The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-03-30
'Did she say sor he asked, with flush

he suggested.
"I surely thought SO when you came
home," | replied.
Never can forget the look he gave me
then-so full of reproof, or surprise, and Of
pain.
&c, forgive you, for know you to
be my friend: but never speak 10 me again
like that. ] going down hill =? You know
my own power. know my own wants.
My mother knows me better than Ellen
does.n
Ah-had that mother been as wise as she
was loving, she would have seen that the
wild oats which her son was sowing, would
surely grow up and ripen only to furnish
seed for re-sowing! But, she loved him
loved him. almost too well-or should say
100 blindy. only prayed that God would
guard him; and then we conversed upon
other subjects. could spend but one day
with him, but we promised 10 correspond
often.
Three years more passed, during which
John Anderson wrote TO me at least once
month and sometimes oftener; but al the
end OF that time his letters ceased coming,
and ] received no more for two years, when
| again found myself in his native town -
II was early in The afternoon when arrived,
and took dinner at the hotel.
had finished my meal and was lounging
in front of the hotel, when saw fuuera
procession winding into distant church
yard asked the landlord whose funeral
it was.
"Mrs. Anderson'sn he said, and as he
spoke, noticed slight dropping of the
head, as though it cut him TO say so.
"What--John Anderson's Is wiie?"
"No," he replied. TT is his mpther;"
and as he said this he turned away; but
gentleman who stood near, and had over.
heard our conversation, at once took up the
theme.
"Our host don't seem inclined TO con.
verse upon that subject" he remarked,
with shrug of the shoulders. " Did you
ever know John Anderson 2"
"He was my schoolmale in boyhood, and
my bosom friend IN youth, +" said.
He led Inc one side and spoke as follows
"Poor John He was the pride of this
town six years ago. This man opened his
hotel at that time, and sought custom by
giving wine suppers. John was presen, at
most OF them-the gayest of the gay, and
the most generous of the party. Ia fact he
paid for nearly every one OF them. Then
he began TO go down hill. And he has been
going down ever since. At times true friends
have prevailed upon him to stop; but his
stops were of short duration. short sea.
son of sunshine would gleam upon his home
and then The night cane more dark and
drear than before. He said he would never
be drunk again;-yet he would take a glass
Of wine tOith friend That glass of wine
was but the gate that lie, in the flood. Six
years ago he was worth sixty thousand
dollars. Yesterday he borrowed fifty dol
lars TO pay his mothers funeral expenses !!
That poor mo her bore up as long as she
could. She saw her son--her "Darling Boy )"
she always called him-brought home drusk
many times, and she even bore tio,cs from himl
But she's at rest now Her "Daring" wore
her life away, and brought her gray hairs
in sorrow to the grave hope this may re.
form him !"
"But his wife 2" asked.
"Her heavenly love has held her up thus
far, but she is only shadow of the wife
that blessed his home six years ago."
My informant was deeply affected, and
so was |, and asked no more.
During the remainder of the afternoon
debated with myself whether 10 call upon
John at all. But finally resolved 10 60,
though waited till after tea found John
and his wife alone. They had both been
weeping, though | could see at glance
that Ellen's face was beaming with love
and hope. But oh she was changed-sad.
ly, painfully so. They were glad to see me,
and my hand was shaken warmly.
"Dear c., don't say word of the
past" John urged, taking my hand a second
time. 81 know you spoke the truth 10 me
! five years ago. was going dosUn hiAi But
I've gone as far as can. stop here al
the foot. Everything is gone but my wife
have sworn, aud my oath shall be kept
Ellen and I are going to he happy now"
The poor fellow burs,ed into tears here
His wife followed suit; and kept then.
company. Icould not help crying like a
child. My God what a sight! The once
noble, true man SO falien-become a mere
broken glass, the last fragment only reflect.
ing the image il at once bore-a poor sup
plant at the feet of Hope. begging grain
OF warmth for the hearts of himself aod
wife And how had honored and loved
that man--and how loved him s,ill-Oh
how hoped-aye more than hoped-I be
lieved he would be saved. And as gazed
upon that wife--so trusting SO loving, 40
true, and so hopeful still, even in the mids,
Of living dea,h-l prayed more fervently
than ever prayed before that God would
hold him up-lead him back 10 the top Of
the hill!
In the morning saw the children--grown
10 two intelligent boys now-and though
they looked pale and wan. ye. they smiled
and seemed happy when their father kissed
Ia = L