey,"' he said, with a thoughtful air. My dear sir," exclaimed Mr. Ward, this is a f*avor I had no right to expect, ant withstaniding all you have done for us: bait I ain sincerely grateful. We are goinag intu a muiseralhe hoause, whlere we did not antiicipuate residinug more than two or three weeks, or until I timnd my funads coiming in; anid if we can remnain1 here, you salal be no loser y The operation. Your deb t I cn sider saicred ; thwo niany beniefits shtsllnever be tiorgotteni." " lieneufits, I am not awvare that you are mullch iundebted to me-" " You are pleased to say so-but for two quarters' renut you gave mae receipts in full, relyinga onl my hoo fr. pamn tsm future titme. I hmav'e also received sums to aid mae ini prosecutimng my invientioni. I have at no time dloubied bait theay caine from yout." Mhr. Lambert pressed huis foure'head with his hiands. After a pause lie sa id: ".\nad why, may13 1 ak--why (lid you give mcecredit-" " Excuse mie for imntioing the sub ject," you pa~rted ini anger fromi yonr sister-" "Sir!I" exchtaimaed ~Mr. Laambert, starting land ehbaauginag coloar. "1 lers was a pardonuiable3 offence," said Mr. WVard. " She declined marrying the amian whoma you chose for her hausbanud. You dlisownled her; you have never met her since. lIut this was years ago, aand I kanewi you coutld not cherish resentmient so long" "My13 God," cried Mr. Lamnbert, " what dho you nmeanl? Ihave heard nlothaing of her for twenuty years. I knoew not what hans become her her."' Mr. Ward fixed his eyes uponi his land lord in specechlless astoinishmienit. "Is it possible ?" he murmured ;" are you serious ( " Upon any soL ! I have atmde inqutiries for 31ary, without success. I have supposed her dead !" " Thuen these beanefits have not been be stowed because-" "Sir, I knowv nothinlg of wvhat you say. I die with suspemnse ! If. you knowv anything of Mary, tell ine what has become of' her." Thae tenaits eye looked scarebuing ly aand earneastly into the landlord's face ; then taik inig him lby the arm, lie led lainm deliberately anad softly inato another room. Thiere was a pale, thin woman sitting in an arma chair. She started on seein1' the two meni enter, and uattered a faint cry of surpriso " M1y brother !" e "Mary !" gaspecd Mr.' Lambert; " can it lie my si.,ter ?" "Your sister and1( my' wife !" An hour later, Mr. Lambert might have buen seen entering Charles Burchard's lodg ing. Th'le young man was at home. With nrprise lie greeted his late enoplover. The latter was apparently excited by the occur rence of some recen~t eventt. "Youn mrant," said he,." 1 have learnied in what way yp have. used your salary for the past year." - ,"8.ir!" . .y ou biagegmpromised me; I do not vish to blaine you ; but you should not have left the Ward family to suppose the money they received came froim me. YoUa their rent, and ge'~t11iem receipts In my namne. ." And do they know it ?" cried Charles. "Why should thpy,nott Why djd yod not ict openly with theim fi " I had no thouhlit that you would h- in jured by being suspected of helping ,m, and I had my reasons for not wiyhing to be kinowil as the anthor of the benefits," said Charles, blusLing. I demand your reasons." The truth is, I-nust confess it, T-Ihope some day to marr:01ary Ward-' 1" She is a worthy girl, sir-" But this is'Oo reason !' exclaimed Mr. Lamhert. Well, then,'you must know, sir, had .I advanced mionne'v to the family openly," said Charles, redovering his sdf-possessior, and his face -beaming with frankness, " there was a possibility that I inlit be suspected of unworthy motives. An'd again, even had-it been otherwise, and I could have won Miis Ward, as I would hive wished to win bei, ishe might have loved me more from :L senai of gratitude than for myself; and I would not have bought her love. As it is, I hope she loves me for wha't I am, and that she will accept my hand, when I aiina po. sition to support a wife." " Charles." said Mr. Lambert, pressing the young man's hand, "I honbr you! You have acted. nobly. Return to your sitiditid ; you shall -have the entire control of my b1t. siness ;yQur salary shall be douhld lit Mr. Carrol-" lie is noi permanently engaged. I ivil procure a pl;ie for him. ChieI-s you madT. come back! I confess I have, acted wrongr i) this matter. To tell you a secret, Charles, Mrs. W" d ismy own bister Yo sister!" "!. do not.wonder at your astonishment but it c:Qlmiot equal mine, when I learned the fict this morning. I disclained all-.e'nnec tion witi her twentv vears wo. honesaa h. ...,au to ihank you for the bIeson in humniitv you have taught me. Wenlthy as I am, f shall never agaiin distress a tenant for rents, wi.hout aiscecrtainiing whether lie is deser'viing of' any favors." Mr. Lainbert was not permit ted to do :ll the good he proposed to his sister's family. In a few diVs, Mr. Ward's p:atent was de creed, and hiis fortune made. Thaiks to his noble invention, his fimily was raised to at fluence; but Mrs. Ward (lid not disdain the kindness of her restored brother. Mr. Lambert had lost no time in aeqtaiit ing his relatives with the nature of their in debtedness to Charles Burehard. If they esteemed and loved this generous-hearted young man before, what was now their ad. miiration of his noble qualities ! None, how ever, felt their influenice like 31 iss Ward. 'Thie oiily way ini which she could express~ her joy, gratitiude and love, was by b~comn ing his wife ; with a dowery' whih relieved hiiii of the care of providing for the comforts - of life. Prosperons in butsiies, hiappy in his domestic relations, Charles Burchuard often had the occasioni to look back with a spi smile to the time wvhen lie left the service of an' Mr. Lambert " for conscience sake." is a DOUBTFUL THEOLOGY. in The Cleavehond flerald tells the follow- so ing: A triend, whom we shall call Pat, for an< short, tells a1 good onie upon himself. " When th:1 lhmt an idle boy ,"lie was called uponl one sta day, in a country school, and the qjuestion Iin sui(ddenly prou)nded~h' to him by the peda- thec gogne, "Patrick, how mai~ny gods are there I" it P'at was iot a dlistinguished theologian ly, then, aid years had made him " no better i very fast" in sueh matters, but lhe proimiptly wL respionded-" three, sir." "'Take your seat !" thundered the mas- w ter, and if in five minutes, you don't an- ca: swer correctly, I'll welt you." thn T[he probationary period passed, and Pat we takiung the floor, hesitatingly stated thle num- sam buer of gods at " fi-five, sir." ie received few the proimiised " welting," and a reprimand to in his seat for ten minutes further consideration. ins Ten minutes up, and Pat was up too, chi and, saitisfied that he hadn't fixed the num- pri her sutliciently high before, lhe shouted, " thr' e, sir !" lie sawv the ferule des. pri ceninmg, anmd, bolting out of the dloor, cleared an a five rail fenice, anmd broke like a quarter- en horse, acr-oss the fields.-Panting with exer- Ia I t ion, lie met a lad with a book tundeir hits ph arm, and with the look of onie who des- ph e ribed the " pursuit of knowledge under dif- ad ficulties."- lhe " Where are you going I" said Pat of " To school, yonder," was the reply. " You are-are you?"si Pat, quickly ; pr< "how many gods arec there ?" ke 'Two," ainswered the boy. ac SWe-ll, you'd bietter go dow-n there.- mi You'll have a good time with your two rei gods. I just left there with teni, and that m