Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ # ? * * \ LEW1f^^^ST' In |n^nkiif *::nb jlcr-paj-tr: /or % |romriion rf % |olrtital, gona^gricultnraU^ Cinmner^^^niertsis o^e gm^. * VOL. 13. " YOEKVILLE, S. C/TH1JESI)IY, DECEMBEE12, 1867~ NO. 33. ???a??????mmmmrnmmm. Jto ?ngittal fjtouwfetfc. .Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. THE WEALTH OF HOME. A STOUT OF DOMESTIC LIFE. BY MRS. M. A. EWART, AUTHORESS OF "ELLEN CA5TPBELL, OR KING'S FOUNTAIN," AND OTHER STORIES. CHAPTER X?Continued. "What is the matter with my mooking-bird, this morning?" said a deep voice, thrilling all Janie's pulses; and a firm hand was laid on her shoulder. She did not speak, but clasping her hands before her, her soft eyes looked fir, far away, as she stood trembling. " T?-- ? ~ nno mnfi 'nmat unrmw.' that I UttUlOi poiuug n 1U awu unvv> , have come back to say good-bye onoe more. Will yoa kiss me again, Janie?" . She looked up at the face that bent to hers, bat did not speak. "Janie I" and his voice trembled. "I cannot leave you?come with me, birdie?" A tide of crimson bathed neck and brow, but still she did not speak. ' What is my Ariadne looking for ? The expression of that love "that she sees in my eyes; that she hears in my every tone; that, waking or sleeping, near her or away, is hers, and has been hers sinoe I first looked into those soul-full eyes ? Must I say more, Janie, or will you guess the rest here ?" and he drew her to his breast She drew herself coldly away. Her face had lost all that rich color it hod worn while he spoke, and there was again the eager, yet frightened look in the brown eyes. "Do not tell me you love me," said she; "at least not yet, till you hear all I have to tell you. Sit down here and let me try and speak," His own look grew stern as she spoke, and he silently took his seat by her side. Then she told him how, long ago, she had suffered from an infatuation she had called love. How she loathe^herself even when indulging in it, ~ ' ktg* A. AU !i. J bow pertector unsatisrying sne ieit it, auu uvn, even after she had rooted the last vestige of its power from her heart, she still acutely suffered from a painful sense of shame that she had ever allowed its influence. How she could not hear the name, without a crimson tide flushing her face with a sense of indignant shame. "And now," said she, "would you love a woman who could so far forget her better nature, as to stoop even to a partiality for such a man as Edward Wilcoi ?'' "I could, and do love a woman, Janie," he re plied, "who could rise superior to the power of stich fascination as I know he possesses, and from the force of pure principle, root a love she deemed unworthy from her heart And dearer than I ever loved before, do I now love the woman who can so courageously crush her shrinking modesty, and bravely tell of a chapter in her life she would forever have buried. *1 appreciate the truthfulness of the character ; I accept the confidence, a confidence that was not needed, as I have known it from our first meeting, but which I would not check, because I could not silence the noble courage, the innate truth which dictated it And now, Janie, we stand as we did before?will you be my wife?" "And you have loved me, knowing all this?" said she, her eyes questioning in g&d surprise. He smiled. "You have not answered my question." "You will not think I know how to love," said she, veiling her eyes from his searching look. "Then show me, birdie," he said, in his deep tender tones. She looked up, a shy laughing look, hesitating coyly, like a bird, longing and half-fearing to nes l/? m ?Vo Krooof nf fVio nnn whn lind lnnc tflnilwi it Gradually her face grew grave, a look of tender entreaty filled her eyes, her lips parted, she half murmur>xl, "I have found my rest" "And I my Ariadne," said he, as he clasped the yielding form in a long embrace. Time sped rapidly. To the lovers' but a few moments; for Janie did not weary by tenderness. 'An arch smile would provoke some merry question, to which Janie would make an apt rejoinder, and perhaps, in the very moment of laughter, an unconscious tenderness would flood her eyes as she ) met his look, and subdued at once, she would yield to his behests. Again, lifting her head from his shoulder, she would gravely question of some life-duty, and as they conversed, forgetting the subject, forgetting all but his presence, the earnest eyes would look and question, till, startled by some carressing word, she would, with a smile and a blush, struggle against his winning power. It was impossible to weary of her versatile humor. She never allowed tenderness to satiate, or love to pall upon the sense. In every phase of character she was new, keen and fresh. Some hours had passed, when Stephen entered the room. "You here, Dunbar? I thought you were making arrangements for leaving." "The steamer will not sail until next week," said Dunbar, rising to greet the different members of the family as they entered. "That's good news; then you'll wait on me," said Stephen. "I don't know that I will," replied Dunbar, gravely. "Percy, what in the world is the matter with you?" cried Stephen; "you have lately been the most uncompromising, unsatisfactory fellow, I have ever met. What makes you so unreasonable?'' "Unreasonable, man!" said Dunbar. "You have always told me living a bachelor, was the most unreasonable thing in the world, and I am anxious to redeem my character before you marry. As you have always promised to wait on me?holding that out as an inducement?I have concluded to call upon you, and beg you to do me the favor before you are enrolled as a Benedict." " VY hat has got into you, imnDar r' cnea oonn. "Yesterday you looked as if you had swallowed Cleopatra's needle and the Pyramids, you were so grand and gloomy; and then your face was a fair representation of the catacombs. One might have written Harvey's meditations on it with propriety. Last night you rode up here with me, and I could not get a word, but it sounded like a voice from the tombs; and when we went back, your voice had the ring of a bell and you talked me out of breath. Now, to-day, you are completely metamorphosed, and Horatio, himself, could not have a merrier humor. What do you mean, man; are you