The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-06-14

, will 40 well to give them call aS they call
YoT De uNpEEsoLD' fans
RIaCIG&miiilIng. ~
Tav'ng B acksmith Shop connected with aI
establi,lm ut, they are prepared TO &C. AcN
ucdate customers a, short notice, ana ur
easonabl. trims. Reeai,iog Of ..,.als all Si9aE ~
rience. At length, one cold morning in
The dead OF winter, my father was not al
home. lie had not been at home through
the night. My mother sent me to the
tavern TO see if l could find him. | had
gone hslfthe way, when saw something
in the snow by the side Of the road. |
stopped, and a shudder ran through me,
for it looked like human form. ! went
up to it. and turned the head over and
brushed the snow from the face. Ii was
my father--and he was stiff and cold !
laid my hand upon his pale brow, and
it was like solid marble. He was dead J.
Poor Jack stopped moment and
wiped his eyes. Not one Of US spoke.
for we had become too deeply moved
But he soon went on.
81 went 10 the tavern and told the peo-
pie there what had found, and the land
lord sent two of his men 10 carry the
frozen body of my father home. o,
shipmates, | cannot tell you how my
poor mother wept and groaned. She
sank down upon her knees and clasped
that icy corpse to her beating bosom, as
though she would have given it life from
the warmth Of her own breast. She low
ed her husband through all bis errors.
and her love was all powerful now. The
two men went away, and left the body
still on the floor. My mother whispered
to me to come and kneel by her side. !
did so. my child she said TO me, and
the big tears were yet rolling dom her
cheeks, you know what has caused all
this. This man was once as noble and
happy and true as man can be- but "
see how he has been stricken down.
! Promise me. my child, 0, promise, here.
. before God and your dead father, end
YOUR broken. hearted mother, that you
, will never, never, never touch a single
drop of the fatal poison that has wrought
for US all this misery
t 30, shipmates, | did promise, then
and there, all that my mother asked, and
; God knows that 10 this moment that
promise has never been broken. My
' lather was buried, and some good. kind
neighbors helpsd us through the winter.
When the next spring came could work.
D and | earned something for my mother.
n At length found a chance to ship, and
e did SO, and every time go home | have
: some money for my mother. Not for the
n wealth of the whole world would break
d the pledge | gave my mother and my
a God on that dark, cold morning. And,
o even had made no such pledge would
i not touch the fatal cup, for know that
have a fond, doting mother who would be
made miserable by my dishonor, and
r would rather die than to bring more sor
row upon her head. Perhaps you hav'
J. no mothers and if you have, perhap
they do not look to you for support, for
}. know you too well TO believe that eithe
d of you would ever bring down lovint
= mothers gray harsin sorrow 10 the grave
That is all, sh;pmates. Let me go now
S and you may enjoy yourselves alone, 70
l. l do not believe that you will again urg
e the wine.cup upon me-
'As Jack thus spoke, he turned TO
e wards the door, but Tim Black stoppe
" him.
81 .'Hold on, jack, cried Tim, wipn
o his eyes and starting up from his chai
a you shan't 90 alone. / haze got a mott
% or, and love her as well as you lov
l. yours, and your mother shall not be haE
d pier than mine, for, by the love bes
q her, | here swear that she shall neve
le have a drunken son. | will drink n
= more !
- .'Give us your hand, Tim cried Sa'
~ Pratt. I'll go with you
sp Il waited no more, but quickly startin
ID from my chair, I joined the other two a.
ry ere long whole five of us joined with Jac
1yl Small in his noble life-plan. We callt
! for pen, ink, and paper, and made Ja(
ed draw up pledge. He signed it first an