The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-01-27
R. l., THURSDAY, JANUARY II, 1863

D but not Of shame, they. are your sis
/ ters still. Then make the New Year
t glad to. them, and 20, as Mrs. Athearn
did, even ii the face of winters cold
t and piercing blast, if you would share
e her joy.
2 But l anticipate. Behold the poor
F. woman once more. Her last stick is
upon the fire. She must burn it, or her
: fingers will be so benumbed that she
cannot sew, and finish the piece of work
in her hands, which is to bring the
} bread for those dear children on the
morrow. At last it is finished. The
weary fingers cease their motion; the
last portion Of wood fickers upon the
hearth the lamp burns dimly, and the
aspect of all around is dreary and sad. |
Hark ! the mother listens. Perhaps
she hears her husbands footsteps, and,
oh, that he may be sober enough not to
treat her with unkindness Harsh
words she often has from him, but blows
are so dreadful. 1t is not his step, and
she kneels to ask, with Mrs. Athearn,
the reformation of her husband. And
she has more to ask for. She knows
what il is to pray, /" Give us this day
our daily bread," for she knows what
it is to be without the means of obtaining
food for the coming day A few short
years before, and youth and beauty was
her portion as we'll as that of Mrs.
Athearn (; but while Mary Athearn had
been from childhood surrounded by
wealth, Lucy Elwood had been obliged
in early life to earn her own living. But
never till the present time had she been
so sadly without the means Of livlihood.
An intemperate husband and home Of
poverty were with her synonymous.
The fair prospect of her youth were
early clouded, and the dark cloud was
that of intemperancc. For while she
had a happy home, but ere long she
found that the " sworn of the still" was
gnawing at the root of domestic peace
and felicity.
Footsteps approach. A tap at her
door, and as she opens it, she perceives
relief is at hand. Mrs. Athearn and
her attendants entered. The basket Of (
provisions is soon opened, and the fam
ishing mother requested to partake free
ly. She hesitates, with maternal anxiety,
fearing to rob her children, but ere long
Mrs. Athearn came in full possession Of
her story, aud she was urged to satisfy
the demands of her own hunger, and
fear not for her children.
81 have enough and to spare !"
said Mrs Athearn, and you shall never
suffer again for food if I can prevent it.
I will furnish you with work, and you
shall be paid punctually, for l make it
point to pay all who work for me imme-
diately, knowing that dollar to them
may be Of more value than hundred
to me, and they cannot we'll wait for it,
The servant, John, was then dispatched
to tho nearest proper place, in order to
purchase some fuel. Tears of gratitude
coursed down the pale ,attcnuated cheeks
Of the sorrowing mother, and the lamp
of hopc is rclighted in that lowly habit
alton, as Mrs. Athearn promises to find
employment for the husband if he will
be temperate. Mrs. Athearn's heart
ached, as she required temperance of
Mr.. Elwood ere she would provide
him with work, for she we'll knew that
her own husband could hot get en-
ployment upon such terms ct present
and though he drank wine and brandy,
instead of rum and whisky, his condition
afterward was no higher or more desira-
bic than that of the less wealthy inebriate.
The old housekeeper aided Mrs. Ell
wood in preparing pleasant fire, and I
comfortable meal for herself and child Q
ren, who had been aroused from their 1
rslumbers by the voices of the charitable
visitors, and soon nothing was wantingI
to make the poor mothers heart happy {
but the presence of her husband in
sobriety and kindness. The Old Year !
had been one of painful realities. The .
New Year was about to dawn with '
brighter anticipations. A familiar foot I
step caused the mother and children TO '
start, aud gaze toward the door of the i
humble apartment, with mingled emo
tious of hope and dread. Was the hus- q
band and father coming to disturb them \
with the freaks Of drunkenness His q
step was frmer than usual There was
no sound Of ribald song and silly Jest. {
CoaA he be soberi 1t was almost too s
much for the exhausted mother to hope,
and suspense was soon at an end, as Mr.. c
Elwood entered, and courteously adj i
dressed the inmates Of the room. He I