crazy? gone clean daft ?'' "I speak the words of truth and soberness," replied Dunbar. "And you are to be married?" asked Stephen, scarcely crediting his own senses. "Yes," said Dunbar, gravely. "And you are going to the East?" questioned John. "Yes," said he, smiling. "Is he, Annie?" asked Stephen. "I don't know," replied Annie, blushing. "Ask Janie," whispered Margaret "Is he, Janie ?" said Stephen, with dawning perception. i?M?? i ? "He says so," said Janie, hiding her head upon her mother's knee. "You're not going to marry Janie ?" said John, clapping Dunbar on the shoulder. "If she will let me, I will," replied Dunbar. "Give me your hand, Percy; you are going to get a jewel of a wife, if she is my sister, and I would rather you would have her than any man I know. I think you are the only man living can manage Janie," said he, rather dubious about Janie's patienoe, under restraint "I am not afraid to have her manage me, at all events," said Percy laughing. There was a good deal of surprise, and some quiet congratulation, when Mrs. Carter said, "But, Mr. Dunbar, you are not going to take Janie away?" Dunbar smiled. ' "Why, Percy, it's worse than highway robbery," said John. "Coming here, and with malice prepense, not only winning her, but whisking her off in that way." "You are not in earnest, Dunbar?" said Mr. Carter. Dunbar nodded. "And Janie is willing?" asked Mr. Carter. "Ask her," replied Dunbar. "Will von cro with him. daughter?" saiu Mr. Carter, laying his hand fondly on her head. . Janie looked up, then around the room, till her eyes fell upon Donbar; sho met for a moment the grave tenderness of his eyes, then looking up at her father said, "God helping me, to the world's end, papa." j Mr. Carter's eyes filled with tears as he read the holy trust; Dunbar's gleamed, but he did not speak. "And what has become of my household Ruth ?'' asked Mr. Carter. "She did not know she would meet her Boaz," said Janie, with her usual readiness. "But really, Mr. Dunbar, this is so sudden as to appear unadvised. Leave her with us a month or two, and then you may claim her, said Mrs. Carter. "Must I, Janie?" he asked. She smiled, but did not speak. "I'll be bound you twohave been plotting all morning, and have your plans all cat and dried," said John. Dupbar then told them he had engaged his passage ; that there was some property in England requiring his attention at a particular date, and he would be able to reach the place, only by taking passage in the steamer. After attending to these claims, he would then proceed to the East, and return at some indefinite time. They were all persuaded that it was -better for him to go as he intended, though they were loth to part from Janie so suddenly. 'Well, Percy, you've made the worse appear the better reason, for once in your life," said John. "But we were great fools to listen to you, for if you could coax that sprite," said he, pointing to Janie, "to submission, we might have expected to be easily conquered." Preparations were now rapidly made for the double wedding. Dunbar constantly declaiming upon the absurdity of wedding paraphernalia, and stealing Janie off every opportunity. Stephen was, of course, a daily guest; but as he was not affected with the cold reserve of Dunbar, and as Margaret had beep won out of herself to soar up to love, he was perfectly contented to be in the family party, saying he loved to see Margaret evidence her love so calmly, and yet so trustingly, before the household. One warm sunny October morning, John came in with his usual boisterous manner of hearty warmth. "Where is Annie ? Mary is coming for her to ride." "She is out walking withMr. Newton," said Janie. But she has been gone some time?I think she will be back soon." John walked on the piazza whistling, 'Come haste to the Wedding.' ' 'Janie, come out here and walk with me," said he, tapping at the window. "I can't, Johnnie; see here." She held up voluminous folds of cambric. "Oh! confound the sewing; come along," he cried. * She shook her head and laughed. "You come then, Mag," he cried. "Janie's nubia would not be finished if I should," said she, shaking a mass of netted work at him. "Oh I dear, I feel like the little boy in the story that could not get the ant or bee to play with him. Where's mother?" he cried.' . ' "Making jelly," laughed Janie. "Wher's father?" ho asked. "At his business, where you ought to be," said Janie. "Never mind; Mary will be here directly, and I bet she don't work, said John. "Poor Maiy 1 she has a hard life under your tyrany," laughed Janie. "Why? Because I won'tJlet ?er kill herself working? Smooth your curls, Janie, somebody's coming," he cried in an affected whisper. "Don't tease, John," said Janie, involuntarily smoothing her hair. John laughed, as he ushered Stephen in. "I had Janie smoothing her curls for you, Steve." "And ruffing my temper. I wish you would take him off with you, Stephen," said Janie. "No, indeed, I am going to hold Margaret's worsted," said Stephen, seating himself by her side, and of course tangling the skein past redemption. "Yonder's Annie now," cried John, darting out of the room. Annie's veil was down. "Good morning, Johnnie," said she as she hurried past him. "Where are you going, Annie; I want you," he cried. "I have something to do just now," said Annie, hastening on, "I will be down directly." "Well," cried John, "Ibelieve the whole household is daft. Newton, how are you ? Are you sane enough to talk to a fellow, or are you mad too?" "Come out on the piazza with me, Johnnie, and try me. I feel like having a chat with you.'' The two young men walked arm in arm up and down the piazza. After some time, Maiy drove up to the door. "Is Annie, ready?" she cried. "I don't know, I'll see," said John. He put his head in at the parlor door, and whispered in a play house-whisper, "Girls, Newton's mad too," and off he went up stairs. He came down after awhile with Annie, who blushed like a May morning when she met Newton. John took her hand, and placing it in Newton's said, "Take her, Newton, you are worthy of her, and that is saying more for you, than has ever been said for man before. Go along, Annie, and take him with you. Tell Maiy before you come back.'' "Mother!" called John, as he walked