The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-06-30
not told me all this before! Ineyer dream.

ed OF your sorr0Ws.'
"Ah, LADY," she replied, "'every hea
knoweth its own bitterness | have mac
out to get along; for what earned, he WI
still too noble to take from me; but tn
morning he stole from my pocket my la!
shilling, and my dear children will have n
dinner till my work is done to-day. Doyo
wonder that my tears fall! Oh, it is terr
lble-terrible-to be the wife of drunkart
And yet," she continued, drawing herse
up nobly, with firm, proud tone, the ton
and look Of other, and better days, "h
might be sorry. Oh, he is SO good, SO kline
SO generous, when he can be kept fror
temptation! Oh, Mrs. Wade, if you, an
those like you, who have wealth, education
and influence, would but give your hands t
the work, and struggle for the redemption
of the State of Ohio-struggle for tn
Maine Law, how many thousands Of you
sisters whose weary feet are like mine, STUN
bling their dark way through the Slough Q
Despond,' would lift their hands and heart
to bless you forevermore! Oh, can you no
will you not try to help u.s."
81 will'' said Mrs. Wade
And with heart too full to trust hersel
dering a dinner for the children of thu
washerwoman, she tied on her bonnet, AM
set forth on her errand of mercy and love-
to get signers to Petition to be sent to tht
Ohio Legislature, for law similar in it
provisions to the Maine Law. On, on she
sped, stimulated, aided, and impelled BY the
thought, "N1y husband-so gentle, 50 kind
so loving, and so true-is being tempted
Already he is pleading, "a little does not
hurt anybody and who knows but he, too
may fall! Oh, God! help me to do this
work-to remove the tempter from hi;
PATH"
On, on she passed, presenting her paper
and her woman's heart leaped forth witt
sympathy, and her hand placed her name
below that of her neighbor with a thrill 0
triumph and each one breathed forth ;
PRAYER for the success of the movement
And when Mrs. Wade returned home at 4
o'clock, she had one hundred and fifty names
upon her paper! How proudly palpitated
her heart! True her muslins were still un'
touched-her daily calls unmade. But a
new era of life had dawned upon her; q
new spirit had entered her breast, and nest
led there warm. and glowing, and speaking
peace, the divine impulsions of which were
not to be resisted.
Never had Eveleen Wade felt so highly
so triumphantly happy; and she clasped
little Helen to her heart with all mothers
overhowing love, and a thought went like
lightning through her brain-"she is saved
she has saved me-she has saved Us all!'
And the words rang like rich, soft music
through her ears, "Oh, Mamma, don't let
Mrs. Wilson cry so!i' and as she kissed again
and again the soft cherry lip of her child
she covenanted with herselfto dry Mrs. Will
sons tears.
In the meantime, Mrs. Wilson finished
her work, received her pay, and with many
little comforts, and lightened heart, re-
turned TO her children. Her husband had
been away all day, and her little ones were
cheerful and happy over the receipt of theil
good dinner, which none of them could ac'
count for, only that boy came and brought
it, and said it was for them.
If the rich could realize how little it would
take from their abundance to make the
poor happy, l feel that they
would more frequently exercise their faith
in that passage of scripture which says, "lt
is more blessed to give than to receive"
That evening, when Mr.. Wade came in
from his business, he noticed the glow OF
animation upon the cheek of his wife, ano
LAYING his hand gaily upon her shoulder, he
asked, "Are you thinking OF that New
Years party, Evcleen, that makes you look
so full Of light and joy tonight"
"Just that, my dear. How much will il
cost to get up such party as we talk OF
gving!"
"Well, don't know. If we have wines
(and of course we must,) and do the thing
up creditably, it will come to pretty nearly
two hundred. BY George! that's little
more than I'm up to; but you are decidedly
clever, and so well, there's no denying you;
so shall have to go it,
Eveleen did not reply to the jocose remark
of her husband, but sat gazing into the fire
with a look Of intensity and feeling. A
great warfare was going on in her heart.
Philanthropy and duty were struggling IN
her mind against pride, ambition, and self
love. Oh, it would be so pleasant to have
such party-to gather together the elite o
the citv-to give a pleasurable excitement
to SO many-to play her part in the grea
drama of fashionable life, and be proclaimed
a star actor All this she well knew was
before her, if she went on with her party
Then came the whispering of the Love-spir
it in her ear: .What real good will all this
do! who will be made more happy! who
will be morally redeemed! who will, one
week later, say-sI am better, wiser, happi'
er, for Mrs. Wade's great partyr" and hei
heart could not but return the true answer
"Not one; or, if one or two, the mass OF my
guests will be made the worse" Then
came a low, deep murmur from atar, which
she recognized as the guardian angel OF the
husband-.Let the Love-spirit persuade
thee-it may save him! Act out the gooo
thought that is struggling for utterance
for utterance through thee; for seest thou
not. even to night, the sparkle of the wine
in his eve, and nearest thou not its laughing
mirth in his tone Oh, hesitate not, but
give thy strength to the better work."
Eveleen listened to this pleader within
with her eyes still fixed on the glowing EN-
bers upon the CRATE She was startled from
her reverie by her husband, who brought his
hand unceremoniously upon her shoulder.
"What are you thinking about, Eveleen
WHY don't you answer mel Amt two
hundred enough! If it amt, by George, I'll
make it three. Come, now, what do you
say to that!'
His words, his tone, his manner, told their
tale, and she hesitated no longer. She told
him of Mrs Wilson-of a life of ease, OF
atfluence, of trial, of utter restitution and