Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-05-04
an Eutsrsstins Story.
Selected Cor the Indiana American
THE DRUNKARD'S BIBLE.
ny MRS. s. Q. HALL.

public line than in any other. unless it
be pawn.broking," said Martha Hown.
ley to her brother; "and | do not see
why you should feel uncomfortable.
You are sober man; since | have
kept your house, never remember
seeing you beside yourself, indeed.
I know that weeks pass without
your touching beer. much less wine or
spirits. II you did not sell them.
somebody else would. And were you
to leave "the Grapes" tomorrow, II
might be taken by those who would
not have your scruples. All the gen.
try say your house is the best conduct
ed in the parish"
81 wish l really deserved the COM
pliment," interrupted Mathew, looking
up from his day-book. IL ought not
to content myself with avoiding beer,
wine, and spirits; il believe, as do,
that they are injurious alike to the
character and health Of man, l should
by every means in my power, lead
others to avoid them"
"But we must live, Mathew; and
your good education would not keep
you've must livel"
eyes, Martha, we must live! but
not the lives Of vampires" and he
turned rapidly over the accounts, not
ing and comparing. and seemingly alb
sorbed in calculation.
Martha's eyes became enlarged by
curiosity-the small, low curiosity
which has nothing in common with
the noble spirit Of inquiry. She be-
lieved her brother wise in most things
but in her heart OF hearts she thought
him foolish in worldly matters. Still
she was curious; and yielding to what
is considered feminine infrmity. she
said, mathew. what is vampires?"
Mathew made no reply; SO MarthG
who had been drought up to th,
bar" by her uncle. while her brother
was dreaming over an unproductiv'
farm-troubles ms usual about "mucl
serving" and troubling all within hel
sphere by worn-out and shriveled-uI
anxities, as much as by the necessary
duties Of active life-looked at Math
ew as il speculating on his sanity
Could lie be thinking Of giving up hi
business, because OF that which di'
not concern himl-but she woult
"manage him." tits strange hov
low and cunning persons do often man
age higher and better natures thar
their own.
"Martha," he called at last in
loud voice. II cannot afford to Civ
longer credit to Peter Croft"
"I thought he was one Of your bes
customers; he is an excellent workman
his wife has much to do as a clea
starcher; and / am sure he spends CIV
cry penny he earns, here"-such wa
Martha's answer.
and more!" replied Mathew, more
Why last week. the score was eigh
teen shillings-besides what he pal
for"
He's an honorable man, Mathew
persisted Martha. at is not lon
since he brought me six teaspoons an
n sugar-tongs. when / refused hir
brandy (he will have brandy. The
must have belonged to his wife. fc
they had not p. G. on them, but E.
something; | forget what"
Mathew waxed wroth. "Have
not told you," he said--"have nc
told you that we must be content vii
the flesh and blood without the bone
ani marrow Of these poor drunkards
| am not a pawn.broker to lend none
upon mans ruin. I sell. to be sur,
what leads 70 it, but that is his faul
not mine."
"You said just now, it was yours,
said his sister. sulkily.
"Is it . devil or IN angel thI
prompts your words, Marthaw e.
claimed Mathew. impatiently; the
leaning his pale, thoughtful brow Q
his clasped hands. he added, "Bu
however much / sometimes try to e
rid Of them. II must be for my good
see facts as they are"
Martha would talk; she looked upo
a last word as victory. "He mu
have sold them whether or not, as /
had done all his little household con
forts. to pay for what he has homes
ly drunk; and might ms well hay
them as any one else. My money pal
for them. and in the course of Il
evening went into your till. It's vel
hard il, with all my labor, ! cann
turn an honest penny in barga
sometimes. without being child; MS il
were baby"
Il am sorely besct.' murmure
Mathew. closing the book with has'
violence; 'sorely beset; the gain {
one side, the sin on the other: and 81
goads me. and puts things in Il
worst light; never was man SO besc
he repeated. helplessly; and he sa
truly he was 'beset'-by i.frmity
purpose-that mean, feeble, pidi
frustator of so many good and glorio
intentions.
1t is at once a blessed and wonde
ful thing hcw the little grain of 'go'
Sc ed" will spring up and increase
the s.'il be at all productive, how "
it fruct ifyl A great stone may
placed RI yht over it, and yet the sho
will forth --sideTays. perhaps. after
long, nois,'!ess struggle amidst .
weight of ,,arth--a white, slend
thing. like a bit of thread that ia
from the clipping scissors of lit'
needless maid-c veeps up, twists its'
round the stone, little pale, me
thing, tending up, sard--becoming
delicate green in the wooing sunllg
q. .-strengthing in the morning. VIII
birds are singing-at L Midday VIII
man is toiling--at night, while man
sleeping. until Il pushes al uy tie sto'
and overshadows its in snsplclo
birthplace. with strength and beau'
Yes! where good seedha be, N SOY
there is always hope that. one DAY
other, it will despite snares an.d p
falls, despite scorn and bitterness, d