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Tje wis m. grist, proprietor. | An Jjnbcjpbent Jfamiln ftctosjjapcr: Jfor tjje promotion of tjje ^political, Social, Agricultural anb Commercial Interests of fjre Soutjj. |TERMS?$3.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE, i VOL. 21. YOEKVILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1875. ISTO. 13. r JU (fhigimd Jdotg. ! Written for tiie Yorkville Enquirer. UNCLE BRMNERD'S WILL; | OK, The Fortunes of Alice Lynn.! CHAPTER IV. "THE BOYS" COME HOME. In due time, Alice became domesticated in her new sphere, and soon the routine of her school-life commenced. She was naturally quick and intelligent, and though her education hitherto had been carried on in a some- ; what desultory manner, she had picked up much general information, which placed her, , in some respects, far ahead of children of her I own age, while in others she found herself i more ignorant than her juniors. Her defi- j ciencies, however, were speedily remedied by i l.er perseverance and love of study, and her \ teacher gave most satisfactory reports of her j progress. Her home-life was not quite so smooth, j Mrs. Fielding, as the reader Knows, nan never welcomed her into the household ; nor did she ! take more kindly to her as time wore ou. j Alice was a most inoffensive child, never in- i trudiug herself where she was not wanted, and L striving to the best of her ability to please; I ^ but her presence caused her aunt additional; care and additional work, and she thought ] that she had quite enough already of both of i these. She could not conscientiously neglect j her, and even for appearance' sake she was , obliged to make as little difference as possible . between her and her own children. But there ; was a difference, and Alice felt it, and felt it i keenly. It made her shrink within herself, J and increased her natural reserve, which Mrs. i Fielding sometimes called sulkiness, and re-j sented accordingly. It made her keep aloof j from her cousins, and often busy herself with ; her work or books, when she would gladly j have joined their merry play; for she had a child's elasticity of spirit, and when once the ! pressure of her grief was removed, it would | have vented itself joyously in natural mirth, j if it had had free scope. But the counterac- ! tion of timidity and constraint kept it down, > and at last the others began to call her; "mopy" and "dull," and to cease importun- J ing her to do as they did. So that though j she liyed in a crowd, she led a solitary existence, aud was thrown almost entirely on her j own resources for amusement. One afternoon, when the others had gone : out, and she was sitting alone in the parlor ; with a book in her hand, old uncle Brainerd came hobbling in. "What!" he exclaimed, "are you in here ?, What are you doing, all by yourself?" "Reading, sir," she replied. "Reading ! pooh ; this is no time of the day ! for you to be reading. Why ain't you runniug out in the fresh air, iustead of being ' cooped up in the house ?" "I like it better, sir." "But you have no business to like it better. ! Where are all the brats?" "Gone out somewhere, sir." "And pray, why didn't you go with them?" "I had rather stay in, sir." "Humph ! that's a queer taste," said uncle : Brainerd, looking at her so crossly tb^Fftlice j almost begau to fancy that he must tie wishing her out of his way, for some reason or other. She was revolving this idea in hor I | mind, aud had almost determined to take her- j self and her hook off, and let him have the ' room to himself, when he surprised her by say- j ing, in an entirely different tone of voice? ' ''You've never beeu into my curiosity shop,; have you ?" "No, sir," she replied. "Come ! wouldn't you like to pay it a visit, j uow ?" "Yes, if you please," she answered, hesita- j tingly ; for though she did not see how she j could refuse, she was rather doubtful of the pleasure to be derived from accepting the invitation. "Come this way, then. I never let any of the brats in there, except Susy. She's about j the best of them, and doesn't lay her paws on anything without leave. Oh ! 1 forgot Mau- j rice ; but I don't count him among the rest. He's a lad of discretion, and knows how to conduct himself like a reasonable being. | Fine boy, Maurice! He'll be at home in Au- ! i. j |.4 T 1 gust, mis way, cnua, to me rigiu?1 per-1 ceive you haven't got the run of the house j yet. I live uuder the eaves, like the pigeons.: I like it better than to be jumbled up with all the rest, and deafened with all the noise that goes on In the middle of the house, j Here's my den!" And having, by this time, traversed the main entry and a cross-passage, leading to the left wing of the house, the old gentleman pushed open a door and introduced Alice into a comfortably-sized, but rather disorderly lookiug apartment, containing a sofa-, bed, a couple of arm-chairs, a table, and a quantity of heterogeneous articles, of which, -at first sight, she could not distinguish the nature or the use. "Here I live in peace and comfort," said uncle Brainerd, "and never concern myself; about other people's affairs, or let them pry; into mine. It's a blessed refuge?especially ou baking-days!" he added with a sly glance, i that called forth an involuntary smile from j Alice, who appreciated the allusion, knowing r.n Wmlniwrluva nnd Saturdays her aunt's 1 ,, w..w.,-.Vw temper was wont to be as crusty as one of her favorite loaves. j "Sit down, child, sit down," said uncle Brainerd, drawing a chair forward, "and let1 me have a little chat with you. You ain't afraid of nie now, are you ?" "No, sir," said Alice, blushing deeply, and < wondering how he came to know that she had ever been afraid of him. "Weil, that's right; I'm not an ogre, and never eat up little girls, though I like to frighten 'em sometimes when they bother me too much. But you are not the sort to bother, as far as I can see. Do you know, Miss Alice, I've taken a sort of liking to you, somehow ?" Alice looked pleased ; she was beginning to "take a sort of liking" to the queer old gentleman, too, and to think he must be kind and good-humored, in spite of his odd ways. So she presently found herself chatting quite unreservedly with him, answering the many questions he put to her concerning her former life, with a freedom and readiness that surprised herself, and which she could not have done hut for the genuine interest he manifested in her. Once, when she touched (though very lightly, for it was still too tender a subject to bear rough handling) on b lother's death and her own forlm.. : the old man jumped up suddenly from his seat