down the passage, "Where are you?" Mrs. Carter opened the dining room door. "You noisy boy; here I am?what do you want?" "I want to tell you news. Do you know Newton's gone crazy?" .said John, with an affected horror. "Do, John, be sensible. What do you mean ?" said Mrs. Carter, pausing a moment from her employment "He is, mother?mad as a March hare?bitten by the wedding fever," replied John. "Oh!" said Mrs. Carter laughing, "did you not find that out before? He asked the approval of father and me, when Janie was sick; but did not speak to Annie of it, until lately, not being assured of her preference." "Did you think Annie liked him, mother?" said John, curiously. "Don't ask me to betray Annie's secrets, Johnnie," said Mrs. Carter. "Well, I thought, for awhile, that Newton and Mag were going to make a match of it," said John; "and Dunbar seemed mighty fond of An_ M QIC* "Ah! Johnnie, your power^of perception is not as keen as Janie's. She told me long ago Newton loved Annie, but when I asked her if Annie loved Newton, she laughed and would not tell me," said Mrs. Carter. "What a witch she is," said Johnnie. "She hits the nail right on the head every time. One day I told her I would not be surprised if Dunbar would court Annie. She looked so provokingly quizzical that I said, 'Don't you think so?' " "About as much as that the moon is mode of green cheese," she replied with that most tantalizing demureness, "But look here, mother, how are you going to spare Annie ?" "Do not ask me, Johnnie; I have not dared to think of it It looks like taking the strength of home away to take Margaret, and the life of it to take Janie, but to take Annie, is just the heart and soul," said Mrs. Carter, with.emotion. * j "Let Newton live with you, motfier; why not!] do that?" said John. It I have thought of it, Johnnie, but it seems so selfish in me to propose it," said she, hesitatingly. "Selfish, indeed!" cried John, indignantly. "I i never knew you to do anything selfish in my life. ^ Of course it will be the very thing for them, and j let them live here until Newton's church builds < him a parsonage. Hang me, if I don't become a . deacon in order to propose it." "I do not know that even the end would, justify i the means in this case," said Mrs. Carter, laughing. "I'm afiraid your call to the deacon's office would not be allowed to rest upon your desire for \ Annie's welfare." t Humph 1" said John, "I do not know that I j could rest it upon a purer foundation." i "Yes, Johnnie," said Mrs. Carter, gravely, , "there is a purer and firmer one than even that love." "Come, mother, don't preach," said he, kissing ( her. "Newton's forever at it; and the cunning of the thing is, I don't know it till I get by myself, and tViinlr ftVimit. if. then T find the fellow has been pitching, in, without my being in the least aware , of it But he has got such a quiet way of making a fellow despise himself; so humble in his : own spirit, and yet so brave in the defence of his faith, any and everywhere, that a man is obliged, ] not only to love, but to respect and fear him. I ( tell you, if he goes on this way, he'll make me good j in spite of myself But who is that singing?New- j ton and Mag? Ah! the bee has been coaxed a- , way; I must go and see Mag about it But pshaw! ( I need not say that, for Mag's independence in love is only equaled by Stephen's. Come, mother, let us go in and listen," and putting his arm . around her, he vowed she should not work while he was in the house, and conducted her in triumph to the parlor. ( i CHAPTER XI. Late one October evening, a carriage drove up 1 to the door of an elegant mansion in the most fash- ! ionable part of the city of . A gentleman sprang out and then turned to assist the remaining occupants. "Take Percy first, papa," said a clear female voice, as a little curly headed three-year old ' sprang, in boisterous glee, into his father's arms. ' "Now our little Pearl," as a bundled mass of cashmere and fur was handed out The father placed the noble looking boy on the pavement, and bidding him run up the steps, took the precious bundle, and handing it to the nurse, with a charge to hasten out of the damp air, once more turned to the carriage."Come, Janie," and he almost lifted her out "Tired, birdie?" "Tired and home?" said she, as she laughed her old merry, light-hearted laughter. "Oh 1 no; but there is mamma and pappa, Maggie and all." She ran hastily up the steps, the broad doors opened, and Janie was sobbing on the heart of the dear ones from whom, for five years, she had been separated. "Stand up, Janie, and let us look at you," said John, after the first greetings were over, and they had been ushered into a ltfrge and splendidly furnished parlor. Janie laughingly stood up. "I tell you what, Dunbar, you've taken admirable care of her. I believe she looks better than when she left; and these are your children ?" "Come here, captain, and make friends," said John, holding out his hand to the boy. "My name is Percy Dunbar," said the child, proudly, and without moving. "Oh! beg pardon," said John, bowing in mock humility; "and mine is John Carter ; and that little midge in the white flannel, what is she?" The boy's eyes flashed. "That is my sister Margaret; but we call her 'Pearle,' and she is no midge." "Ah!" said John, elevating his eyebrows, "and you are Earl Douglass, Jr., I see; but I've got something prettier than your 'Pearle' as you call her. Come here, Nannie." A lovely little girl stole timidly out from her mother's side, (who was no other than our old friend Mary Simpson) and stood by her father. "See there; what do you think.of that?" said John, proudly. The little fellow opened his great brown eyes, poised on one foot in childish wonder, then, with a face dancing in mischief, suddenly threw his arms around her and kissed her boisterously. "You little Vandal, you I" cried John, inincon trouaDie laugncer, gatnenng tne irigntenea cnua to his anns; "is that European manners? Avaunt,, you young Goth! we dou't permit such things in America." ! "Come Dunbar, to the rescue," said Hunter, as ' he led up a manly little fellow to introduce him to i his new cousins. 