Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-13
Gboife 1iisratnre
from the Child ! Paper. !
Father'n beat Ne f Hes Cross.

Twas cloudy evening in the autumn
of 1s5-, the chilly wind blew fercely
round the corners of the@street. whirling
dust and dry leaves in Ellen Gray's face as
she passed rapidly thro1gh the gathering
gloom. "Almost holns she murmured,
land right glad am ], fee tbs bitter cold to
night"
A sob smote on her ear, and turning to
see from whom it proceeded, her eyes fell
on little girl who SAT on the curbstone
weeping bitterly. Poe child" she said
softly, awhat is the M ~ Why do you
cry sos sr--sssv
The child looked wonderingly up into
the sweet face, so full of pity, and with tears
answered, Because / am tired
and cold and hungry, for | haven't had
anything to eat all day; and don't want
to go home, for father'll beat me if he's
cross, and he's most always cross, now-a-
days, and mother can't get any sewing to
do;" and the sad story ended as it had be-
gun, in tears.
Elen's resolve was quickly taken, she
forgot how cold she was, her heart was
SO warm with pity. Amid the gathering
darkness she went with the child to her
miserable home /; and such scene of suff-
ering! Two pale, thin children lay fast
asleep on a heap of straw, near which sat,
or rather crouched, a most wretched-look-
ing nan. Even by the scanty light of the
street lamp opposite, she could plainly see
that he was drunkard; but he was not
drunk then, or cross either, for his look
was one of utter despair. A woman, so
grief stricken that it seemed as though
onef feathers weight more of suffering would
crush her entirely, rose as Ellen Gray enter
ed, painful flush crimsoning her wan face;
for though neat, her clothes were much worn,
and she had neither shoes nor stockings.
Ellen quickly explained her reasons for
coming, and gathered from the woman a
piteous account of their suferings. They
had been poor, but as long as the mother
could obtain work, they had not suffered
from hunger or cold Now she could get
nothing to do, their money was gone, and
they had not tasted food that day. "She
did not care for herself" she said, "but hat
would become Of her poor children!"
A deep groan burst forth from the lips
of the wretched father, and rising, he tot
tered towards the door. Ellen Gray saw
the wife's appealing look and springing
towards him, she laid her hand on his arm.
"Oh, sir, don't go out" she exclaimed, 81
things-that you wont drink rum any more,
and next Sabbath you will attend meeting
at the --- street church. Just prom
Use me this and | will help you. will get
some food for your family, and ask some
of my friends to give you work.
The poor man looked bewildered, and it
was only when the sweet girl had once and
again urged her request, that the required
promise was given.
ooh, sir" and Ellen Gray's tone were
, full of glaness, "Pm so glad you've promis-
ed, but you must not keep it alone, you
must ask God to help YOU" Tears were
raining down the mans haggard face, aud
a his wife was on her knees beside him. "Tm
: afraid He won't hear me-" was his broken
: reply, "Pve been so wicked. My mother
d used to tell me he wouldn't receive prayer
il from unclean lips, and mine must be un
n clean, for | have taken Gods name in vair
many times to day. Oh, lady you pray
Kneel right down here, and pray now, anc
I'll promise you | won't swear any more
and I'll learn to pray too"
So Ellen Gray bent the knee in th
drunkard's wretched home, craving he'll
:! from God for them and theirs.
y Ellen Gray was factory girl in the bus
is city of 3, and had little for charity
e. but that little was freely given. In thi
IL case more was needed than she had in he
power to bestow, so she applied to severs
in of her friends whose means were ample
lie Judge of her surprise when from one an
m another came the chilling answer: 81 can
C. waste my money so. He'll spend all yo
m give him for rum. You'll only throw yor
ge money away" One man, however, sal
en- "he would give him employment if he
al sign the pledge and keep sober" Ellie
in did not get much aid, but she denied he
ur self, and did what she could for them.
ou 4 few days saw Mr.. Howard steadily
sss work, and his family were comfortably S
to uated The Sabbath came, and true to
lot promise, he appeared in the house of Go
he Weeks passed-it seemed a time of ge
ng eral revival, and among the hearers of t
S /? word in the -- street church who f
it. the joys of sins forgiven, were both Mr.. a
of Mrs. Howard,
cir How Ellen Gray's heart glowed with
nd her when Mr.. Howard, his voice tremulc
to- with emotion, related what God had do
ues for him and his, and asked to be taken il
ath communion with the church of Christ
;er- low.
ice Tears stood in eyes all unused to VIZ
ms as he told how, like an angel sent from G
GUS Ellen Gray came to his miserable home
un9 how she pleaded with him to turn from
att errors of his ways-how above all, she
lilst pointed them to the "Lamb of God who
rers keith away the sins of the world" and /
nt's he and his family would ever love her,
pray God to bless her here and hereat
ious Humbly and consistently do Mr.. Fl
our ard and bis family walk in the path,
and that leadeth to the supper country
one ''home beyond the tide; = and Ellen G
be- blesses God that he gave her this wor
r, as do for him.
sod Who would not be an Ellen Gray $
she'd ing Him wAo has said of kind deeds
1ises dered here, eVerily I say unto you
.eav- much as ye have done it unto the lea
one of these my brethren, We have do
unto me T.