The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-05-23

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preached, saw strange looking object COW
cring under the low caves. A cold rain wa!
falling. 1t was late in autumn. drew near
and there was Millic asleep, wet to tho skin
Her father had driven her out some hours bo
fore; she had laid down to listen for the heavy
snoring of his drunken s,umbcrs, so that she
might creep back to her bed. But boforo she
heard it, nature became exhausted, and shs
fell into troubled sleep, with tho rain drop!
patteriag on her. tried to take her homo
with me, but no; true as martyr to his faith
struggled from my arms and returned TO tho
now dark and silent cabin. Things went or
so for weeks and months. But at longth Lee
became less violent, even in his drunken fits
to his selfdenying child; and one day when
he awoke from tho heavy slumber of debauch
and found her preparing breakfast for him
and singing a sweet childish song, he turned
to her and with tone almost tender, said:
"Mille, what makes you stay with me?'
"Becauso you are my father, and love you
"You love me-" repeated tho wretched man;
Store mel' Ho looked Mt his bloated limbs
his soed and ragged clothes; "Love me- he
still murmured. "Mile what makes you love
me! l am poor drunkard; every else despi-
ses mo. Why don't you"
ming Dyes, "mo.her taught me TO love you;
and every night she comes from heaven and
stands by my little bed, and says: "Millie,
don't leave your father; Mile love your faith
or. Ho will get away from that Rnm-fend
one of thcso days, and then how happy you
will be-"
Lee buried his head in his hands, and tears,
the first for long time, trickeled through his
fingers. He said no moro; but having eaten
his breakfast, went out. That night he camo
home sober-the first time for many years.
He gavo her dollar that he had earned, and
talked with hor kindly until it was time 10 60
to bed.
O! how light and glad was the heart of Mil
lilo Ice. For hours she lay awake and wept
for joy. After she fell asleep, the angels came
to her in dreams; and o, how sweetly her
mother smiled. Next morning she exertod
her childish skill to prepare nice breakfast
for her father. She sung and prattled with a
light-hoariednoss she had never known before;
and Leo gazed with something like parents
pride and fondness on her. lie went out to
his work, and at ngh;-late at night, after the
poor little child had waited for long, long
reccd homo drunk o, what
bitter disappointment! 1t almost crushed her.
But hc angels como again and whispered,
Courage "lovo never faIeth," "hope never
flilcth,' and that night she was repaid by tho
carly return of her father in his right mind"
We learned afterwards that tho rum seller,
when Lee tried to reform. would waylay him
coming from his work, and cnticc him back to
tho den Of death. Ifthc temptcr found him.
he would yield and fall. Otherwise he would
come home sober mana kind father 10 his
mothcrlcss and loving child. Jler patience
and cheorfulncss were unscalng tho fountains
If his heart and had there been no human
spider to spread snare for his feet, he would
then have bcon restored But alas ever and
anon tho moshcs were too skillfully woven, and
too sjfong.
Sand is ho still drunkard;' asked.
Wait momont-my tale is nearly told. Il
Millio heard one day of Mr.. Darland the elo- |
luent reformed drunkard of Westville. At
once she concluded that he could save her
athor. SO without word to any one sho set |
)f, as soon as her father had gono to his work |
ind walked the whole six miles to Wostyillc -
She sought out tho lecturer: she told him her |
lrtless touching story. IIc camo back with |
ler. and took his seat in the cabin, and sent |
slillio 10 bring her father from his work Mr. |
Darand knew how to accost him. how to adj |
Use and encourage him, for he had gone thro |
he samo fiery ordeal and fully eonqured the |
ppetito for rum While tho Washing'onan
md tho drnnkard talked, Miie listened and |
'rayed. She thought she heard rustling ns
f angels wings in the cabin, and as the sun
'cams played upon the wall, sho imagined IL
vas hor mother's smile of love and hope,-
That night her father signed the pledge, and
y tho help of kind friends, he has kept it to
his day.
1t is now six months since that memorable
light, and though thoy live in tho same cabin
till, and are poor, there is not happier homo
. all the place. nor happier, noblcr heart
han boats in the breast of Millio Lee. What
o you think now of my heroine?
"shc deserves higher namo than that"
nswered. "She is an angel!' And as look
d at the delicate child carrying hor basket
long the dusty road, thought how many an
mbryo chcrub may be trudging along tho
aths Of human poverty and seorn, and how
70 shall wonder at the revelations yot to be,
hon tho tinsol shall fall from the false great
ess of the earth, and its truo nobility shall
Sc to shine forever in the holy light of heav-
..