1 "I have the sweetest little pet up stairs, that we call Janie, you ever saw. You shall see her tomorrow," said Stephen. "But look at this little blue-eyed darling," said Bessie, who was growing up a tall and beautiful girl; "we call her Daisy?is she not kvely?" And Janie looked down at a little picture of infantile loveliness, at a face of such heavenly serenity, that it was with a love mingled with awe, she stooped to kiss the sweet face. "This is Annie's child," she said. "I knew it; you need not tell me." Janie looked around for her sister; she sat by the side of her husband, and her clear, truthful eyes had been just lifted to his, in some earnest enquiry. Very lightly had time touched the placid face; a little more self-possession, a little more womanly grace was added?that was all the change. Janie noted the watchful, almost reverential love of Newton, as his gaze followed Annie wherever she turned, or rested on the seraph-face of his child. And Margaret, there was some change there. Her steps had a firmer tread, her voice a more decided tone. Without being imperious or haughty, she was firm, resolved and decided. Stephen often appealed to her, listened with attention, and frequently yielded with deference. There was so much to talk about; so much to be heard, that the night waned unconsciously, and the 'wee sma hours,' still found the family clustered together. At length they reluctantly separated, and Janie whispered to her mother, as she bade her good night, "May I rise early in the morning, mamma, and have a long talk with you all to myself?" "If you will not be too tired, darling?" replied her mother, in the same tone, kissing her affectionately. The morning light was still dim in the large parlor of Mr. Carter when Janie tripped lightly down stairs. There was a rich bright oolor in her face, and her brown eyes had their old dancing light Her form had acquired more roundness, and although its sylph-like movement was not lost, there was an unconscious dignity, which admirably blended with the womanly grace. Her black velvet morning dress swept the floor in queenly grace, relieved as it was, from sombreness, by its soft and pure ermine trimming. Her dark hair was beautifully arranged, in heavy coils around her small head, though a rebellious curl had strayed from its confining pin, and fell in a rich ringlet, beautifully contrasting in. its glossy darkness, with the fair white throat, and the pure ermine which encircles it A bright fire burned in the grate, and Janie nestled herself in her old caressing way at her mother's knee. "Now, dear mamma, tell me everything ; and first, why are you here, instead of -i our dear little cottage ?" "That is easily answered, Janie; you know after Annie married, which was shortly after you left, 3he lived with us for a year. Then Newton's congregation built him a parsonage, and John actually became the deacon, under whpse supervision it was built Some time when your little Percy grows up, you will know what a joy it was to me when John gained, 'the one thing needful.' Annie then moved to some distance from us, and as Margaret's family increased, and the prospect of pour coming home became more definite,.your father resolved to purchase this place, near to Newton, and prepare for the reception of his wondering child. His business has been wonderfully successful, and I am now urging upon him to withdraw entirely from it" "And John : how is he doing mamma?" "Nobly Janie; your father consults him about sverything, and John's word is law in our household. Mary, too, has proved truly a help-meet for him, and John thinks her so immaculate, that if the world were a Sodom, he would trust to her to redeem it from destruction. You saw his little Nannie; what a sweet, modest little creature she is, the light of her grandfather Simpson's eyes. Well, he has a little black-eyed Willie Carter at home, a merry bouncing boy of ten months, that John thinks an infant prodigy, and vows that it was a good thing he did not carry out his original intention of having 'Carter & Son' affixed to the door of his counting room, for his ten months experience, has taught him it is, 'Son& Carter.' " Janie laughed. "Just like John. How splendidly Mag is looking. Does she visit you often ?'' "Twice a year, always. You should see her in her home, Janie. Stephen has, I had almost said, a royal palace, and Mag's artistic taste, has beautified it to a perfect paradise. She is like a queen in her household, and Stephen has never forgotten the lover in the husband. His solicitude and tenderness, mingled, as it is, with such courtly deference, such chivalric breeding, is perfectly irresistible. They were just born for each other. Margaret unconsciously claims the homage which Stephen as unconsciously pays. You recollect Margaret's rule of Bessie and Katie? Well, just so she manages her children. An appeal from what mother says is an unheard of thing, yet Dupbar is a spirited independent little fellow, and little Janie is as saucy as her namesake." * "Mag was born to be a queen," said Janie. "But how lovely the life of Newton and Annie must be; they carry it in their faces." "Yes, because they carry peace in their hearts, and there is an atmosphere about their lovely, but uuprercnuiug uuuie, vvuitu wrnw a sciciutjr vtilu it I never go there, but I feel that I come away better and purer." "I can well believe it mamma," said Janie, her eyes filling with happy tears. "Two such souls could make any home happy, any place blessed. Between them they taught me that, 'Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and peace.' Though the .most is due to Annie, yet my poetic and imaginative mind, was first caught by the scholarly attainments, the artistic fancy, the classical taste of Newton; and I listened to him because I took an intellectual delight in all he said. I realized the beauty of the theme, not the felt presence of the living God. Then Annie came, with her simple, childlike trust, her unquestioning faith, her earnest mind looking far beyond these things of sense, to an inner veil, standing in a holy of holies, that I, with all my refined and poetic culture, my rapid thought, my nervous energy, had never reached. How I watched her. I knew she loved Newton: loved him with all the depth and purity of her sinless soul. How passionately I longed to hear one