and walked to the window, where he immediately made a feint of becoming violently angry at the sight of Bob flinging stones at a cat in the distance, though she saw him furtively ttfrke off his spectacles, and wipe them first and his eyes afterward, while he was doing so. On returning to his seat he changed the topic of conversation, and asked her if she was fond of pictures; and on her replying in the affirmative, he took up a huge portfolio off the table and commenced turning over the leaves, and explaining the various sketches and engravings it contained. When they had got through this, he opened a drawer and showed her various curiosities in the shape of shells, rare stones, dried plants and the like; a carved berry and a hideous little wooden image, both of which be said were Indian gods ; some Chinese ornaments, and coins of different nations and dates, all of which were 1 k mixed up rather promiscuously together, and had to be hunted out, with some trouble, from their hiding-places. Altogether, Alice was greatly iuterested and amused, and was surprised to find how quickly the afternoon seemed to pass, and how soon the twilight came. "See here, little girl," said uncle Brainerd, when at last she rose to go, "I give you leave to come in here wheuever you like, for I shall always be glad to see you. Mind you, this is au exclusive iuvitution. None of the others if tr? hp PYfptnlprl t.ii fhpm ! so vnti UCLU ^Aj'VVV IV VV vv vn?vMv.vw ?v ....... f j needn't talk about it. J)o you think you can find your way here again ?" "Oh ! yes, sir," said Alice, readily. "I'm ever so much obliged to you." "Look here, ray child," he said, laying his hand for a moment on h|f soft, fair hair, "why don't you call me uncle? I like the name." "Well, I will," said Alice, frankly, and as he shook her hand at parting, she added, shyly, "I've had a very pleasant time, uncle Brainerd, and I'll be sure and come again." The old gentleman looked after her light figure until it disappeared at the end of the passage. "Pretty child?pretty child !" he ; murmured, as he turned again into his room. I "She reminds me of poor Lucy?she has just that sort of smile, and look about the eyes. Nice little thing, too; and I fancy she isn't as happy here as she might be. Well?well! I must do what I can to amuse her, when I have a chance." From this time, a close intimacy became established between uncle Brainerd and Alice, which was productive of much pleasure to ( them both. Mauy hours, which would have been lonely to the child, in her self-imposed seclusion from the young people's society, wore now passed in the "old curiosity shop," as her new friend termed his habitation, where she constantly found souie fresh subject of interest. Here, too, by special invitation, she sometimes brought her books, or her drawing, and occupied herself with them when not in a mood for sight-seeing. And uncle Brainerd, among his other valuables, possessed a small stock of odd volumes, some of them containing the most curious old-fashioned stories, which he placed at her disposal, aud many a happy hour did Alice spend over these, curled up in a corner of the sofa-bed, while her playloving companions were engaged with their sports, and never troubliug their heads about her whereabouts or her occupation. She came to be regarded among them as a sort of oddity, and her intimacy with uncle Brainerd, when they thought about it at all, which was not often, appeared to them only of a piece with her other eccentricities. As for Mrs. Fielding, she took less notice of her than ever, and her uncle, though invariably kind, was but little iu-doors, and had not much chance of becoming acquainted with her hab- ; its or disposition. The great event of the year was to be the return of "the boys" par excellence, Maurice and Joe, for the summer vacation. They were at school in Charleston, and the opportuuties they met with there of improving their manner and education, and becoming initiated into the glories of city life, raised tliem to an immense height in the estimation of their country brethren and sisters. As the time approached for their arrival, great were the preparations set on foot for their reception, and the excitement among the juveniles increased from day to day. Nothing was heard over the house hut chatter of what should he done when "Brother Maurice" and Joe w?re come. "Brother Maurice's" name was the oftenest on their lips, and Alice soon discovered that he was undoubtedly the favorite with them all. As for her, she did not, by any means, share the general feeli i^o f satisfaction. Boys were rather a terror to her, and though she no longer disliked Charley and Bob, she dreaded an increase to the ranks of her male cousins, as the source of additional noise, rough play and general discomfort. For this cause, therefore, she did not join the family group when they went in a body to the station to meet the expected absentees, but remained at home and took refuge with a book iu her usual hiding-place, uncle Brai nerd's room. He teased her a little about her unsociable ways, but was very glad of her company, nevertheless. And there she spent her time in peace and quiet, until the sound of approaching wheels and merry voices warned her of the return of the party, triumphantly bearing "the boys" in their midst. "Come, my dear, we'll go out and meet'em, together," said the old gentleman, rising with alacrity, from his seat. Alice could not refuse, though it was with a considerable accession of shyness that she followed him into the hall, where a great bustle of arrival was going on. Maurice was a tall and sleuder lad of fifteen, with a thoughtful face, and dark eyes and hair. Joe, two years his junior, was commoncr-lookiug, with round blue eyes and blunt features, and a good-humored, rosy, freckled face. Both seemed very happy to be at home again, though they showed it in different ways. Maurice, smiling aud talking quietly, and Joe, rushiug boisterously about, pouncing on the baby, seizing his sisters' hands and twirling them around, and asking twenty questions in a breath, without waiting for an answer to one of them. He greeted Alice in sheepish, school-boy fashion, half rough and half shy, while her elder cousin's manner had a polish and refinement thatseemed to belong to a much greater difference in years. She very quickly settled, in her own mind, which of the two she liked the best. Nor was the impression altered as time went by. Maurice had not been in the house long, before she felt that in him she had found a champion and protector. lie would not let her mope by herself, when the others went out, hut always insisted on her joining them, at least, when he made one of the party, which was most- frequently the case. If they went to the orchard, he took care that the best and ripest fruit should fall to her share. If they were in a rough or muddy road, he picked out the smoothest path for her, and helped her where she was afraid to go alone. If she was in terror of cows, he did not laugh at her as the others did, hut ?? !?