Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-10-15
THE CUP OF COLD WATER.
BY 4. : ARTHUR.

Henry Green was reformed man. r,
had been most abandoned drnnkard and
in the years OF his sad decadence had shame
fully wIoDged aud abused his family Bul
in a lucid moment, he perceived. with start
ling dlslncIness. the precipice, upon ia. We
~ brink OF which he was standing. and star
ted back thereifom.
Foi his suffering wife and children, the
waste places becamas green again. and The
desert bossurnet IA the rose. Alter long.
, long night of weeping. the sun came forth
and his smile brought light and eladness Ia
their spirits. The husband and father was
a man once more with the heart of man.
He turned no longer away from them in de-
basihg self indulgence. bat towards them in
thoughtful affection.
D How quickly isperceiyed change for the
better in everything appe,taIning TO the ine-
briale's family when the head OF il abandons
his sins and fully. aud returns to his %ffrc.
lion aud duty All this change was appa
rent IN the family of Henry Green. They
had suffered even to the deprivation OF every
comfort; but Of these one aud another were
restored, until every part of their humble
dwelling seemed To smile again. How hap
py they were!
! And yel, the wife of The reformed man Of
stood 100 well dist, foi her husband, tempta-
ton lurked at every poInr. How often did
she await his return home, as evening ap-
preached, with trembling anxiety; aud max,
while yet aiar of. his steps, To see If they
were firmly taken.
II was early IN the fall of The year when
Henry Green took The pledge. Through The
winter he had worked iEdusiriously; and. as
he could earn good wages, his income had
| given them, as just mentioned, very many
comforts. lie had not been mGch tempted
OF his old appetite during the cold weather.
nor did he feel iis active return al the open.
! ing OF spring. But with the iervent heat of
summer, The slumberng desire aw0ke
Active bodily labor procured free perspira-
ton. FIequ ent thirst was the consequence;
/ whenever tins WIS felt the Thoughts of the
reformed man dwrIi upon the pleasure cool
glass of some mixed liquor would give
/ Wuh an effort, and often with fear at his
heart, would be thrust aside the alIuIing im-
ages drawn by his truaOt Imagination. And
\ yet, they would ever and anon return: : and
there were times when he was tempted al
most beyond strength.
Green was a carpenter. Early in the spring
a gentleman offered nm good contact iof
putting up Two or three frame bindings,
winch he gladly accepted; and, as the 1ot up
on which his house stood was large, he cree
ted shop thereon.
More cheenuIIy and hopefully than ever
did the reformed man now work. lie saw
a clearer light ahead. He would. ere long,
recover al. he had lost, and even get beyond
the point OF prosperity from which he had
iallen
Tune wore on. Spring passed and the
summer opened. July came with intensely
hot weather. Already had Henry Green
felt the cravings OF his awakening appetite,
and il required srtong efforts at SEN deni al to
refrain from Indulgence.
About eleven O'clock one day--ii was
hotter day than usual--GIeens thoughs
were dwelling, as was now too often the case
upon the refreshing glass, once so keeuly
enjoyed. A little way from his shop, though
not in view, was tavern, the bar room of
which memory was picturing TO the eyes OF
his mind with tempting distinctness. He
had often been there in times pas--oiIeu
drank there until thought aud feeling were
lost. lie saw, i'll imagination, the rows OF al
Turing deCanlers, with their many colored de
canters; he heard the cold ice a5 II raIted IN
the CLOSES; he almost felt the cool beverage
upon his lips. So absorbed did he at length
become that he paused in his work, and lean
ed over his bench, his eyes half closed, like
one in dreamy reyererie.
liz was a moment upon which his future,
for good or for evil trembling in an even bal
ance that . bair might turn.
For as long as five minutes did Henry
Green stand leaning over his work bench,
picture of the neighbOriug bar room distinct
ly before his mind, while he was conscious
ofan intense thirst--that it seemed As # moth
ing but glass OF mixed and iced liquor
could possibly assuage.
With a deep drawn breath he at length
raised himself, the Struggle that was going
on in his mind more than halt decided in ia
vor OF self indulgence.
Papa" spoke low, familiar voice by hIs
side.
Green started and turned suddenly. A
child not over four years old. stood by hun
a fair child, with a count enance full cl lnno
cence and affection. She held tin cup IN
both her little hands.
Have drink OF cool water, papsP
Yes, dear replied the father, in low
voice that was unsteady from The rnsh OF
sudden emotion. and he caught the cup from
the child's hands, and, raising 1t TO his lips,
brand il eagerly.
Instantly the picture of the bar roam, with |
all its ailurenienis. faded from the mind OF
Green. He was a man again, ~ the integ
ri,y Of firm purpose. His child. led to him
by the hand OF good Providence, had saved
him. The cup OF cold water had fully assu
aged the violence ofhis burning thirst; and
hc was 90 longer under temptation.
Thank you, dear" he murmurcd, as he
lifted his chile in his arms, aud kissed her
tenderIy.
Shall bring YOU another cool drink al
ter awililer asked The little one, as she press
ed her fathers cheeks with both her hands.
Did any one tell you to bring me the cup
Of waterl asked Mr. Green.
No, SIR. But thought you would like
a cool drink Inuocenlly replied the child.
Yes, dear, bring me another drink after
awhile. Then kissing the liule angel who
had been the means OF saving him when -