rebellious cry; in my madness I should have taken it as an excuse for my own infatuation, but not a murmur, not a sigh even, escaped her lips. It was all, 'what my father sends is good,' and her prayer still was with quaint old Henry, 'Do as Thou commandest, and command what Thou pleasest.' Well, she won me, mother, and I longed to drink of the fountain that gave such peace, and I never rested until I found it, and the peace has never left me, and I know now, will not, till hope becomes fruition." "My dear child," whispered Mrs. Carter. They sat for some time silent. "Have you seen Ed. Wilcox since he came home, mother?" "Yes," said Mrs. Carter, hesitatingly; "he is a perfect wreck." Janie shuddered. "We met him in Paris, with hi3 wife. He made me very wretched one night It was at a party at the American Consul's, His wife sat, as usual, silent and neglected, and Wilcox, instead of remaining with her, was flirting with all the ladies in the room. At length he came to me. I can give you no idea of the sneering haughtiness; he threw into his 'Mrs. Dunbar.' I have no doubt, be drank at intervals, during the evening, for towards its close, he seemed to lose control over himself, and made some wild, passionate speeches, that my cheek burns now to think of Percy heard some and saw more, but did not see I was bearing it in order to avoid a scene. His face grew so white and cold, and I watching him, grew so agitated and anxious. At length feeling, Oh! so painfully, that I was misunderstood, 1 attempted to rise to go to him. He saw the effort and immediately came forward. 'You are not well, Jalie ?' he asked in his low, tender tones. 'Husband, larling, take me away; I have lost my rest, and there is no more for me, till I find it again in your leart.' I do not know how I looked, but I know the glad joy of his face, and I know he never loubtcd me again. "I saw "Wilcox again after the news of the failire of his father-in-law. They were just about to eturn home. She had lost all the little beauty the had ever possessed, and was the picture of a sour, discontented woman. He was gloomy, morose, and irritable, often drowning to insensibility, his faculties, in drinking, and fast becoming the sot I hear the past year has made him." "Yes," replied Mrs. Carter, "no one would ever recognise, in the bloated, disfigured man of today, the admired, fascinating Ed. Wilcox, of the past; f?or in the cadaverous fretful woman who is his wife, the fair simpering, Miss Benton. Hk golden prize proved apples of Sodom in his grasp." "From what a lot you saved me, mamma," said Janie shuddering. "I, darling ? Your own rectitude and fortitude, you mean," replied her mother fondly. "No, mamma," said Janie, "you taught me 1 i . 1 . _ il _ _1 a _/* AM! nr^.now 10 eievaie me cnaracteror my iamugB, and then, that to confirm and strengthen a holy principle, is to carry it out in practice. Do you "think your unmurmuring spirit, that drew us so often from care or fretfulnes, into the sunshine, was unmarked by one of us. Margaret felt it, and it gaye her character that sublimity of aim, that spiritual nobleness she so eminently possesses.? John felt it, and it determined in him all the moral and manly traits of his character. Annie felt it, giving her the purity of affection, the quickened impulse, the quiet fortitude, that makes her life blessing and blessed. Bessie is still feeling it, and another Margaret is growing up in her.? Katie acknowledges its infiuenoe, in the daily development of a new and lofty spirit Our little Willie unconsciously bears witness to its influence, and is quietly taught that every gift and endowment of body or soul, is a talent to be improved. And I, dearest mother, with the very element and breath of my life?action?how have you directed it; how restrained and ennobled it? The wealth op our home is love, and you have been the alchemist, who, touching each heart, discovered its treasure. Well may the children at the mother's knee say, in the language of Mary Howitt? "Raise u* by your christian knowledge, Pnnsnnratfl ?n man OilP HAQ/Prs Let oj take oar proper nation, We the rising generation Let us stamp the age in ours. We shall be, what yon will make as, Make us wise, and make us good, Make us strong, for time of trial, Teach us temperance, self-denial Patience, kindness, fortitude." the end. IpsceUflttfousi Reading. THE NEW TAX LAW. The following is the new Tax Law, as agreed upon by General Canby, and now published as information. It is promulgated in the shape of General Orders, tinder date of December 3, 1867, and will be known as No. 139. In connection with the tax-law is also published the order making Appropriations. Inasmuch as we gave this to the readers of the Enquirer in the issue for the 28th ultimo, we deem a re-publication unnecessary, as no important alterations have been made from the text as then published: L To provide for the support of the provisional government of South Carolina for the year* commencing on the first day of October, 1867, and ending on the thirtieth day of September, 1868, the Afct of the General Assembly, "To raise supplies for the year commencing in October, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six," approved December 21, 1866, will, as hereinafter modified, be continued in force until superseded by legislation, or until otherwise ordered by proper authority. articles taxed "ad valorem." 1. On all real estate, twenty-five cents on every hundred dollars: Provided, that on such lands as may be in the possession of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands on the first day of January next, and the owner or claimant is thereby deprived of its occupation and use, such 1 x 1 11 Uj Ala. MmL r.t IcLX snail noil OC OUUUUIOU , UU lUC vuyimi dwv& U1 all gas-light companies, twenty-five cents on every hnndred dollars; on articles manufactured for sale, barter, or exchange, between the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, twenty cents on every hundred dollars, to be paid by the manufacturer; on the market value of the gross amount of spiritous liquors manufactured from the first day of January to the thirty-first day of December, 1868, five per cent, to be paid quarterly at the end of each quarter to the Tax Collector of the Districts in which it was manufactured; on buggies, carriages, gold "and silver plate, watches, jewelry and pianos, on hand on the first day of January, 1868?except when held by dealers for the purpose of sale?one dollar on every hundred dollars. TAX ON INCOMES. 