*?? iniiipiiirp Kv t>ic >ic^ni'!iiu>n of iirotee ? ?.*, ..V^. ... f tion ; and was so kind and good to her in every way, that the child h\yned to look up to him with a feeling of confluence and affection, all the stronger, because her warm little heart had been so thrown hack upon itself, and which took deeper and deeper root, the more they were together. Nor was it only out. of doors that she was thrown into his society. At home, he petted and played wi'h her, and in uncle Brainerd's room she spent many happy hours in his company. He was always thoughtful and considerate of the old gentleman's comfort, and devoted very much of his time to him, reading aloud, telling him anecdotes of his school-life, and devising various little conveniences and improvements for his room, fitting up a shelf here, hanging a picture there, and contriving cushion* for an arm etfair, which Alice mane under his directions ami helped him to stuff' with moss. It was no wonder that uncle Braim-rd loved him. Alice could understand now how it was that, ho had always spoken of him distinctively from the re.-t, as of one entitled to his peculiar affection and esteem. Few school-hoys would have spent so many hours of their temporary lihefty in ministering to the comfort and amusement of a lonely old man; hut it was Maurice's nature to he unselfish, and lie ever found his ti'uest happiness in consulting the happiness of others. Even Mrs. Fielding rarely looked cross or worried when he was near; It she had more ; work than usual to do, he was always ready to lend her a helping hand, to amuse the baby and keep the^)ther little ones out of the way, aud to do many little offices for her that Young America would too often consider it beneath his dignity to trouble his head or his t hands about, even to lighten a mother's labors. CHAPTER V. MAURICE PROVES IIIMSELF A HERO. Children are like bees?where the leader goes the swarm will follow, and thus it proved in the case of Alice and her cousins. Maurice was the leader of the little band, the prime mover of all their sports, as well as their protector in danger, and their monitor i in temptation ; for in spite of his quiet domestic ways, and his fondness for making himself | useful at home, lie was full of fun and frolic, and always ready to join in the mirth of his ' juniors. Before his arrival the others had been content to let Alice alone, and leave her ; in undisturbed possession of her solitude ; but now that he set the example of noticing her and drawing her out, they quickly took the hint and commenced to do likewise. It was now, "Come Alice, we're going to walk," or "Don'tstay here by yourself, Alice, we want you and so Alice, yielding readily to their solicitations, became one of the blithest of the party, and enjoyed mingling in their amuse| meuts infinitely more than shutting herself up | with a book and letting them go without her. ] She did not by any means neglect uncle Brainerd, however, or forget the kindness he had ! shown her in the days of her loneliness, and she still paid daily visits to the curiosity-shop. Though the old gentlemau, delighted to see i her look so well and cheerful, always encourj aged her to join her consius' out-door sports, i Maurice and his brothers, like most coun; try boys, had any number of pets, in the shape I of dogs, rabbits, pigeons, Cochin-China fowls, j guinea-pigs, and the like. Out of his collection, Maurice, one day, delighted Alice by prej senting her with a beautiful little spaniel pup, of a very fine breed, whose mother was | one of his especial favorites, superseding in | his esteem even old Sultan, the great Newj foundland dog, that had been the house-guardiau since Carry was a baby. Alice went into raptures over her present, whom she : named Fido, and soon won the little animal's | affection by her devotion and care. Fido be: came her shadow, capering after her wherever -1-- ' Ultnonll' nn in Ion urhtlo I Silt! Weill, UUUlllg IllUJiJCii up JU Iivi 1U|J ?u<iw I she read'or worked, aud sleeping at night, by Carry's permission, on the foot of their bed. (This last proceeding was unknown to Mrs. Fielding, who would have strenously forbidden it had it come to her knowledge.) Fortunately it was holiday time; for Alice, in the first flush of her enthusiasm over her pet, would scarcely have been able to pay due attention to her studies, and Mrs. Fielding remarked drily that "she reckoned when schooldays come back, that dog wouldn't get quite so much fooling over as it did now." But it was Maurice's gift, and that was quite enough to set at rest any demurs concerning Fido's rights and privileges; though, had it come from another quarter, it is doubtful whether Mrs. Fielding would have regarded the addition to the family collection of favorites, canine and otherwise, with as indulgent an eye. About a mile distautfrora the farm, was a branch of the Broad River, Deep Run by name, where the boys sometimes went to bathe, and where, under their escort, the little girls occasionally went, also, sometimes to flsh, sometimes merely for the pleasure of the walk, j It was only in one sheltered curve of the 1 stream that either bathing or fishing was practicable, for beyond this the current was rapid i and strong, and was seldom ventured into, exj cept by experienced swimmers. It was a pretty ! spot, and much resorted to by pic-uic-givers i and other excursionists, as the broad green I sward upon the bank, sprinkled with shade o nlotiaonf- rPoMncr nlflr-P flnfl I l/i ttCj (iliV/1 UV/U U ^ViUUUMU U * j the view of the river, with its winding shores I and rocky ford, and a rude bridge spanning I the shallow part, was extremely beautiful and | picturesque. Thither,accordingly, the young j party from Berry Farm, one Saturday rnorn| ing, wended their way, armed with sundry ! baskets aud paper parcels, having obtaiued ; permission from headquarters to spend the I whole day in the woods; an indulgence never ; vouchsafed to them except when the elder ; boys were on haud to take care of them, aud, ; therefore, prized accordingly. It was the first time in her life, that Alice | had ever been "on a pic-nic," aud she enjoyed j the novelty and fun of the thing, with all her | heart. They built fires, gypsy-fashion, and I Maurice, good-naturedly, insisted on her help1 ing him make his fire, aud broil the slices of i bacon he had carried in his basket, and though ! she roasted her face and burnt one of her ' fingers as well as a piece of bacon, she found ! it one of the most delightful occupations iin. ?;?li. L?