Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-11-15
VOL. xxx, NO. 1.--wHoLE NO. 1887

meals was usually accustomed by worse
than ordinary debauch. How different
would have been her feelings had she
known that her erring parent was this mo-
ment in his own chamber, overwhelmed
with anguish and remorse How quickly
would she have forgotten every thought of
sell, and fastened to pour into his ear as
surances of her forgiveness and love All,
It was better for him, May, that thy ten
der merces were while withheld.
Il do think father will retutn to tea
thought May; and she fastened to pre-
pare dish for him, which she knew he
very much liked, and which she had made
some personal sacrifice to procure Those
only who have but one object to care for,
one being to smile on their tolls, one
friend - whom their existence seems a
peculiar blessing, can alone understand
how every thought and feeling becomes a
servitor at one shrine.
Job, meanwhile, hearing her light step
about the house, rose from the bed where
he had thrown himself, bathed his face in
the basin of cool water that Mays hand
kept constantly supplied in his chamber,
brushed his hair, and putting on his hat,
stole cautiously down into the yard, and
betook himself to Mays bed Of pansies
and carnations. Here she espied and
ran out to meet him. Her first glance re-
lleved and gladdened her heart. She held
out her hand to greet him. How long
you have been away papa and how glad
am to see you home to tea = she said,
looking into his face with a smile that told
hlm how happy and grateful she felt TO
meet HIM IN a rational mood once more.
AS they sat together at the tea-table,
chatting in social and afectonate way,
of the ten thousand little interests dear to
father and child, even though one, alas,
is but such in name, May felt not a soil
tary trace of her mornings sorrow. If
she thought of Harry, it was with love
and gratitude, but scarcely with pain and
regret, for though the same cause remain
ed to prevent their union, how could she
think of anything unpleasant or melan-
choly while her dear father sat by, sober,
and full of kind words and gentle atten-
tons?
A week passed on, and job daily assis-
ted May in arranging and planting her
garden, never once going near the Admit
raj, nor lifting glass of spirits to his lips.
May was in raptures. Only one thing
disturbed her felicity; Harry was not by
her to partake of it. " 1t is foolish in
him to stay away so long,'' thought she
'ior though we must not be lovers, we might
certainly be friends Perhaps the change
would not have been so easy, May?
One morning after breakfast, Job rose
from the table, and put on his old hat)
(May had Just braided him new one,)
saying, as he did so, I" | am going up to
the Admiral this morning. Ned Watkins,
and some of my kind friends there, will
begin to wonder at my long absence. On
ly think, May, it is whole week since I
have been there.
Mays smile was changed TO a look of
undisguisable distress at the unwelcome
announcement. 90, father! she excam-
ed, in tone of touching entreaty, do
not go any more to that wretched place.
| have been so happy this past week,
cannot spare you away. You will not go,
dear father
job smoothed her bright hair, and look
ing good humoredly into her troubled
face, replied, " If go, your friend Harry
VIII come TO see you again but so loug as
| stay, you are not like to enjoy much of
his society. will not be in your way, my
child and without stopping 10 listen to
her earnest circumstances, he imprinted
tender kiss upon her cheek and hurried "a
way 10 the Admiral.
He found the usual bar-room club as
sembled. Immediately npon his entrance
they began their assaults upon him for his
long absence. He evaded them, march,
ing up to the bar, and throwing down a
sxpence, Give us mug of stout flip,
kawley,' said he; and while this was pre-
pairing, he picked up the stump Of an old
pen, dipped it into batter thick ink that
stood on the desk, and drawing an old let
ter from his pocket, tore off the back,
scrubbed upon it the following words:
'This certiiies that |, Job Woodel, do
hereby give my solemn pledge to abstain
wholly, henceforih and forever, from the
use OF all intoxicating drinks as bever-
age.
(SigneT JOB WooDELL.
May Is, 1912
This he placed in the hands of his old
follow-tippler, Ned Watkins, bidding him
to read it aloud to his companions, while
he seized his mug of flip and hurried to
the door. Lifting it toward his lips, to
make the temptation as strong as possible,
he suddenly turned it upside down, spill
ling its smoking contents upon the ground.
Then placing the mug in this reversed po-
siion on the bench, he took his pipe from
his mouth, and delivered this brief soilo-
GUY; Job Woodell, thou art man again.
The letters that bound the are broken, and
thou art free Job Woodell, thou art a
father, Henceforth the child of thy lost
Mary hos u laihor,r a..,. A.. IL. =