Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-10-30
The Touching Reproof.
ny T. 8. ARTHUR.

"Here, Jane" said father to his little
girl, not over eleven years of age, "go over
to the shop and buy me pint of brandy"
At the same time he handed her quarter
of dollar. The child took the money and
the bottle, and as she did so, looked her
father full in the face with an earnest, sad
expression. But he did not seem to observe
it, although he perceived it, and felt it; for he
understood its meaning. The little girl lin
gered, as if reluctant, from some reason, to
go on her errand.
did you hear what said?" the father
asked angrily, and with frowning brow as
he observed this.
Jane glided from the room and went over
to the shop, hiding, as she passed through
the street, the bottle under her apron. There
she obtained the liquor and returned with it
in few minutes. AS she reached the bot
tie to her father, she looked at him again
with the same sad, earnest look, which he
observed. 1t annoyed and angered him.
"What do you mean by looking at me in
that way? Hal" he said, in very loud,
angry tone.
Jane shrunk away, and passed into the
next room, where her mother lay sick. She
had been sick for some time, and as they
were poor, and her husband given to drink,
she had sorrow and privation added to her
sufferings. As the little girl came in, she
went mp 10 the side of her bed, and, bending
over it, leaned her head upon her hand
She did not make any remark, nor did her
mother speak to her, until she observed the
tears trickling through her fingers.
"What is the matter, my dear!" she then
asked, tenderly.
The little girl raised her head, endeavor-
ing TO dry up her tears as she did SO.
81 feel SO bad, mother" she replied
"And why do you feel bad, my child?"
ooh, always feel SO bad when father
sends me over to the shop for brandy; and l
had 10 go just now. wanted to ask him to
buy you some nice grapes and oranges with
the quarter of dollar-they would taste so
good to you-but he seemed to know what l
was going to say; and looked at me so cross
that was afraid to speak. Iwish he would
not drink any more brandy. 1t makes him
cross; and then how many nice things he
might buy you with the money it takes for
liquor"
The poor mother had no words of comfort
to offer her little girl, older in thought than
in years; for no comfort did she herself feel
in view of the circumstances that troubled
her child. She only said-laying her hand
upon her child's head
Try and not think about it, my dear, it
only troubles you, and your trouble cannot
make it any better"
But Jane could not help thinking about it,
try as hard as she would. She went to a
Sabbath school, in which Temperance
Society had been formed, and every Sabbath
she heard the subject of intemperance dis
cussed, and its dreadful consequences de-
tailed. But more than this, she had the daily
experience of drunkard's child. In thi:
experience how much of heart touching
misery was invoved!-how much of priva.
: tion-how much of the anguish ofa bruised
spirit. Who can know the weight that lies
like heavy burden upon the heart of I
, drunkard's child-for language is too pow
} erless to convey it.
On the next morning, the father of littl
Jane went away to his work, and she wa
left alone with her mother and her younge
sister. They were very poor, and coul'
? not afford to employ any one to do the house
I work, and So young as she was, while he
mother was sick, Jane had everything to d
the cooking and cleaning, and even tn
a washing and ironing-a hard task indeed io
g her little hands. But she never murmure
never seemed to think that she was over
burdened. How cheerfully would all hay
been done, If her fathers smiles had onl