Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-10-02
$ II L = G. T. T. a l. z .
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
r II T.
CUP OF COLD WATER.
BY T. 3. ARTHU r

Ue had been most abandoned drunkard.
and in the wears Of his sad decadence
h ad shamefullv wronged and abused his
| family. But, in a lucid moment. he per
cieved. with startling di>tnc,ness. the
precipice. upon the very brink Of which
he was standing, aud started back there
! from.
For his suffering wife and children. the
waste places became green again, and
the desert b!ossomed as the rose. After
came forth. and his smile brought light
and gladness to their spirits The hus-
band and father was man once more
with the heart Of man. He turned no
longer away from them in debasing self
indulgence, but toward them in thought
/ full affection
! How quickly is perceived a change for
the better in everything appertaining TO
the inebriate's family. when the head Of it
/ abandons his sin and folly. and returns to
his affection and duty. All this change
was apparent in the family Of Henry
Green. They had suffered even to a
deprvation Of every comfort; but Of these
one and another were now restored. un-
til every part Of their humble dwelling
seemed to smile again. How happy they
were!
And vet. the wife Of the reformed man
often felt sense of insecurity. She un
derstood too well that. for her husband.
temptation lurke6 at every point. How
! often did she await his return home, as
evening approached, with trembling anx-
ie,y; and mark. while yet afar off, his steps
to see if they were firmly taken
1t was early in the fall of the wear
when Henry Green took the pledge
Through the winter. he had work ed indus
triously; and. as he could earn good wa
ges. his income had given them. as Just
mentioned, very many comforts. lie
had not been much tempted of his old
appetite during the cold weather. nor did
he feel its active return at the opening
spring. But, with the fervent heat of
summer. the >nmberng desire awoke.
Active bodily labor produced free per-
spiraiion. Frequent thirst was the con
sequences; and. whenever this was felt,
the thoughts Of the reformed man dwelt
upon the pleasure of cool glass OF some
mixed liquor would give With an effort.
and often with fear at his heart. would he
thrust aside the alluring images drawn by
his truant imagination. And yet. they
would ever and anon return: and there
were times when ne was tempted almost
beyond his strength.
Green was a carpenter. Early in the
spring. gentleman offered him good
contract for putting up two or three frame
buildings. which he gladly accepted; and.
as the lot upon which his house stood was
large. ne erected shop thereon.
More cheerfully and hopefully than ev-
er did the reformed man now work. He
saw clearer light ahead. lie would
ere long. recover all he had lost. and even
get beyond the point of prosperity from
which he had fallen.
Time wore on. Spring passed and the
simmer opened. July came in with in
tensely hot weather. Already had Henry
Green felt the cravings of his awakening
appetite. and it required strong efforts at
self denial to refrain from indulgence.
About II o'clock one dav-it was a
hotter dav than usual-Green's thoughts
were dwelling. as was now too often the
case. upon the refreshing glass" once
so keenly enjoyed. \ little way from his
shop. though not in view, was tavern.
the bar-room of which memory was pic
turing to the ewes Of his mind with tempt
ing distnctness He had often been there
in times past-often drank there until
thought and feeling were lost. lie saw
in Imagination. the rows of alluring de-
canters. with their many colored liquors;
he heard the cold ice as it rattled in the
glasses: he almost felt the cooling bev-
erage upon his lips. 50 absorbed did he
at length become. that he paused in his
work. and leaned over his bench. his
h,lf ,loral in i
reverie.
1t was moment upon which his future
for good or for evil, hung. trembling in an
even balance which hair might turn.
For as long time as five minutes did
Henry Green stand leaning over his work
bench. a picture of the neighboring bar
room distinctly before his mind, while he
was conscious of an intense thirst-that
it seemed as if nothing but a glass OF
mixed and iced liquor could possibly as
suage.
With a deeply drawn breath he at
length raised himself. the struggle that
was going on in his mind more than half
decided in favor of self indulgence.
"Papa.' spoke low familiar voice by
his side
Green started and turned suddenly. 4
child not over four wears old. stood by
hm-a fair child. with a countenance full
of innocence and affection She held a
tin cup in both her little hands.
''Have drink Of cool water. papa!"
"Yes dear" replied the father. in low
voice that was unsteady from the rush OF
a sudden emotion. and he caught the cup
from the child's hands. and, raising it to
his lips. drank it eagerly.
Instantly the picture of the bar-room.
with all its allurements. faded from the
mind of Green. He was man again.
in the integrity of a firm purpose. His
child. led TO him by the hand of good
Providence. had saved him. The cup OF
cold water had fully assuaged the violence
Of his burning thirst: and he was no lon
por under tamptatiOn