The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-02-18

and will hardly stand her at the last
day"
"Why, Mrs. Andrews You shock
me ] Have you seen into her heart
Do you know her purposes? Judge
not, thatye be not judged, is the divine
injunction"
"a tree is known by its fruit" said
Mrs. Andrews, who felt the rebuke,
and slightly colorad.
"True, and by their fruits shall ye
know them," replied the lady. "But
come, there are too many around US
here for this earnest conversation.
We viii take a quarter of an hour to
ourselves in one of the less crowded
rooms. No one will observe our alb
sence, and you will be freed from the
annoyance Of these Dances"
The two ladies quietly retired from
the drawing rooms. AS soon as they
were more alone, the last speaker re-
sumed:
"By their fruits ye shall know them.
Do men gather grapes Of thornS, or
figs of thistles ? Let me relate what
| saw and heard in the family Of two
ladies during this protracted meeting.
one Of these ladies was Mrs. Eldridge.
l was passing in her neighborhood
about four O'Clock, and as | owed her
call, thought the opportunity good
one for returning it. On entering,
my ears caught the blended music Of
a piano, and children's happy voices.
From the front parlor, through the
partly opened door, a sight, beautiful
to my eyes, was revealed. Mrs. Ed
ridge was seated at the instrument,
her sweet babe asleep on one arm,
while with a single hand, she was
touching the notes of familiar air, to
which four children were dancing.
A more innocent, loving, happy group,
/ have never seen. For nearly ten
minutes | gazed upon them unobser-
we'd, SO interested that | forgot the
questionable propriety of my conduct,
and during that time, not an unkind
word was uttered by one of the chill
dren, nor did anything occur to mar
tie haFmony Of the scene. Il was 4
sight on which angels could have
looked, nay, did look with pleasure;
for, whenever hearts are turned to
good affections, angels are present.
The music was suspended, and the
dancing ceased, as presented myself
The mother greeted me with happy |
smile, and each of the children spoke to
hervisitor with an air at once polite and
respectful.
"I've turned nurse for the afternoon,
you see," said Mrs. Eldridge, cheer
fully. dts Alice's day to go out, and |
l never like to trust our little ones with |
the chambermaid, who isn't over fond
of children. We generally have a
good time on these occasions, for |
give myself up to them entirely.
I hey've read, and played, and told |
stories, until tired, and now Pve just
frightened them up, body and mind,
with dance"
"fnd bright and happy they all
looked"
"Now run up into the nursery for a
little while, and build block houses"
said she, "while have little pleas
ant talk with my friend. That's good
children. And l want you to be very
quiet, for dear little Eddy is fast
asleep, and Pm going to lay him in his
crib"
Away went the children, and |
heard no more Of them for the half
hour during which l staid. With the
child in her arms, Mrs. Eldridge went
up to her chamber, and went with
her. AS she was laying him in the
crib, took from the mantle small
porcelain figure of a kneeling child,
and was examiningit, when she turned
to me. Very beautiful said [. 1T