*I. ,?oc ! UglUaiJie, IJULII ill Itsen aim iicluuci, om- ..i?o ! doing it to help Maurice. They had brought ; au old sauce-pan, in which they boiled coffee and poached eggs; Joe shot a squirrel, and j though it was lamented over by the tenderj hearted, it was observed that every one's zeal was unflagging, both in the cooking and eating of it. Fido, who of course, made one of ! the party, frolicked about on the grass and enjoyed his share of the feast. They had brought fishing-rods and lines, in the hope of having some sport, but the day was too cool, and the sole result of their efforts was an ini fatit minnow, which, by universal consent, was thrown back into -its watery habitation. After dinner, when other modes of amusement had been exhausted, tno boys proposed taking Fido to the water and giving him a swim, to which, as Maurice vouched for the propriety of it, Alice readily consented. They accordingly proceeded to the bank, and were soon busy flinging sticks and pieces of bark into the stream, which the puppy swam after aik! brought to laud. "lie's getting tired now," said Maurice, at - last; "don't throw any more, Joe, you musi reeoliect what a little fellow he is." But Joe had already flung in a stick with the command "hie on 1" and Fido, who had entered into the spirit of the thing, was making vigorous efforts to reach it. "It's gone too far?he can't get it," said Maurice. "Il's going out into the current. Here, Fido ! Come hack, you sir!" But ti^ little dog pushed resolutely on, intent on securing his prize. Ilis strength was not equal to his courage however, and as the water got deeper and rougher his efforts became perceptibly weaker, and he commenced to turn about in a helpless, uncertain way, unable to go farther, and equally unable to get back to the shore. Worse than that, he commenced to drift toward the deep current, and Maurice exclaimed, in a tone of dismay, that he would never be able to get out of that. Alice clasped her hands- in terror. "Oh ! Maurice," she exclaimed with a piteous, blanched face, "will he drown? Oh! nay poor little Fido, can't he he saved?" Joe ran for a long pole, which he thrust out as far as it would reach, hoping to he able to guide the dog back into smooth water; but it was not long enough, and the motion it gave the surface of the water only made matters worse. Fido now began to utter quick, short barks of distress. Alice covered her face with her hands and turned away, trembling from head to foot. She could not witness her favorite's death. "I'll get him,"said Maurice,quietly. Alice loooked up in renewed hope, but she uttered a cry of dismay, when she saw him taking off his coat and boots. I "Oh ! Maurice, don't go in the water! I've I hoard uncle say it was dangerous. Please I don't!" "I wouldn't, Maurice?just for that dog !" i exclaimed Joe, and the others joined in ex{ postulation, Carry declaring that it was better : for twenty dogs to drown than for him to risk I his safety. I "There's an awful snag right there, I know, j 'cause I was in a boat one day and we hit it," ! said Charley. Maurice heeded none of them; i he had already plunged into the river, and | was rapidly making his way to the spot where ; only Fido's head and his two fore-paws were I visible above the surface. It was a daugerous | place, and he knew it, for it was right there that Mr. Fielding had often cautioned him j against going, and he steered carefully to I avoid the current on the one hand, and the i sharp rocks, scattered near the line of the } shore, on the other. If Alice had not been ! able to look before, it was doubly impossible I now. She hurried off to a distance and threw herself down under a tree, shivering with excitement and fear, and stopping up her enrs in dread of what she might hear. Maurice in danger?Maurice risking his life, and to save her dog! It was top much. Presently she heard a shout, a chorus of mingled voices, penetrating dimly into her hearing. She ventured to remove her hands, still without looking, and the tones, she found, were those of joy and triumph. Maurice was ! oo+'o ond ujqb <anf? Thfi hriive hov had j succeeded in grasping the little animal, just ! as he was sinking, and had brought him, weak | and trembling, but alive, back to his mistress' feet. Words failed Alice. She tried to thank him, but the rush of miogled relief, thankfulness and joy, was too great for her, and she burst into a passion of tears. "Well, if you ain't a queer one!" exclaimed Joe. "Who ever heard of crying ahout such a thing as that?" "You'd better laugh instead of crying," said Charley. "Fido isn't dead; he's all right, ain't he, brother?" "Yes, he's all right," said Maurice, who understood better than they did Alice's violent burst of emotioD, though even he was unaware of the depth of feeling whence it took its source. He thought she was crying for joy at getting her little favorite back, and did not guess that the largest share of her agitation arose from her intense gratitude for his safety. He did not desire to be thanked; it was enough for him that he had performed a good action, and saved his little cousin from distress, and he walked quietly off to wring the water from his hair and clothes, and resume the outer coverings he'had cast off. After this adventure it was dfiemed expedient to return home as quickly as possible, and they were soon on their way to the farm. On arriving there, Maurice slipped in by the back gate to avoid "a fuss," but of course his brothers andsisters were not slow to proclaim what had occurred, and to boast of his prowess to their mother. Mrs. Fielding was excited and indignant; "she'd never heard of such folly in her life?she did think Maurice had more sense. Things were come to a pretty pass when folks went risking their lives for the sake of a worthless little beast that wasn't of any account." When Maurice made his appearance the tide of her anger was turned against him, but he took it very good-humoredly. "It was quite a nice swim," he said, smiling, "and really he didn't believe the place was so dangerous. Anyhow it was not worth while talking about, now that it was over; and it was not likely to happen again." As for Alice, she had disappeared with her rescued pet, and was seen no more that afterj noon. Just about dusk, as Maurice was out in the back shed whistling