Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-22

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the aid of matches and jack knife sue
ceeding in kindling little fire, which
grew and grew. till the room was light
ed, and some degree Of war rmth impart-
ed.
1t was a terrible feeling TO know that
was in that wretched abode with death
and my sister! There was nothing that
deserved the name of furniture in the
room. Not a chair, not a stool, not a
bench even, nothing except cupboard
in one corner to indicate that it was ever
ahuman habitation. Close by the fire.
IN corner, on nest of straw, was the
cold emaciated form of my dear sister
Alice! What a meeting was this after
a FIVE years absence! | took her by the
hand-it was cold as death / raised
her up and held her to the fire, aad rub
bed my hands rapidly over her wrists
and temples TO impart warmth. Is she
dead? o this must not be- Look at
me, Alice. am your brother come 10
save you. / could not bear the thought
that she was dead.
At length came the reward of my
labors. She breathed, family it was
true, but life, life-no she was not dead
Calmly, worked on, and slowfy,-yet
surely, my sister was coming back to life.
She spoke, but her mind evidently wand
cred.
so George! I! said she, TN so glad
you have come, and you are SO changed
I thought should die, l was SO cold and
hungry. sent little Alice after you
and you were so good, not to beat her,
| had such sweet dream. o George
George, it is growing dark. am dy
ing
It is me Alice, look at me-
She swooned away exhausted, gaspin!
for breath. Just Heaven what if sh,
should die now? No, l must save her
| went to the door and got handful o
snow, and by the warmth impaired b.
my hands, succeeded in melting it, an
Applying few drops to her lips, an
bathing her temples, and she again re
vived.
Her eye was clear. calm, and natura
now. There was the same sweet loo
as of old. But she was white-O 5
white and death like She looked NOR
like an angel from the spirit-world, tha
, the flesh and blood being that she reall
: was. Extending her hands towards M
she murmured in a voice sweet IN i
softness and sadness,
: Henry is it Henry ?
0 Yes, Alice, it is Henry. come to tax
you home to your father and mother
q 20, Henry, Henry, is it possible ?
d What horrid memory and she pres
ed her hands over her eyes, as if to shr
out some horrid image of the past. b
e it is over now. 1 have seen the deatl
i angel am going soon. o, Lol
Jesus, have mercy on my child, my de-
: little Alice. Is George here?'
No he has not come yet. But don
think such thoughts. Alice. You are n
d going to die. Cheer up, you must {
} home with me- Home, yes am 9
Ii ing home now. Hold me in your arm
d Henry, brother dear, am so weak.
Il wish that George was here to see me d
Is George was kind to me once, but he W
'r led away. Rum did it, He did n
mean to be so bad, but the best socie
ID drank here. He couldn't drink a lie
to without drinking too much. Tell hi
ID forgive him. Tell father and moth
at | have suffered, but | am happy now.
* longed to write and LEI you know all, /
I'd hoped for better times. l hoped eve
revel would be his last. But O.,
e. power--the power of rum 1t is fei
to tul, Henry, the power of rum! Geor
has fallen-he is a victim. The wol
nd will condemn him, but the world c
ne never know how bravely he strove
break the charm The world dc
.et know how much he has suffered. tt
nd know his sins-his suferings they do
ed wish to know. Poor George, there
Ii no rum in Heaven
nd She continued to speak, but fain
all and fainter, till her voice died t.
sr- whisper.
= Henry, you drink. Don't dece
ng mel know it. do not love you
tn, less, bat fear for you. 0, how / h
he prayed that you might be spared
bic awful fate. 1t is an awful thing to
drunkard! / shall die in your arms
ias As you love me, Henry, as you wisf
Ia, meet me in the spirit-land, promise
! if that you win drink no more. ] can
on bear the thought that you, too, win |
tn drunkard. 1t Is the last prayer Of ,