The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-07

1 .
the every day reality. Sometimes the lGl
sunshine will follow tho darkest shadows
aud clothe the blachened wastes with NOR
than summer vcrdurc.
Ii had been a stirring day in the city o
-. The temperance hosts had beer
there in their rcgalia, and with their music
and banners.
We love to look upon procession of goot
and true men, and 50 had turned out Of tht
ranks to await its passing on street corner
The heart always leaps to the sound of the
football as strong men march to the sount
of the drum beat.
As the long line wound away over The
hill, the sound of the music coming IN gen
tie swclls, and the low sunb2ams bathing
in wondrous beauty the silkcn strelmer %
the Order, some one took my hand and said
80, Mr., wish you would make my pa
like those men,"
The speaker was boy of ten Summers
perhaps, clear-skinncd, his eye deeply blue
his features even beautiful, and his long
llaxen locks, like masses of twisted gold
resting upon his shoulders. 1t was vision
of beauty and health in dirt and rags.
rs we looked down upon his face, up
turned like a Transparent spring of water
large drops swan upon the lids, and ther,
was a quiverins Of the finely chiselcd lips
the whole appearance one of touching sad
ness.
"Don't say You can'tn' he again plead
as he continued to look us in the eye, and
tightened his hold upon our hand. "lkaou
YOU can. Won't you let my pa wear this?'
and he took hcsitatinSly hold of the rcgolia
we held in our hand.
"Do you want your pa to wear such as
this?" we asked him.
80, yes, sir, so much--you don't know
how much"
"why, my little man, do You want him
to wear it?"
Cause, them wear 'cm never drink wills
key"
"Docs your pa drink whi.kcy?"
"Yes, sir-sometimes."
The tear grew larger and brighter on thu
boy'slid, and he watched his dirty foot, al
he kicked his toes into the soil.
"Does your pa ever strike YOU when h'
has been drinking?"
ayes, sir--sometmes, - and the full teal
swan over the id, and fell upon my hand
1t glowcd hotly there like a molten drop
and sent a FIRE through my veins
"IIavc you got mother?"
go, yes, sir-slc never strikes me-"
No, no, we thought, through all the bit
ter desolations of the rum scourge, the moth
er clings to her child idols. Taking tn,
chil's hand' we followed him to his home.
What home for childhood! 1t was on
of the poorest class OF Irish huts, no win
dows, an old quilt for door, and no foo
bu. the hard b,aten ground. The hog
were roofing lazily in front, one baskins a
I, the very entrance. To the knock upon tn
loose board, mild voice answered, "com
II in"
The woman looked up with evident as
constituent and modification, and with NOR
of grace than is usually found in such tene
ments, handed us the only chair in the room
and that hackless and nearly bottomless.-
Though embarrassed, her manners had som"
thing that told ola better day and position
But the garb and the features told thei
story of wrong. We have seen many n sa'
face in our day, but few more SO than tha
of the Irish mother. We apologized for ou
visit, by saying that her boy urged us HON
with him.
"Aud poor home ye have found it, sir!
he answered. with sigh, alt was not s
once. indeed, it was not" and she bowe
her head couvulsiyely over the neck OF he
boy.
"Don't cry, ma, any more; this man
come home with me to make "a stop drink
ing whiskey. o, iront that be good, ma?
and he wound his arms around her neck.
80, Titles the hope o that, Michael :
And sure it is, have prayed this many
year for that day."
"But, mother, he's going to wear such a
this, [pulling my regalia from my hat, an
march with lots of 'em, and won't nerT-
nerer drink any more. See mother"
The woman looked vacantly at the EN-
blem, and motioned for him to put the rc
calia back in the hat. As her reserve wor
oil. she in answer to our inquiries, told tn
story Of her wrongs. She was born in
home of fair means in Ireland, married wit
fair hopes, and for the first years Of wcdde
life was happy. After coming to thI
country, her husband took to drinking, an
since that time she had seen "a world
sorrow."
",lauy and many Is the day, when IN
how and mcsclf are cold and hungry in III
winter times. But It's the whiskcy tha
does tits not Michael himself, at Ill, Q
all"
!. While We were eonvesing, the husban
came in. lie was intoxicated, snllen' an
bent a slowering expression upon us iro
under his matted hair. To our frank salt
,a,iOn. he barely grOwled an answer throw
, ins himself heavily on the b'd, and caiiif
n ...l...kar