and chopping away at a wedge for the kitchen-door, he heard a gentle footstep approaching, and looking up, saw Alice, standing at his shoulder. "Well, little one!" he said, pleasantly, "how's Fido now ?" . ' "Quite well. Oh 1 Maurice?' . "Well ?" he said again as she paused. "I waut to tell you?" her voice trembled. "I can't tell you how much obliged to you I am?for what you did to-day. I haven't had a chance of telling you before." "Oh! that's nothing! I tell you what, Ally, don't let's talk any more about that little business ; because you see," he continued, sinking his voice to a confidential whisper, "everybody makes too much fus3 about it, and that's just what I don't like." "I won't make any fuss," said Alice, "but I feel it more than I can tell you. And I i couldn't bear that you should put yourself in | such danger?" for me, she was going to add, I . c?i:? ..f_] ; out h leenug ui ouynuss rtanttiucu uci. "Oh ! nousense," said Maurice, lightly. "I say, Alice, wou'tyou run into the-kitchen and ! bring me father's small hatchet off the shelf; | this old knife is of no use." I Alice gladly obeyed, only too happy to be I of any service to him ; and so the subject ! ended. But the memory of Maurice's brave and kind action was indelibly impressed on her heart, and he little guessed to what a pinnacle she mentally elevated him, or how I intense was the admiration, almost reverence, I in which she held him thenceforth. Maurice ; would have smiled, no doubt, had he discovi ered her feelings ic regard to bim. He looked ' upon her with the affectionate, but half-patronizing superiority which a big brother is apt to feel for a little, timid sister; aud while he would have put himself to considerable trouble to promote her happiness, aud took a sincere pleasure in doing all he could to make her cheerful and contented, he would have derived unfeigned amusement from the idea that she not only invested him with all the heroic attributes of a knight of romance, but was secretly resolved that, neither now or in future years, should any one ever be her i knight but himself. What mattered it if she were scarcely ten years old, and he but fifteen? Alice had read enough of poetry and fiction to imbue her mind with romantic ideas, ! and she thought it quite as natural and reasonable for her to have a hero and worship him in secret, as if she had been any one of the "fayre damoseH" or captive princesses of : whom she delighted to read, i This imaginative turn of mind, though not ; the most wholesome in the world, was a great resource'to her when the holidays were over j and "the boys" gone. She again withdrew 1 into herself, though not as entirely as before, for the children had got used to her company | and liked to have her, and would sit by the hour and weave fictions and dreams of a pos, sible future, colored with the brightest tints I of fancy. Sometimes these thoughts would j be transferred to paper, in prose, poetry or I blank verse, as the case might be; and these J effusions were sacredly treasured up, and ! guarded under lock and key, for she would have <^ed ruther than have them come under the cognizance of mortal eye. One, written i in h Imnnv vein, was esneciallv Drecious to j ~ ?vrj ? - I a ! her. It was addressed tor Maurice, and com- j ' menced thus? ! Oh ! noblest lieart that over boat Within a bosom proud and free; My heart is lying at thy feet, For thou art all the world to me." ; Poor little Alice! I am afraid if the con- : I tents of her repository had been brought to j light, they would have excited unmerciful' | ridicule. But nobody was at all aware of her j i propensity for scribbling, or of the high flown , i sentiments which gave rise to these cherished ' productions; so their existence was never susi pected, and they remained in perfect security ] 1 at the bottom of tber trunk. My readers are probably beginning to weary of the record of Alice's childish days, , and childish ways. Her life at the farm con! tinued to glide on, more or less smoothly, and | undistinguished, for a considerable period, by | any event of importance. Mrs. Fielding's ' behavior toward her did not alter. She was I never positively unkind or neglectful, but she | never took the little orphan into her affection ; and Alice, leading to regard this as an unalterable fact, ceased, after a x'me, to sorrow over it as she had done at first. Her cousins were fond of her in a careless fashion, but there was no congeniality between their natures and hers, and there were comparatively few points or. which they could assimilate. Of Carry she was the most fond, but the three years' difference in their ages precluded very I close companionship, which they all seemed to think should exist, by right, between her| self and Rosa, who was within a few weeks of her own age. But Rosa was a thoughtless romp, with a very undeveloped brain, and had not ari idea in common with her precocious cousin. She was good-natured and lively, however, so that it was impossible not to like her ; and Alice, finding that she could not expect much sympathy of thought, or indulge in any interchange of confidence with those who were so dissimilar to her in every respect, contented herself with a pleasant matter-of-fact intercourse with them, while, for relief and self-gratification, she turned to her solitary meditations, her books of romance, her castle^building and her poetical outpourings, in which she freely gave vent to the secret fancies and emotions of her heart. (to be continued next week.) pistorji of JF. Carolina. Written for the Yorkvillo Enquirer. HISTORICAL SKETCHES of the Early Settlement of South Carolina. BY REV. ROBERT LATHAN. (continued from last week.) I The discovery of the new world was not a mere accident. As Jong as the world lasts, it will remain one of the grandest triumphs of science. Christopher Columbus was no ordinary man. He was several centuries ahead of the men of his age. Intellectually, he must have been a giant. His mind was well stored with useful knowledge, and, he possessed some mental qualifications which do not fall to the lot of many meu. He possessed those traits of mind with which Phillips says Napoleon Bonaparte was eminently endowed. He was capable of meeting any emergency which might take place in the life of a man engaged in great undertakings. Although the Cabots discovered the conti; nentof America before Columbus,"Still, we may safely say, had not Columbus discovered Watling Island, the Cabots never would have seen Prima Vista. In 1492, Columbus left Palos with three small ships and only ninety men ; but on the 25th of September, 1493, he again set sail