2. Upon all gross incomes derived from employments, faculties and professions, including the profession of dentistry, (whether in the profession of the law the income be derived from the costs of suit, or fees, or other source of professional incomes,) excepting clergymen, twoand one-half dollars on every hundred dollars; from commissions received by brokers, vendue masters, factors, commission merchants, dealers' in exchange, (foreign or domestic,) or in mortgages, bonds and other negotiable papers, two and one-half dollars-on every hundred dollars; from premiums received by insurance companies or underwriters, two dollars on every hundred dollars; from the receipts of express or other transportation companies earned within the limits of the State, one dollar on every hundred dollars; and from the receipts of telegraph companies earned within the limits of the State, bam ?r?t nno-Vinlf dollars on everv hundred dollars: from the sale of newspaper or magazines, one dollar on every hundred dollars; on the gross receipts of newspapers published in the State, twenty cents on every hundred dollars; from the sale of goods, wares, or merchandize, embraciug all the articles of trade, sale, barter or exchange, (cotton taxed by the United States excepted,) which any person shall make between the first day of January and the thirty-first day of December, 1868, to be paid quarterly at the end of each quarter, to the several Tax Collectors, twenty cents on every hundred dollars; on the gross profits of all banks or banking institutions, two dollars on every hundred dollars; on the gross incomes derived from the arts of photographing or daguerreotyping, one dollar on every hundred dollars; on all incomes from salaries, rents, dividends and money at interest, one dollar on every hundred dollars in excess of five hundred dollars; on the gross incomes of all rail roads (notexempted by law,) from earnings within the State, one dollar on every hundred dollars. All persons keeping hotels shall pay a tax of two dollars on every hundred dollars of gross income; all persons keeping res1 *" " * ** ** ^A** "I* "11 inw i?TA laurauis ur eauug uuuoco ouuii [my Ik uu ux utu dollars on every hundred dollars of gross income; all persons keeping livery stables shall pay a tax of two dollars on every hundred dollars of gross income; all butchers and hucksters shall pay a tax of one dollar on every hundred dollars of gross income ; all persons keeping Jbilliard tables shall pay a tax of five dollars on every hundred dollars of gross income; all persons keeping bowling alleys shall pay a tax of five dollars on every hundred dollars of gross income; all persons keeping bar rooms, whether connected with a hotel or otherwise, shall pay a tax of ten dollars on every hundred dollars of gross income; all persons keeping ferries or bridges shall pay a tax of one dollar on every hundred dollars of gross income; all persons keeping toll gates shall pay a tax of one dollar on every hundred dollars of income; each person or company keeping a publio race track shall pay a tax of one hundred dollars; upon each public hack, stage coach, bag gage wagon and omnibus drawn by two or more a horses, there shall be paid a tax of ten dollars, and c upon each dray and cart or baggage and express c wagon drawn by one horse, a tax of five dollars. t ' 'taxes imposed for certain privileges. '' l 3. All persons representing for gain or reward o any play, comedy, tragedy, interlude, or farce, or <1 other employment of the stage, or any part therein, or exhibiting wax works or other shows of any kind I whatsoever, shall pay a tax of ten dollars per day, e to be paid into the hands of the Clerks of the i Courts, or of a Magistrate in the absence of the Clerk, who shall be bound to coDect and pay the o same into the public treasury, except in cases where 8 the same is now required by law to be paid to fior- t porations or otherwise. Upon every taking out of a charter, except for religious, charitable and educational institutions, there shall be levied a tax of twenty dollars; upon each renewal of a charter lia- J ble to a tax nndcr thin order, tea doBan, and all Jl companies incorporated in other States shall pay u for the privilege of carrying on their business in 4 this State, the same charter fee as is required of companies incorporated in this State. All circus a exhibitions, to be paid at the time, fifty dollars per J day; each and every person keeping a dog or dogs, b shall pay a tax of one dollar for each dog. For a the privilege of selling lottery tickets within the a limits of this State, five hundred dollars per month, v to be paid monthly or quarterly, in advance, >to the v Treasurer of the State of South Carolina, who, v upon such payment, shall grant a license for the ? time for which puch payment has been made, but ? not for less than one month. J "special tax." ' j 4. A capitation tax of one dollar shall be paid by every male person between the ages of twentyone and sixty, residents of the State on the first ? day of January, one thousand eight hundred and J! sixty-eight, except such as are incapable of earn- 1 ing a support by reason of mental or physical dis- * ability; provided, that double executions for the non-payment of the capitatation tax of the past year shall not be enforced, and that in all cases where execution has not been issued and no costs c have been incurred, the tax may be discharged by * the payment of tha? original amount on or before the first day of March, 1868. 5. All taxes levied on property as prescribed in * this order, shall be paid to the Tax Collector for e the District or Parish in which said property is lo- ^ cated, except that the tax on railroad companies, a express companies, and telegraph companies, shall a be returned to, and paid directly into the Treasury 1 of the State ; and this return shall be made quar- ' terly. . 