Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-05

though he was cross and rough, he said mo-
ther was not to blame, and that he was sure
you had been drinking away all the money
and when he was gone, mother cried over her
work, but she did not say any thing. did not
know she was crying, till saw her tears drop
ping on her hands and then said bad words
and mother sent me TO stand in the corner
Tell me what your bad words were, John
said his father, not swearing hope =
No. said John, coloring; Il said you were
a bad man Il said bad father :
And they were bad words am sure said
his MOTHER but you are now forgiven SO bring
iue some coal from the box
George looked at the face of his wife and
as he met the tender gaze of her mild eyes,
now turned to him, he felt the tears rise in his
own. lie rose up; and putting money into
her hands, he said, there are my weeks wa
ges. Come, come. hold out both hands, for
you have not got all yet. Lay it out fol the
best, as you always do. | hope this will be
beginning of better doings on my part, and
happier days on yours
George told his wife, after the children
were gone to bed, that when he saw what the
pence of the poor could do towards keeping up
a fine house, and dressing out the landlords
wife and daughters, and when he thought of
his own Woodworking, uncomplaining Susan,
and his children in want, and almost in rags,
while he was sitting drinking, night after night,
destroying his health and strength he was so
struck with sorrow and shame, that he seemed
to come to himself at last lie determined
| from that hour, never again to put the intoxi-
eating glass to his lips.
More than year afterwards, one Sunday af-
ternoon, as Mrs. Crowder, of the Punch Bowl,
was walking with her daughters, to the pea
gardens, they were overtaken by a violent
shower of rain, and had become at least half
drenched, when they entered comfortable
house, distinguished by its comforts and tidi-
ness from all others near it, Its good natured
mistress and her two girls did all they could to
dry and wipe away the ran-drops and mud
splashes from the ladies' fine silk gowns, all
draggled and soiled, and to repair, as far as
/ possible, every mischief done to their dresses
and persons.
| When all had been done that could be done
and as Miss Lucy said, they began to look
themselves again. Mrs. Crowder, who was
lolling in a large armchair, and amusing her.
self by stare at every one and every thing in
the room, suddenly started forward, and ad.
dressing herself to the master of the house
whose Bible and whose face had just caugh,
her eye-'Why, my good man, we are old
( friends! | know your face, I'm certain; still
there is some change in you, though | can't
exactly say what it is
! Il used to be in ragged clothes, and out of
health said George Manly, smiling; now
thank God, am comfortably clad, and in en-
celent health
Bat how is it, said Mrs. Crowder, that
we never catch a sight of you now ~
Madam said he, I'm sure wish you we'll
nay, | have reason to thank you for words o
yours first opened my eyes to my own foolish
! and wicked course. Ny wife and children
were hal-naked and hafstarved, only thin
time last year. Look at them, if you please
now for sweet, contented looks, and decent
clothes, I'll match them with any mans wife
and children. And now, madam, I'll tell you
as you told friend OF yours one day last yeal
FOOLS pence that hare done all this for us
The fools pence l ought rather to say, the
pence earned by honest industry ; and spent sc
that we can ask the blessing of God upon the
pence
Mrs, Crowder never recovered the custom
er she had lost.