from Cadiz, on a second voyage, J with seventeen ships and fifteen hundred men. It was difficult to persuade men to join the first expedition, and those that were secured belonged to what tnight be called the floating population. When preparations were making for the second expedition, it became I manifest that a change had come over the ? T7< 1 i miuosorme muiiuuue. jCiveiyuiMijr niio huaiou8 to go to the New World, and many of the first families of Spain embarked with Columbus. On the 8th of December he landed on Hayti, where he had left thirty-nine men when he returned to Spain after his first voyage. These men were not to be found, and the fort which he had erected for their defense was totally destroyed. The natives reported that the men bad become desperate in their conduct toward the aboriginal inhabitants. They plundered the surrounding country for supplies and mal-treated the women, and were cuiltv of so raanv and so great outrages o y f # ? against honesty and decency, that the natives rose in their fury and killed the garrison and destroyed the fort. Near a rock where was a spring of water and a favorable position for a fortification, but in a different locality from the first fort, Columbus built a town ; the first built by Europeans in the New World. In honor of his benefactress, he named it Isabella. In May, 1494, he discovered Jamaica. Here, again, the cruel and rapacious nature of tbrlSpaniards showed itself. The men were Toll of plunder and licentiousness. A spirit of revenge was kindled in the hearts of the greatly wronged natives, and in order to prevent extermination, Columbus prepared for war. Early in 1495, he set out with an array of two hundred men, twenty horses and an equal number of dogs. With the latter, ihe poor savages were chased and caught, and butchered by the men. The natives were subdued and quantities of gold collected. With this gold, and many other strange and valuable things which had been found on the various islands which had been discovered or stolen from the peaceful inhabitants, Columbus, in 1496, returned to Spaiu. The sight of this gold was more than the avaricious of Europe could bear. A spirit of maritime | adventure was kindled in the minds of thous- j ands. The reckless and profligate, the idle j and licentious, as well as the avaricious, were anxious to board a vessel and set sail. The gold taken by Columbus from the West In-! dies to Spain, proved to be a magnet which attracted adventurers to Mexico and South America. The eyes of the inhabitants ofEuvrvno trorn hirnnrl ovnunfflntlv rH f.hfl 1 U YT V/l U llU i tJ VA|/VU VMi? v * J y vw > ? m ? ? w land of perennial flowers, fountains of youth, rivers sparkling with diamonds, and sands yellow with gold. Thus, whilst the discovery of America was the result of scientific knowledge, its settlement was due, in part, to the basest of all passions?the thirst for gold. But there was another cause which tended to the settlement of the New World. Like ! the thirst for gold, an ?evil in itself, but so i overruled that good came out of it. We refer j to. the character of the governments of Eu- I rope. It may be said with truth, that all the ' nations of Europe, at this time, were badly j governed. In French history, it is known as j the period of the "Religious Wars." These 1 wars threw all Europe into a state of cotifu-! sion. They were called religious wars, be- j 1 cause it was a struggle between Protestantism ; ! and Papacy. These Protestants are known in ! ; history by the name of Huguenots. Since these Huguenots occupy an impor- j taut position, not only in the history of South ! , Carolina, but in the history of the United | i States, it is necessary that we have a correct; ; idea of their character aud early history. ! ! Three of the Presidents of the Continental ' I Congress were of Huguenot origin. Henry j I T .. .. linn n>MirllnAf Oli/l T Q IT IVO fQ > XJilLi 1UIIC5, XJliaa Lfuuuiuui auu u utm u**j nwio . i the meD. In France, about the year 1560,: the name Huguenot was, in derision, given I by the Catholics to the Protestants in and near | the city of Tours. Why they were called ; Huguenots, it would be difficult, at this late period, to say positively. some time j prior to 1560, there lived in$jr near Tours ; a man by the name of Hdgo. He was i a desperate character ; the terror of the1 whole country whilst living, and after his j death the superstitious people believed that his cruel ghost still tormented them. As ; the spirit of Wayne, which was called "Mad j Anthony," was a terror to the North Amer- j ican Indians, so the ghost of this reputed j monster, Hugo, was an object of dread to j the inhabitants of Tours. The Huguenots, | it is thought, were so named from this man. Another way of accounting for the appellation is this. There was a gate of the city of Tours which bore the name Hugo. Near this gate, in sequestered places, the Protes - - " i ?? I tants met in the night to worship God. By j ! others, the word Huguenot is thought to be a corruption of the German word Eigonots, j j which means confederates. It is highly prob-1 ; able, from all the circumstances, that the j name is in some way or other derived from j i either Hugo or his gate. We may safely say that in no land have j Protestants been so persecuted as in France.' j The reformation commenced in that ill-fated i i land in the city of Paris, with the conversion j | of one Lefevre a Professor in the University, j i and a student,William Farel. From this period to the present moment, a spirit of persecution has been rife in France. At the time of the reformation, and consequently at the j period of the settlement of South Carolina uni der Charles the Ninth, the French people were brutally immoral. The dark deeds of Nero and Diocletian were eclipsed by the French persecutors. The mind shudders at the remembrance of St. Bartholomew's day. By a satanically devised and hellishly executed plan, not less than thirty thousand?probably one hundred thousand citizens?men, women and children, were brutally murdered. This was on the 24th of August, 1572. Not less barbarous was the persecutions which were conducted during the reign of Louis the Fourteenth, to which we will refer in the proper place. These persecutions drove some of the best men in the nation to seek homes in other lauds. All that could, came to America. Thus it raav well be said, that the United States became, in time, the home of the persecuted uf 6very religious creed. When Ribault returned to France, having left, as mentioned before, twenty-six men in charge of the fort, he found France distracted with civil commotion. Coligni