1 6. Individual taxes will be assessed directly upon 1 and collected* directly from the individuals from ^ TY?V*/-?m lliVrr nwi /Inn 9 nwvui aic uu^< 7. The houses and lots on Sullivan's Island shall * be returned to the Tax Collector of the tax Dis- e trict in which they are situated, in the same man-' a ner as other town lots and houses, and shall be T liable to the same rates of taxation. T 8. Before the collection of the taxes herein pro- 1 vided for, every Assessor or Tax Collector (acting in the capacity of Assessor) in this State, shall proceed to make an ad valorem assessment of all lands, building and improvements, without distinc- v tion as to city, town or country property, and upon I all other property upon which an ad valorem tax ; has been levied, with reference to the market value 1 of such property in United States currency, and c without reference to any previous assessment; and y such assessments shall be subject to revision by * military authority. Each Assessor and each Tax 6 Collector acting as Assessor, before entering upon 1 his duties as Assessor, shall take and subscribe be- 6 fore the Clerk of the Court of the District the following oath, which shall be endorsed on his com- 1 mission, viz: "I, A B, do promise and swear, that 1 ' I will, to the best of my ability, execute tbe duties ? of Assessor for my Collection District, and will, without favor or partiality, ascertain and assess the actual [value of the property, real and personal, J upon which an ad valorem tax is levied, before and * for the purpose of levying such tax." v 9. Each Tax-Collector shall attend at the Court e House of the Tax District, (of if there be no Court ? House, at some other public place,) daily Jor one 1( week previous to making his final return, for the ^ receipt of taxes of his respective District or Parish. D All taxes on property imposed by the provisions ? of this order, shall have reference both as to pos- ? session and valuation to the first days of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, except where ^ some other date is specially designated. All taxes a on income imposed by the provisions of this Act v shall have reference to the amount of such income received between the first day of January, one e thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and the 8 first day of January, one thousand eight hundred n and sixty-eight, and all such income tax shall be t rlna onrl nowoWa nn nr IvfnrA fViA fillrfl7.fiflflV fi UUV UUU VU VI W4V1V VMV Vftn VJ utwv UUJ of March, 1868. e 10. The taxes herein levied shall be paid only t in gold and silver coin, United States Treasury ^ notes, or notes declared to be a legal tender by the 0 Government of the United States, or notes of Na- ^ tional Banks, or the bills receivable of this State; 8 and also pay-certificates of Jurors and Constables for attendance on the courts. The Tax-Collectors of the several colection districts shall be allowed, on all sums of money paid into their hands for taxes, a commission as follows, that is to say: the fc Tax-Collectors of Abbeville, Anderson, Barnwell, n Chester, Clarendon, Darlington, Edgefield, Ker- c shaw, Laurens, Newberry, Orange, Bichland, a Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, York, Marion, St. I Phillip's and St Michael's, at the rate of four per b cent; the Tax-Collectors of Chesterfield, Fairfield, Greenville, Lancaster, Lexington, Marlboro', Pick- p ens, St Mathews, Prince George's Winyah, St a Bartholomew's, Williamsburg, at the rate of six ^ per cent; the Tax-Collectors of All Saints', Christ y Church, Horry, Prince William's, St George's b Dorchester, St Helena, St. James' Goose Creek, p St James' Santee, St John's Berkeley, St John's p Colleton, St. Peter's, St Stephen's, at the rate of 0 eight per cent; the Tax-Collectors of St Andrew's, St Luk^g, St Paul's, St Thomas' and St. Den- b nis', at tne rate of ten per cent; provided, that p in any District where the gross amount of taxes b paid in shall exceed the sum of thirty thousand t] dollars, the commissions of the Tax-Collercors shall ;r be two per cent on such excess. tj 11. In sales of real estate upon execution for u ' non-payment of taxes, if the amount bid for such 0, real estate be not greater than the amount of the fy execution and costs, it shall be the duty of the ^ Sheriff" to bid in the property for the State, and the title thereto shall thereupon be passed to the m State, subject to such equitable rights of redemp * 1- ?.? A? V/-? Jria/1 nrtan Vtn 1a<**a tion US may iiercuiu;! uc uciciiuiucu upuu ujf icgolative authority. Imprisonment for over due tax- M es is abolished; but whenever the amount of the ^ tax, costs, &c., of any person cannot be made out of any property of which he is possessed, the Sheriff holding the execution shall make return thereof to the Commissioners of Roads or Publie je Buildings, or other appropriate municipal authority, who may enforce the payment of the tax due ^ by labor upon roads, bridges and other public w works; provided, that the commutation value of ^ such labor shall not bo less than fifty cents for a tl labor day of eight hours. b, 12. All taxes levied by this order, except when If such taxes are payable quarterly, shall be due and ai payable as follows: One-half on or before the fo thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hun- m dred and sixty-eight, and the remaining half on el * * ir before the thirteenth day of Jane, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight Any person [esiring to pay the whole amount of his taxes (except such as are returped quarterly) on or before he thirty-first day of March, shall We the priviege of so doing, and shall be entitled to a discount if five per cent upon the amount of taxes felling lue on the 30th day of June, 1868. 13. No Tax Collector or Assessor shall receive lis commissions until his returns have beenreoeivd at the Treasurer's office, and been approved by iim. ' 'f" 14 ,;/t 14. Taxes levied by municipalities, corporations r other local authorities, under any general or pecial law of the State, will conform in principle o the modifications hereinbefore made.' SOME PRACTICAL FACTS. We believe there is but one opinion about the alue of advertising among those who have given ^murfhina of a trial Thn nniwmijl *'?