The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-07-07
fur tit Euus MN Girls.
SIGNING; THE PLEDGE IN A GRAVE.
YARD.

seated on the ground beside grave \ lit
lie girl. cherub in human shape stood oy
hi, side. Her rame was Margaret. Her
friends called her Marcy. She had been to
s,.ra an hour at neiyhbor's house, and was
bounding homewards. when she saw the man
in the graveyard. For a moment she 'e't
some slight alarm; but quickly mastering 1t
on hearing slight sob from the stranger she
stood still and watched him narrowly from
behind projecting huttress.
n. was a strange looking being. Ills tau
snare form was concealed in shabby camie
cloak. with frowsy scarlet collar that nail
concealed his conntenanre. y shock'"s'!
bad hat was tightly pressed over his orows
from beneath whose broken rim escape" mat
ted hair: and his deep set. hollow eyes s'arcc
wildly in the moonshine. Presently ne stag
gcrcd away from the grave, and then F" was
evident to Marcy that the man was e''"e'
feeble or in liquor, and she felt that !" '''
-
So she sl;ded, softly as asp"t' TO inc
stone on which the strange man was ana sat
,,;.,lv beside him. Ills cloak had ia'lcn
partly open, and. to her utter surprise she
n.rrc;ved that beneath it was just such a
s-o..e - ,,c clown had worn On the stage at
the play -housc.
She Looked full in the mans face. and sure
enough, remains of paint were visible 0" '''s
checks. making them look chastity and grim
~ the moonlight Out o! one OF his c"oF-
NOUS pockets the poor creature VINO was
m,u,llin drunk, extracted, after nch e'lor''
leather fowl, and yard Of stage sa">"scS'
.;,,, ,,,,;h latter he wiped away his tears as
e they had been handkerchief, leaving
,.ttooYd sort of yisayc that ma!c HIM rc>cl''-
bic an Indian in his war-pa'"t' Presently
he spoke - :,
"So he's gone. They told me so, but l
couldn't think it. wonder if D'd y'"
know old Michael Foster, little Pixy he
asked. now for the first time no,icin" Marcy
"I'm not lixy-wc',e none here, nor
fairies either" replied Marcy softly. "les'
knew him who lies here. Weu-wc!l-d'd
you. sir:"
LETS drink his good health, said the man.
with stupi!, maniacal stare-"h's Jolly s'o'
health :" and taking bottle from his cloak
pocket, he applied it to his lips took hear
~ ,lrauoht. laid it down beside hun, and bu-
ried his face in his hands.
Presently gu-.'ins sound attracted his
attention. lie hastily looked up. AMI stared
with surprise at the little girl, Who standing
before him. laid one tiny hand on his shout
der, and with the other calmly, but decided
Is. inverted the bottle, spilled its contents,
and then sent it spinning over the low wall
Its crash on the stones without, SCENE! to
rouse the mans anger for a moment. but the
manic touch of the little hand bound him as
strongly as chains Of adamant. Had man
Of his own strength so confronted him, he
would have sprung on him like p'u"lercd
tiger; but the very sentlcncss Of the little
mai'lcn disarmed him.
1T is better in Gods earth, than in G1r:
image" said Marry, pointing to the sro
where the liquor had been thrown.
That's true enough it's been my ruin
my eternal ruin groaned the asitated youn:
man. "Go-go, you're sweet, innoccn
child, and not fit to stay with such as / am
tic home, Miss
"But you, sir, won't YOU 90 home, too ::
said Marcy.
Home The very word seemed to arous
all the bitterness of his now fierce nature
The great painted clowns grin on his viSac
looked actually hiJcOus, as the muscles OF
his face quivered with emotion. "l1omc, in
deed lie laughed bitterly at the idea, an
then sank into moody rcverc.
Again was he disturbed. This time by Mar
gys singing verse Of temperance hymn
lie listened intcntlv until she ceased; tler
with subducd and mu!lle,l voice, he said -
"Siny again. little eirI-sin! again"
Again her clear voice was lifted up, he
calm, blue eyes filling with tears. When >h
had finished. she drew from her rc,icuic 5 Il
Of paper, and molcs,v asked:
''This is the Pledge. sir 1t would d. vo
so much good, sir, if you'd only sign it D.
ST."
Too late, too late, now he muttere,l. an
waved it away with his trcmulou> hand :,
he lid so, she noticed rim. of light color,
hair set in gold. on his finger. 1t was Of
peculiar plat. and she felt sure she had see
it, or one exactly resembling it, before
Where could it have been?
1t was evident after she hal sung ano;h,
verse about 1.-THE drunkardS BOWL" that I'll
man wavcred, and again she pressed him
sign the Pledge.
whats the use? can't keep it ii do
he said mourniuily. Aud he added, "who
put confidence in ne ~
~ will, sir: IW believe YOU Ill do what y,
promise and so will John Blokcr and 4,
sry Blokcr. and all OF the Sons will II,
Son Of Temperance, sir Well all p
confidence in YOU il You'll only sign
But I've no pen. little Miss" said he.
"I!' think OF IT tomorrow, perhaps yes,
think I'll >iyni it tomorrow"
No, n'~. For your own sake. sir. do
now. For my sake. dear. good sir.