Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-11-16

children were eagerly pressing round table on
which there was no food except few potatoes
The father was standing at shelf preparing hls|
morning PORTIONS, and Mrs. w with uncomA ed
hair and dirty face, stood in menacng attitude,
upbraidinr him with loud and angry words
Good morning Mr.. Watson said he,
Good morning sir replied the poor man,
with hccough. Il don't leeIl we'll this morning
and was about to take some btters.'
Don't take them, they will do you no good,
and want to talk to you on business
Watson looked on him with surprise, and then
pushing the glass from him, seated himself to
hear what he had to say.
4 wish to hire you to work on my house We
have several unfinished rooms, and if you will
come will pay you at Mr.. Frost's store, where
you can obtain groceries and clothes for your
family
There was something so differdnt in the Kind
manner of M, Austin from the rude contempt
with which he was usually treated that he felt
his heart eXpand-he was again man among
men.
The bargain was closed, and the next morning
true to his promise, Watson came to his work
He commenced but his hand was unsteady, md
his manner restless Mr. Austin noticed it. and
he asked for cider he was told he could have
nonc but Mr.. Austin sent him mug of hot
ginger beer which he drank eagerly, for his
thirst was intense, He kept at his work, but
evidently suffered much for the want Of hi~ ac-
cusomed stimUlant
When night came, Mr.. A took him to the
store, AM paid him for his work in articles Tor
his family and with kind and encouraging words
babe ham good night When he got home and
exhibited large salt fish and bag of howc he
children shouted fur joy. 1t takes but little o
make children happy Alas! that that le
should be denied them Mrs. WILSON'S iaoe
wore an expression Of pleasure quite unusual TO
her, while she went to prepare supper.
tear came into the flthers eye, as he 10. 1cd
upon his half naked Children and Witnessed ne
Joy which one days labor had conferred on
them. He placed Mary on his knees and kissed
her cheek with parental kindness, His passion,
had been checked, his better nature was aroused
and, he SIT thoughtful and silent during the
evening. His past lie came up before him Hc
remembered his own neg lected and hopeless
childhood: for he was drunkard's child. Tie
saw that the evil habits which he then contracted
were working the ruin Of himself and family
and the question came home to his heart, whejh
er he should entail like curse on his posar,t,
and make the little ones around him outcast
from society like himself le resolved INA
for one week at least he would uot drink
He lay down on his pillow tnai A.qht wish
feeling OF satisfaction that he had not cXperle -eI
for years.
The next day Mrs Austin sent for little 17qr,
to come and spend the day with her and takt
care Of the baby. Poor Mary she was no
pretty, How could she be with that cold i.n
cry look, and those dirty rags about her Sb
was not good o. she had seen nothing hu, eyj
all her days The air she breahed in the era
die was polluted with the breath of drunken Is
and bIasphemy Yet to Mrs. Austin she wa al
interesting child; for she was gentle and a;tec
Tomato and her little shut up heart seemed Il
open and expand, when a smile If love fell on
is the conyolyulus unfolds its blossoms to the ray
of the rising sun,
Mrs. Austin washed her face aud combed e
hair, She had pretty yellow curls and yer
fair complexion and the kind lady putting on he
a clean apron, Thought her really beautiful. Tn
wo-begone expression had vanished from he
pale face, and her blue eyes sparkled witt de
light. She seemed for the first time to EMO
that buoyance Of spirit which belongs to child
hood. All day long she was as busy as bee
and when her fathers work was DONE she wen
into Mrs. Austmlo have the apron taken of.
Would you like to keep it 2 said the Ia
dy.
oh, yes, ma'am, said the child, tear comm
into her eye. 4 should like to keep it very mucr
but it is not mine
you may keep it then, dear, and be sure it
f kept clean
Sweet and happy were her thoughts that nigE
as she tripped home by her fathers side. an
when she laid down on her lone bed, princes
might have envied her the beautiful dreams thu
filled her little head Thus day after day passe
the work on Mr. Austns house went on, an
no less visible was the transformation that wa
taking place among the Watsons, The childre
were comfortably clad they prattled all dav
good Mr.. and Mrs Austin and when their fail
err returned from his work at night, they woul
all run to- welcome MIN with their KISSES au
: tell him of their happiness. The heart oc tn
| poor drunkard was sottened and strengthened
r his resolution was shaken-and clch DAYS lAbo
and icy confirmed him in his new life. Hi
wife was now all cheeriulness and love, and rsL
idly reaaned her health Their home soon be
came as neat and tidy as any Of their nelghDors
and where before dwet only poverty en-
wretchedness, now plenty and happiness pt.
, vailed
Mr. Austin continued to employ his neighDc
until he heard of person who required assis
) ance in his business. Mr.. A. recommends
Watson as good workman, and as man whor
he believed was wholly reformed. The buiidl
| was satisfied, and offered to employ him for Sc
eral months.
: The offer was received with Joy and the r
formed inebriate was again placed under circu1
= stances favorable to his good purposes and n
r long alter he vas induced to join temperate
society, of which he has ever since been
s. spectacle member.
A year has passed away since the commenc
ment of Our story, and Mrs. Emery came OF
o day to visit her friend Mrs Austin. In ii
y course Of the afternoon, we'll dressed al
d decent looking woman came in leading a lit
child Great was the surprise Of Mrs Emer
= on BEING introduced to this woman 10 End tn
d it was no ether than VI IS. " atson. When
IS arose to depart, Mrs. Austin said to her III y
lie car spare little Mary this afternoon | want h