The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-02-17
journ to the Town Hall or the Methodist


out giving offence
i said YOU could adjourn your lecture
The landlords face was now fiery red, and
he spoke with both insolence and passion.
% well, as you are president Of the meet
ing, l suppose we must let YOU exercise All
arbitrary power of judgment, said the stran.
ger good humoredly. 4 didn't think any
one had quite SO strong dislike Of water
as to consider the praise of it so great an in
suit
At this moment child stepped into the
bar room. Her little face was flushed and
great beads Of perspiration were slowly mov-
ing down her crimson cheekG Her step was
elastic, her manner earnest and her large
dark ewes bright with an earnest purpose.
She glanced neither to the right nor left, but
walking up to the landlord, lifted to him her
sweet Young face, and said in tones that
thrilled every heart but his:
Please, Mr.. jerks. don't sell papa any
more liquor
ON home with you this instant exclaim-
ed jerks, the crimson OF his f2ce deepening
to dark purple. AS he spoke he advanced
tow ard the child, with uplitted hand in threat
enng attitude.
Please, don't. Mr. Jenks,' persisted the
child not moving from where she stood, nor
taking her eyes from the landlords eounte-
nance. Mother SAYS il You would not sell
him liquor ti,rre'd be no trouble. He is
good to US all when he does not drink any
liquor
OF, | say. shouted jerks, now maddened
beyond selt-conlrol, ond his hand was about
TO descend upon the little one, when the
stranger caught her up in his hands, exclain
ing at the moment he did 50 with great emo
ton:
tod bless the child. No, no, precious
one, he added. don't fear him. Plead for
,our father plead for your home. Your pc
ition must re>ail. lie cannot say nay to
one of the little ones, whose angels do al
ways behold the face Of their Father in Hea
ven. God bIe,s the child added the stran-
ger in choking voice. %, that the father
Tor whom she has come on this touching er-
rand, were present now. II there were any
thing of manhood vet left anywhere in his
nature, this would awaken it from a palsed
sleep
Papa, o papa. now cried the child, stretch
ing forth her hand. In the next momen,
she was clinging to the breast Of her father,
who with his arms claspcd tightly around
her, stood weeping and mingling his tears
with those now raining from his little ones
eyes.
What an oppressive stiffness pervaded the
room. jerks stood subdued and be"ildercd,
his state of mental confusion scarcey y ena-
bling him to comprehend the full import of
the scene The stranger looked on wonder
insly, vet deeply affected. Quietly and with
moist eyes the two or three drinking custom
,rs who had he,n lounging iii the har, went
s,eathily out, and the landlord, the stranger.
the father and his child were left the only in
mates of the room.
Come, Lizzie, dear. This is no place for
u.s. said Leslie, breaking the deep silence,
we'll go home
! And the unhappy inebrate took his child
bv the hand and led her towards the door.
Bu, the little one held back.
Wait, papa, wait she said, he hasn't
promised vet. Oh, wish he would pro
mise
Promise her, in heavens name,' said tine
stranger.
/ Premise, said Leslie in stern and solemn
voice, as he turned and fixed his eyes on the
landlord.
III do premise, I keep it, returned the
landlord in threatening tone, as he return
I'd his gaze.
Then Tor Gods sake PROMISE exclaimed
Leslie, in halt-despairng voice, promise
and I'm safe
BE it So May be cursed if | ever sell
YOU drop Of drink at this bar, while | am
landlord Of The Stag and Hounds. jerks
spoke with all emphasis.
God be thanked murmured the poor
d,u,lkard. Us he led his child away. God
be thanked. There is some hope for me
yet
Hardly had the mother of Lizzie missed
h.r chi.d .lc she cntt,.d, leat.ing her father
bl the hand.
10, no,Eer She exclaimed with a joy-lit
c,;,intenace and tXuitl'g voice, Mr.. jerks
has promised.
'Promisrd wha,?' Hope spranS up in her
flushed AID turned pale. She sat pantl:.g
for all ;l.s"er
That Il. would never sell me another glass
of liquor, said her husband.
\ Dair uI thin " h!te hands were clasretl
quickly together, an ashen face was turned
upw arus. fearless eyes looked liz IN Anktulhess
to heaven.
There is hor,. Ellen, said Leslie.
: .lIope, hupe o, Edward YOU have said
the word
Hope, through cur child. Innocence has
prevailed over vice and cruelty. She can't
10 the strong. evil, passionate man, and IL
her weakness and INNOCENCE she prevailed
i ,n.r him. God made her fearless and elo
qucnt.
A year afterwards stranger came agai,
lha, way and stopped al the Stag and Hound
As before, jerks as behind his we'll filled
J. bar and drinking customers Game aud wen
: in numbers. Jenk. did not know him untl
ir called tor water. and drank full tumble
of tie pure liquid with u h.ar,v zest. The,
h- knew him but t,iyned to be ignorant Of
his identity. The stranger made no refer
{ ence TO the scene b. had Witnessed there
II twevemon,h Leiore, but fingered in the bar
room most OF the day closely observing eve
T. ry one who came there to drink. Leslie Wa
}. not among them.
. What has become of the man and the lit
S tie girl that saw here at my last visit t
IS Mlan>ille y said the stranger speaking a
< last to jerks.
S Gene to the devil, for all care was tn
u landlords rude answer, as he turned Oft fror
u lis queslioner.
), For all you care, no doubt said the strar
J. ger to himself Men often speak their re;
% thoughts in passion
DO you see that little white cottage ava
le off at the edge Of the wood Two tall pol