was not able to assist the colony for two years. A treaty, in the meantime, was entered into between the Huguenots and Catholics, which enabled Coligni, in 1564, to send another colony to the New World. Rene Laudonniere was chosen to conduct the expedition, and early in the year he set out with three ships, and on the 25th of June, a landing was effected on the St. John's river. The Indians had not forgotten Ribault. They conducted him to a pillar that Ribault had erected to perpetuate his discovery. The honor of being the spot on which this pillar was erected, is claimed by three several islands?Paris, Lemon and Beaufort. On the first there are some remains of an ancient structure, which may be the debris of Fort Charles. The Indians showed their love and respect for the memory of Ribault and his colony, by crowning this pillar with flowers and heaping up baskets of provisions at its base. Laudounier.e was sent out principally to supply the wants of the colony attempted to be planted by Ribault. Its tragical fate had, as yet, not reached France. From the Indians this was learned. Laudonniere, for some reason, determined to abandon the spot selected by Ribault, and commenced the work of a settlement at a point on the St. John's river,_vvithin the pres ent limits of the State of Florida. This, however, does not detract from the interest which we should have in this undertaking. As South Carolinians, our interest in the colony of Laudonniere is increased, when we remember the great likeness existing between it and the colony planted'by Charles the Second, of England, in 1670; and especially its likeness to those who cast in their lots with the colony of Charles, in 1685. We should also feel an interest in this colony, from the fact that the early boundaries of South Carolina included nearly all the present State of Florida on the south, and extended as far north as the northern limits of the State of Tennessee. It included all the territory between twenty-nine degrees and thirty-six degrees thirty minutes, north latitude, from the Atlantic on the east, to the Pacific on the west. Hence, Laudonniere planted his colony in what was once'Carolina. **TLaudonniere had visited the country and seems to have given the utmost credence to the stories told about the Fountain of Youth. In fact, he seems to have gone farther than to give an assent to the ridiculous absurdity; for he says that he had seen Indians who were more than two hundred years old, still in the bloom and vigor of manhood. This strange delusion of the old Huguenot is only explained by remembering that men suffer their hopes and fears to control their judgments, and often to get the better of their senses. Hence, wiser and more experienced men than Laudonniere have sometimes reported that they saw what they only wished to oop ?nrl that thou heard what thev wished to hear. Amongst the first things done by Laudonniere, after selecting a place for a settlement, was the erection of a fortification. A minute description of this fort has been preserved. It was a triangle,one side of which faced the river. On the south side was the magazine. It was simple in its construction, being merely an embankment of sand held together by sods of grass and logs of wood. The side facing the river was lined with planks, and otherwise | strengthened by driving stakes in the ground. The embankment v^as made nine feet high. The work completed, it was named "La Caro! line," in honor of Charles the Ninth of France. The Indians treated the newcomers with the same kindness which they exercised toward Ribault and his men. No doubt the colonists promised themselves a happy future. ! They were free from the troubled that had so long and so grievously harrassed them in their native land. Whatever may have been koir ripoamo nf fllfrllTA hlisfl And (llliet. theV found their, new home any thing else but pleasant, and a more tragical end awaited them than befell Ribault's colony at Fort Charles. As might have been expected, many of the colonists were idle and dissolute. They, by their unrighteous acts, provoked the Indians to acts of hostility. Laudonniere lowered himself, by his conduct, toward these benighted people. Soon the colonists commenced quarelling amongst themselves. They had breathed the air of civil war from their youths; and although they had left France and crossed the Atlantic and taken up their abode on the shores of the New World, they retained the same spirit of contention which they had before quitting their native land. A plan was concerted for degrading Laudonniere. Two soldiers?one by the name of La Roquette and the other by the name of La Genre?attempted first to poison Laudonniere. Failing in this they attempted to kill him by exploding the powder in the pot. In this they failed also. In a short time these desperadoes were joined by several others, evil disposed and insuboidinate like themselves. Laudonniere was taken sick. These out-laws entered his chamber, and by violence forced him to grant them permission to scour the seas. Two ships belonging to the colony were taken possession of, and a pilot was forced to join them. They proceeded to attack the Spanish colonies, planted on the West India Islands. They even captured the Governor of Jamaica. But the Governor managed to communioate with his friends, who came to his relief. One of the vessels escaped the Spanish, and by the guidance of the pilot was taken back to La Caroline, when the chiefs of this outrage were chastized. Ribault was sent out to relieve Laudonniere, but La Caroline was destined to be destroyed, and that in a most tragical manner. It is more than probable, that although Charles the NintH granted the Huguenots permission to plant a colony, he also planned, if not directly, indirectly, its destruction. "',u A bold, but exceedingly fanatical and desperately cruel man, by the name of Meleudez, was sent out by Philip the Second, of Spain, to watch the movements of Ribault. All tne plans of the latter seem to have been well known to the former. Melendez plainly and boldly declared that the purpose for which he was sent out was to exterminate the Huguenot colony. Ribault determined to defend the colony as best he could He pushed out to sea, taking on board his fleet all his ablebodied men, leaving with Laudonniere less than one hundred men, and the women and children, the sick and the infirm. The two fleets came insight, but before an engagement took place, an equinoctial storm scattered the fleet of Ribault, and drove it far away from the colony. Melendez, when the storm ceased, took advantage of Ribault's misfortune, and hastened to