Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-11-15
From the Chicago Daily News.
Be Hopeful and Faithful.
BY MRS. HARRIET E. FRANCES.

BY MRS HARRIET E. FRANCES.
The sun shone down on the earth with
soft, hazy light, and the river flowed will
for drowsy, universal quiet seemed 10 have
spread over nature and sunk each elemen
to rest But neither the subdued light nol
the drowsy river was noticed by Mrs. Sey
mour, as she sat busily sewing by the era
die Of her sleeping infant There was ;
look of care on her fair brow, and an anx.
ious, sad expression in her eyes, as if tht
light Of her life had been dimmed in sorrow
ere age had marked her forehead, or stolen
tue raven lustre fron her hair She hat
been the pet and idol of a fond father ant
mother, and no sorrow had ever crossed her
path in her childhood's horne and no one,
: not even those who always view the future
| through dark cloud prophecicd evil for
her as she stood by the side Of Clarence Sey-
mour on her bridal morning. Very fair
and beautiful was she, with look Of cling
ing tenderness in her eyes. as if she had
always had and expected strong arm to up
hold her, and lead her through the Ao0efy
paths Of life and competent seemed her
chosen one for that task, with his broad, in
tellectual brow, and piercing eye, softened,
as he gazed on his bride, to look of almost
womans tenderness.
A handsome mansion, short distance
from her fathers became their home, and
for few years she passed through the UNI
clouded scene Of joy and happiness but a
dark cloud lowered in the horizon, and soon
spread over her hopes like gloomy pail,
making days of darkness seem still more
cherries fer The gladness that hal preced-
ed them Her gifted and intellectual nus
band had been welcomed everywhere, and
at every gathering the winqcup had awaited
him; and almost before he was aware
strong coils were around him that he lad
no strength or resolution to unloose. Rich
es, honor, society, responsibility, passed
away from them, and miserable cottage
with no tail, noble trees, or clustering vines,
or sweet associations, WAS all that now they
could call their own
Mrs. Seymour was thinking Of these
past scenes as she sat sewing; of the messy
graves of her father and mother; Of the soft,
subdued light that stole in through the
honeysuckle and rose that fastened the
windows of her old home Of the bright
loye-glanee Of her husbands eye which
quiyered her heartstrings +; and also Of that
hour when the truth erept into her heart that
her chosen one loved tie wmecup-alas,
too of her useless remonstrances, of bitter
words, and cold, avcrtcd eye, and even of
one heavy blow that had sent her reeling to
the floor; but even that seemed nothing to
the thought of her sweet innocent boy, her
darling Frank would be tainted as "a
drunkard' child, that no fathers hand would
lead him to q better world But the bitter
est dreg in her cup was the words, No
drunkard could enter the kingdom of heay-
en-" All the night previous and part of
that day, that sentence had rung in her
ears until her mind seemed on the verge of
madness. What could she do ? She had
wept prayed and beseeehed, and he was a
drunkard still But faith WHISPERED, God
is powerful seek his aid once more :; and
anxiously she sought her bed room and rails
ed her thoughts in prayer. First, low means
and sobs arose, but, as her heart gathered
strength she pleaded aloud for help from
Him who is mighty to save. She asked
not for less care or suffering for herself !;
only lead HIM from the error of his ways,
and win him for an humble follower Of
Jesus.
Little dreamed she that her husband had
stolen soberly in, and was a listener to her
imploring words His heart became pierced
and broken; and tearfully he knolt by her
side, and raised his voice with hers for mer-
cy, for strength to break the bonds that
had been a whitening curse to him as for
her,