Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-11-17

shrill voice which had made the fools pence
ring in bis ears.
"a glass Of gin, ma'am is what ] am wait
ing for; but think I've paid the last fools
pence that ! shall put down on this counter
for many long day"
Marley fastened home His wife and bis
two little girls we're seated at work They
were thin and pale, really in want Of food
The room looked very cbeerless and their
FIRE was so small as hardly to be felt; yet the
dullest observer would be struck with the
neatness that reigned.
1t was a joyful surprise to them. bis re-
turning SO early that night, and returning So
ber and in good humor.
"Your eyes are weak to- night, wife, said
George ''or else you have been crying. I'm
afraid you work too much by candle light
His wife smiled and said, working does
not affect my eyes y and she beckoned q
her little boy, who was standing apart, in a
corner evidently culprit.
"Why. John, what's this see y said his
father "Come and tell me what you have
been doing"
"The baker came for his money tonight,
and would not leave the loaves without it,
but though he was cross and rough, he said
mother was not to blame. and that he was
sure you had been drinking away all the
money; and when be was gone, mother cried
over her work, but she did not say anything.
did not know she was crying till saw Der
tears dropping on her hands, and then said
bad words, and mother pat me in the corner"
"Tell me what your bad words were, John, !"
said bis father; mot swearing, | hcpc' p
NO" said John, coloring: Il said you
we're bad mani said, bad father p
! "And they were bad words, sure, said his
mother; "but you are forgiven; SO NOW bring
me some coal from the box
| George looked at the face of bis wife, and
as he met with the tender gaze of her mild
eyes now turned to him, he felt the tears rise
in bis ewn. He rose up, and putting money
into her hands, he said, There are my week S
wages. Come, come, hold out both hands,
for you have not got all yet. Lay it out for
the best, as you always do. l hope this will
be the beginning of better doings on my part,
ard happier days on yours
George told bis wife, afte. the children had
gone to bed, that when he saw what the pence
of the poor could do towards keeping up a
iue house, and dressing out the landlord
wife and daughters and when he thought Of
his own hard working, accomplishing Susan,
and his children in want aud almost in rags,
while he was sitting drinking night after
night, destroying his health and strength
he was struck with sorrow and shame, that
he seemed to come to himself at last He
determined that hour never to put the intox-
icating glass to his lips.
More than year afterwards, one Sunday
afternoon, as Mrs. Crowder of the Punch
Bowl, was walking with her daughters to the
tea gardeus, they we're ovcrtaken by violent
shower Of rain, and had become at least hall
drenched, when they entered a comfortable
looking house, distinguished by its comforts
and tidincss from all others neari it. Its good
natured mistress and her two girls did all they
could to try and wipe away the rain drops
and mud splashes from the ladies' fine silk
dresses and persons.
When all had been done that could be, aud,
as Miss Lucy said, they began to look them.
selves again, Mrs. Crowder was lolling in a
huge arm chair, and amusing herself by a
stare at every one and everything in the room,
suddenly started forward and addressing her
self to the master of the house, whose Bible
and whose face had just caught her eye, Why
my good man, we are old friends, know your
face. I'm certain; still there is some change
in you, though | cant exactly say what it IS. y
Il used to be in ragged clothes and out of
health. said George Marley, smiling "now.
thank God, l am comfortably clad, and in ex-
cellent health .
but how is it, said Mrs. Crowder, chat
we never get sight Of you now p
MADAM" said he, II am sure | wish you
well; nay, have reason to thank you, Tor
words of yours first opened my eyes to my
own foolish and wicked course My wife and
children we're half naked and half starved
only this time last year. Look at them if
you please, now--for sweet contented looks
and decent clothes, I'll match them with any
mans wife and children. And now, madam,
| tell you as you told friend of yours one
day last years-'tis the toofs pence that has
done all this for u.s. The FOOLS pence!
ought rather to say, the pence earned by hon
est industry. and spent so that we can ask