the fort. This he captured, and brutally put to death men, women and children. Only a few escaped by taking shelter in the woods. Afterward, Ribault and those with him, preserved from the storm, returned to the fort. They were shown the dead bodies of their companions hanging to the limbs of the trees, and then at a signal given by Melendez, they were made to share the same fate. It is said that Melendez skinned Ribault while still living, and having stuffed his skin, sent it to-his sovereign, Philip the Second, and his . holiness, the Pope of Rome. Charles made no attempt to avenge the blood of his citizens. No doubt he was well pleased. One De Gorgues did, however, visit merited punishment upon the Spaniards for this inhuman massacre. Having equipped a small fleet for the ostensible purpose of engaging in the slave trade, he set out, in 1567, for Fort Caroline. He made known his real purpose to his men so 30on a9 he was fairly out at sea. They readily entered into his plans. /The garrison of Spaniards who were left in fort La Caroline, were taken and put to death. When Melendez hanged the garrison, he had placed above them this inscription : "I do this not to Frenchmen, but to heretics." De Gorgues took this down and inscribed upon it these words: "I do this not to Spaniards or Catholics, but to traitors, robbers and murderers." Fort La Caroline perished to the Huguenots in 1565. This earth, has no more tragical spot. St; Bartholomew's day was Fort Caroline re-enacted. Both are blots on the name of Charles and Melendez, which time never cM erase. [to be contioted next week.] ? ? A Problem Solved.?"What becomes of needles and pins?" is a question partially answered. Grandma is a dear, precise old lady, much given to the making of pretty pincushions for others, while those devoted to her own use grow old in service. On one of those stormy days when access to "the store" was impossible,it was discovered that mamma's work-box was destitute of needles. In the emergency, grandma determined to open a pin-cushion which had done her good service for seven years, hoping that one or two needles might be concealed therein. The result astonished all interested : one hundred and fifty shining needles did that greedy cushion disgorge; and mamma instantly collected all the , old cushions that the house contained, hoping to increase her store. The result exceeded her expectations ; from one cushion was extracted one hundred and seventy-five needles, and from the other one hundred and ten? making in all, from the three cushions, four hundred and forty-eight needles. These needles were packed into the centres of the cushions and had all been stowed away in six or seven years. Doubtless many millions of needles are hid away in cushions after -this manner, throughout the country,which might be restored to usefulness, if the boys were set to work on rainy days to keep them out of mischief. The Toothache.?A correspondent says fUo* nfta? onffofinr. ovornpiatinor nain from lliab ungi ouuwuug vawi ? this ache, and having tried in vain to obtain , relief, Betty told me a gentleman had been waiting some time in the parlo^ who said he would not detain me one minute. He came? a friend I had not seen for years. He sympathized with me, while I briefly told how sadly I was afflicted. "My dear friend," exclaimed he, "I can cure you in ten minutes." "How ? how ?" inquired I; "do it, in pity." "Instantly," said he. "Betty, have you any alum?" "Yes." "Bring it, and some salt." ? They were produced; my friend pulverized them, mixed them in equal quantities, then wet a small piece of cotton, causing the mixed powders to adhere, and placed it in my hollow tooth. "There," said he" "if that does not cure you, I will forfeit my head. You may tell this in Gath, and publish it in AskeIon ; the remedy is infallible." It was so. I experienced a sensation of coldness, on apply- ? ing it, which gradually subsided, and with it the torment of the toothache. Easily tried. Bottom Prices.?The Cincinnati Qazette publishes a list of over thirty leading articles nf r?nnflnmntion. and a comDarison of their j prices for the years 1860 and 1875, so far as the latter can be told. These articles are not luxuries; but mostly necessities of life, and, at the most, comforts. The present quotations, in but few instances, show a rise that would not indicate any violently varying or disturbing elements between the two periods mentioned. Prime red wheat is eighteen cents a bushel less than in 1860; mess pork is only one dollar more per barrel, and that increase may be accounted for by the improved foreign demand. Sugar is at the same figure per pound ; apples are cheaper, so are prints, soap and candles, while pig iron, and the products made from iron, are again upon an ante-war gold basis, and so are dry goods and hardware generally. The agricultural and closely allied interests of the country are in a good condition, and promise a marked improvement in trade and creneral industrv before the vearifl over. For O . y # # * the past year a shrinkage in values has been going forward that has brought us down to rock bottom once more, and business men are in a way to find out where they stand. Length of Days.?At Hamburg the longest day has seventeen hours, and the shortest seven; at Stockholm, eighteen and a half hours, and five and a half; at St. Petersburg, nineteen, and five ; at Finland, twenty-one and a half, and two and a half. At Wandoibus, in Norway, the day lasts from the 21st of May to the 2ud of July, the sun not getting below the horizon for the whole time, but skimming along very close to it in the north. At Spitsbergen the longest day lasts three months and a half. fST What a pity that one forgets one's childish thoughts; their originality would produce such an effect, properly managed. ' i? r? iU? , It is curious to ouserve mat uy im wic wuic useful part of our knowledge is acquired on- > consciously. We remember le^r^a^-to read -! and write, but we do not remember now we learn to talk, to distinguish colors, etc. The firs*thought that a child wilfully conceals is an epoch?one of life's most important?and yet who can recall it ? 96F A nnn may conceal his name, his>[8ge, the circumstances of his life, but not his character. That is his moral atmosphere,. and is as inseparable from him as the fragrance of < the rose from the rose itself. In the glance of the eye, in the tones of the voice, in mien and gesture, character discloses itself. # ; . Because a man deserves success is not the best reason why he will achieve it. If men were to get all -they deserve in this world J too many of them would be hung.