Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-18

cepi for you. But who will take care of you
When an gone If papa comes homo angry
WHO will tell him it's wicked =
Poor Jane could only answer in tears. James
Ooon came in and the LILLE angcr beckoued him
to a seat at the bedside.
Papa said ho in feeble voice, you know
I'm going TO God cant stay here any lon
ger, bo good when I'm gone, 50 that mamma
will have somebody to take care Of her
James could not resist the pleading of his
dying boy he began to weep, drawing his
coarse sleeve across his eyes.
Seeing his father weep, the dear child con-
timed, Dear papa, won't you be good and not
beat mamma any more Every body's father
don't beat every body's mother
Don't papa, said jamie, please don, cry so
because have got great Joal to say to you
Blu. the poor child began 10 cough so violently
tha, he could say no more at ,ha, time Mrs.
Mcdonald took him in her arms, and rocked
him gently after having administered his medi-
cine. lie soon fell asleep, while James went
ou, before the door, and sitting upon the step,
wepl long and bitterly because he was about to
lose his boy. Thoughts Of other days came
crowding into his mind, aud he struck his head
with his hard hand, wishing he had never leit
his father land. Here he sat alternately weep
ing and thinking, until his wife called him to
supper.
Afler tea, he took seat near the bed, and
sat looking with great tenderness upon his suf-
/ fering boy. He was not wholly hardened by
/ years Of pfoianeness and crime.
Jamie slowly opened his eyes 10 see his
father gaze teariuly upon him.
Dear Papa said the little fellow, i would
not have slept, if had known you were here.
/ VIII you plsse to take me up, ! want to talk,
and it don't hurt me SO much when ! am up
James with unwonied tenderness put the COM
iorier around the sick boy as he had seen his
mother do, and sat down with the child in his
arms. Poor jamie missed the tender arms oi
his gentle mother, but he said nothing. His
little heart was bent on doing his father good,
and bringing happiness back to the home he
was soon to leave.
Papa, said he, laying his head back on hi,
fathers arm so that he could look him in the
face, Mamma says you were kind to her, ant
loved her much. and when you came home sh,
used to run out TO meet you, instead OF hiding
away. She says its only rum, n0ugdiy, ieieko'
rum, that makes you bea, US ALL and say sucl
awful words. Now papa, I'm going awal
from here, and you won't have any lille Jamie
and mamma won't have anybody to take care 0
her.. 'Dear papa, continued the child, puuinl
! up his hand 10 brush away the tears that wer
pouring down his fathers cheeks. wont yo
please to be good TO her as you used to be, an
never drink any more ruml Then when yo
die you can go to Heaven and see me there
and I'll show you where Jesus is, because
} shall be there great while perhaps heierO yo
! GO lYH you, dear popaT The lasi wor
, could hardly be distinguished. The pale SUI
. ferer lay with closed eyes and throbbing breas
r entirely exhausted
S 'He locked so much like death that Jane
in alright called out, Jane, como quick u
. mics going 2
Ills mother was instantly at his side. Indce
G she had moi been lar away She had fallen il
y TO a seat back of the rocking chair; and thel
+ she sat eagerly lis,niug to every word, hS
c swelling heart eehoing a fervent aD,sH for ever
1 wish of her darling child, while she tried
r smother her sohs in her apron.
Without removing him from his fathers arm
g Jane held camphor 10 the nostrils of her dyin
t. boy and when he slowly opened his eyes, WI
g his parched lips with drink which the Doctl
c had left him.
a 10 his earnest desires for his father, the be
g had exhausted his remaining strength, and Ia
d painting for breath, JOS, at this time the PHI
l. sican entered and taking his sweet little p
J. ,ent from his father, whose strong frame WI
ID so agitatod and shaken with the violence Of h
ID feelings, as to prevent proper care Of the de
D. boy, laid him gently in bed, propping him ,
D. with pillows.
Mr. Mcdonald rose to leave the room
v jamie cried feebly, Papa, and putting 6ui h
hand mo,ioned for his father 10 sit by his sid
Though not able to speak he looked at hi
10 with the utmost tenderness as the bowed he
IN of his father was buried in the pillows, viii
ne his broad breast heaved and fell with the vi
O. lence Of his emotions.
at After taking some medicine from the Docl
he was relieved and again turning to his fat
O. er, said, did you say you would, papal'
The Doctor looked inquiringly. lie So
in tha, a scene of uncommon interest had tax
" place, and he determined 10 await the result.
ut Poor James The fountain of his feelin
'' was broken up. The hard shell which drum
n enness, and profanity and other crimes
en- formed around his soul was fractured, and
of arrow from the Divine quiyer had penetrai
IN it, though directed by the feeble hand Of. his
lrs fant child As the words, did you say y
ed would papa fell on his ear new purpose "
h ! formed within him
of lie arose from his seat; with great eff
he stihed his sobs, and falling on his kne
nsi said, Jamie my own dear boy, will promi
hut May God help me to keep the vow now ml
a to my dying child, that never, aerer more v
Ter taste Of rum =
to A fevent amen hurst inyoluntarly from
i'm Doctor, while Jane fell upon her knees
ct. thank God for the unexpected answer to
us prayers.
she A heavenly smile played on the sweet co
at tenauce Of the sufferer while he calmly fol-
uld his little hands on his breast as if in prayer
His work was done He was now ready tc
md offered A gasp, sigh, drew them all qui