* " ?rr ? ' " hose who have made good use of it is enthnsias ically in its lavor. JNot a lew of the largest toriines in the country have been made by it We aean not simply the Moffats, Brandreths, Jaynes, ,. . >rakes, Ayres, Bonners, Spaldings, Wards, Hemolds, and those who are most prominently known a extensive advertisers. But in almost every city d large town in the land, there is some merchant rho has won wealth by constant and skillful adertising. We have yet to hear of a angle man rho has advertised largely who considers the roes tment a poor one. There is but one voice, and t is always and ever on the side of advertising, hua far, it is true, it has been too much in the tands of quacks aud charlotans, leading respectable men to avoid it, lest they should seem to place hemselves in the same category. And a great aany shrink from advertising lest it may seem to ' mply a lack of business, and so amount to aooasssion of weakness. Bnt those who have used it re the successful men of the oountry. Princely artunes are made, as if by magic, by the persisent and judicious use of this wonderful agency. It is strange that with so many instances of sucess secured by advertising, there should be found ny business man willing to leave it all to others. In England and France everybody advertises, be most conservative and oldest houses, as well as he yonng and progressive. There it is not considred an evidence of weakness for any man to pubish his business. The result is three times the imonnt of advertising that there is in this oountxy ind conseauent wealth and nrrwnflrifcn. Bnt with is there is no such universal custoip. But if they rould employ this means for increasing their busiiess, it might be doubled and trebled. Meanwhile, he few who do advertise reap magnificent rewards. defy any reader to point to an instance where , man has lost money by skilful advertising. It is he magic wand that can coin riches by the shortest route. It has never been known to fail. There ire thousands and tens of thousands of instances rhere it has achieved a triumphant success. .He rho does not use it is not the shrewdest business nan .?Lynchburg Virginian. WHAT WE EAT. It is some years ago since the public attention ras called to the wonderful and disgusting things rhich the microscrope displayed in our drinking rater. It was said that every form of hideous eptiles of the most monstrous shapes and incon eivable activity, but all invisible to the naked eye, vere swallowed at every draught of cold water a hirsty person used. Of course all kinds of filterirs were called into requisition until by degrees the nicroscope and its nasty discoveries were neglectid or forgotten. Having raised a sensation about what we drank, hese scientific Paul Prys have turned tljeir attenion to what we eat, and now very cooQy announce orae startling discoveries in the vegetable line. . Iegetables, say these savants, are composed of ifteen elements subdivided into two groups; first he organic elements consisting of carbon, oxygen, lydrogen and nitrogen; secondly the mineral elements which are derived from the crust of the arth. These are potassium, phosphorus, sodium, hloride, calcium, iron, magnesium, maganese, sil2um, aluminum and sulphur. It must be news o most of our readers to learn what a mess of aineral they swallow every time they partake of ne nomeiy Virginia aisn or oacon ana greens or eef and cabbage. It is enough to make a man yspeptio to think that all his life time he has been Iving on iron, sulphur, phosphorus, sodium, and , half dozen other mineral 'Suns," in the shape of egetables, and yet he knew nothing about it Well, the march of intellect is wonderful and very day we are getting wiser; but whether this cientific wisdom adds one iota to human happiiess may be questioned. What advantage is it 0 a poor fellow to know what his beef and cabbage re composed of, when he can do no better and oust eat it or fast It may disgust him to know bat his beef has sixty per cent of water, and that lis cabbage contains fifteen mineral elements, some f them poisonous, but what of that; it is "root iog or die" with him. How true what'the poet ays: Where Ignorance ia biles, Tls folly to be wise. . IMPORTANT DECISION. A decision has been recently given in New York, y Judge Hall, in reference to suspension of paylent of commercial paper as a cause of kJcrupty, which may be important to our readers. It ffirms, by the way, a decision made by Judge Jryan, of this District, rendered last June, in a LOtly contested case in Charleston: "The Court held that the second ground of the etition is sufficient to entitle the petitioner to an (^judication. There is some doubt about the contraction of the claose which authorizes prooeedjgs ad inxriium against any person, 'who, being a anker, merchant or trader, has fraudulently stoped and suspended payment, and not resumed ayment of his commercial paper within a period f fourteen days.' "It is claimed by some chat proceedings cannot e taken under the clause unless the original stopage or suspension of payment is shown to have een fraudulent The Court, however, agreed with le United States District Court of South Carolina , 1 thinking that this clause contemplates two oases, ie one of an original fraudulent stODDaire of nav tent, in which proceedings may be instituted at ice, and the other of a suspension of payment not audulent, and not per ?e an act of bankruptcy, it which, if continued for more than fourteen iys, becomes an act of bankruptcy by its continulce. "The presumption is that a merchant of fair laracter, who is solvent and deserving of credit, tn, by means of temporary loan or otherwise, proide for resuming payment of his commercial paer within the fourteen days." Oriental Legend.?"Every man," an eastern gend says, "has two angels, one upon his right loulder and one upon his left" When he does jything good, the angel on the right shoulder rites it down and seals it, because what is once ell done is done for ever. When he does evil, te angel upon his left shoulder writes it down, it does not seal it He waits until midnight * before that time the man bows down his head id exclaims, "Gracious Allah! I have sinned? irgive me 1" the angel rubs it out; but if not, at idnight he seals it, and the angel upon the right wulder weeps."