Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-19

forth, going as it were, from house to honse
saying peace be unto you Peace which had
fled from his own hearth when he gave wav to
temptation, but which now returning urged
him to bear glad tidings to other homes.
Inever listened to such strange and tbrlIino
eloquence. I have seen Fanny Kemble as
Portia plead with Shylock with all the enerpv
of justice and the force of her impassioned ma
ture, but though that was beyond nv powers
of conception, was not moved as now
With what touching pathos he recounted the
sorrows, the wasting, mournful want endured
By the drunkard's wife, The sickness of
hope deferred and crushed-the destruction Of
all happiness here, or hope of it hereafter -
1t was what his own eyes had seen. his own
acts had caused-and it was the eloouence Of
simple truth. More than one thought of moor
Mrs. Hall, l am sure. As for myself. | know
not when have been so excited. and after the
exhausted speaker had concluded his thrillino
appeal, and the whole rude assembly Joined in
a song arranged to the plaintive air of Aud
Lang Syne-more like triumPhal chant it
seemed, as 1t surged through the room-I for
got all the rules of form, and though | had
sung nothing but tame Italian cdratinas for
years, my voice rose with the rest forgetful of
all but the scene around me.
Scarce had the last strains died away. when
through the crowded aisles, passing the very
seat we occupied, some one pressed forward
with trembling eagerncSs. At first did not
recognize him-but uncle started and made
way for HIM to the table in front of the speak
ers seat. A confused murmur of voices ran
through the room, as one and another saw him
grasp the printed pledge which was living
there, and with the eagerness Of a diving man.
When 1t was announced by my uncle, whose
voice was fairly tremulous with pleasure, the
effect was electrical The whole assembly
rose, and the room rang with three cheers from
stentoran voices. All order was at an end
Men of all classes and conditions pressed for
ward to take him by the hand, and more names
were affixed TO the pledge than any one could
have counted on.
1t was proud tribute paid to woman's in
fluence, when James Hall, grasping the hand
of the speaker, CALCULATED it was the
picture you drew of what my poor wife has
suffered. Heaven bless her. she has been an
angel to me-poor wretch that l am
s\Jy aunf'S first iunpulSa ,x-,S 4, fi,, TO NJ
Hall with the good news, but 'let him be the
bearer of the glad tidings himself,' she said af-
forwards. we will offer our congratulations
tomorrow And never were congratulations
more sincerely received than by that pale in
valid, trembling even yet with the fear that
her great happiness was not real
'Oh very well, broke in Mrs Bradford
Quite scene, my dear; you should have
been novelist. But did he keep itl-tha's
the thing
You would not ask, my dear madam, an
other 'scene,' as you term it, in which Mrs.
Hall was an actor
There is pretty little cottage standing at
the very foot of the lane which leads to nv
uncle's house. This has been built since that
memorable evening, by Mr.. Hall, now consid-
cred the best workman, and one of the most
respected men in Milton; and it was furnished
by his wife's industry. Her health was re-
stored as if by miracle it was indeed such.
but wrought by the returned industry, self re-
| spect and devotion of her husband Ny aunt
and myself were her guests only few months
ago, the evening of her removal to her new
home.
we entered before her little preparations
were quite finished, and found Mrs. Hall ar
ranging some light window curtains for the
prettlly furnished parlor, while a fine, curly
haired, blue-eyed little fellow was rolling on
the carpet at her feet. She was still pale, and
Will never be strong again, but happier wife
and mother this world cannot contain. Her
reward has been equal to her great selfsacri-
fee, and not only this, but the example of her
husband has reformed many of his old associ-
ates, who at first leered at him when he re-
fused TO join them. There is not bar now in
all Milton, for one cannot be supported
More than one thoughtless girl in the little
group clustered around Isabel, began, for the
first time, to feel their responsibility as women,
when her little narrative was concluded
| But the current of thought and education is
not so easily turned, and by the time the gen
tlemen entered the room, most of them had
forgotten every thing but a desire to outshine
each other in their good graces.
Emily Bradford alone remained in the shad-
ow of a curtain, quiet and apart; and as she
stood there musing, her heart beat faster, it
may be, with an unacknowledged pang of ieal-
ousy, as she saw Robert Lewis speaking earn
estly with Isabel.
Heaven bless you, Miss Gray, | confess
wavered-you have made me ashamed of nv
weakness | will not mind their tanntinu now
was all that the grateful, warm-hearted man
could say and he knew by the friendly clasp
of Isabel's hand that nothing more was needed.
Who among that group of noble and beautiful
women, had more reason for happiness than
Isabel Gray. All, my sisters, if you could
but realize that all beauty and grace arc but
talents entrusted to your keeping, and that the
happiness of many may rest upon the most
trivial act, you would not use that loveliness
for an ignoble triumph, or so thoughtlessly
| tread the path of daily life