The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-07-27

w HOLE NO. lZUU
reason am determined to continue. You
know | have often made you promises of a
mendment. have said that would be my
own master and would not drink again you
have urged me to sign the Temperance
pledge told you that l scorned it, for it
was in my opinion an admission that could
not refrain without it. But now my resolu-
ton is taken. have lost my property, lost
my character-I have lost everything. Ihave
lost every claim to the love and affection of
my wife and children. The harpies at the
grog-shop have sold me liquor when they
knew YOU had begged them not to do it j;
when they knew, too, that it was taking the
bread from the mouths of my children. They
have kept me night after night till late
hour, and turned me out only when they
knew l would 20 home and abuse my chill
dren. have squandered all had at the ac-
cursed cohee-house.
see how IL is. and my resolution as told
you is taken. | will be man again, hus-
band again, father. We shall have our
comforts around, if God will spare you and
this dear little sufferer, and those fearful
ones that flee now from the face of tiger
Yes, Mary, my resolution is taken, and here
before high heavenI swear will not taste
another drop. That Washingtonian pledge
which you have so often urged me to sign
shall be my pledge. Not another hour pass
es over my head till shall have put my
name to it ~
His fond wife sprang to her feet the next
moment her arm was around bis neck, and
her head lay weeping upon his shoulder
Her heart was too full for utterance-at last
she said,
Then We shall be happy
The warranty Of it will bring this very
hour" and away he went with the speed of
the wind. He hastened to the proper officer
20 enroll his name as a subscriber to the
pledge, and as member of the Washington,
an Temperance Society. He procured GER
tificate of membership and returned to his
family.
There" said he, snow am safe, and YOU
NAV be sure of better times"
His poor wife snatched the paper.
is it possible, William, that you have re.
ally signed the pledge" ?"
ut is, and mean to stick to it, live or die
sink or swim. | mean to stick TO it as long
as | live. That pledge shall be written on
my memory, and engraved upon my heart
and tell YOU, Mary, better times are com
ing-I feel it, know it. am once more
!, free"
We need not describe all that passed-,h,
family were soon again IN their own dwell
ing.
We pass on in our history. Many day:
and nights Of weary watching had gore by "a
the parents hung over the low couch of thei
: unconscious child. With the first sign of re
turning consciousness and reason. after tn,
fever of the system had aba,ed, the faihel
was there with tender words upon his tongu,
for his beloved boy.
Tommy" said he, "look upon your father
: | am your father, Tommy" and the boy gazet
: with bewildering look around him, ant
shuddered at the faint idea that his fathe
was near. The father saw it, and for th
: present he forebore.
y day or two more passed by, and the ia
I ,her was still at the bedside, with little bo,
! upon either knee. The sick boy looked witt
faint smile as he glanced upon the face OF
his mother, but shrunk aghast when on turn
;, ing to the other side he saw his father $
: near him.
Tommy" said the rejoicing mother, a
tears were rolling down the fathers cheek
y Tommy, | have good news to tell you, bu
n you must keep quiet, child. tell you you
:, dear father has signed the pledge, and We ar
n all so happy again"
IS The noble boy awoke to full consciousness
= in moment he turned towards his father
It twined his arms around his neck, and burs
d into tears. Every eye around that bedsid
= wept, but these were tears of JOY. The tin,
which before had dragged so heavily no.
4 fled by on noiseless and rapid wings. Th
) boy recovered-the wife's face was wreathe
with smiles-the little ones were JOYOUS an
happy. The eldest born was seen ever at h
fathers side, whether at home or abroad
With returning soberness came returning b.
- - siness and happiness. Everything prospere
with the family.
a few months have rolled by since this r.
form it was like life from the dead it W;
like the finding out of that which was su,
:: . posed to be eternally lost. 1t has brougl
- IL. health to the body and peace to the SOUL
~, Whence this amazing change? For look
" that family now. The children run to me-
-, their returning father. There is competitie
~ there, there is every comfort there whit
- :. those hearts desire, there is happiness, al
~, m more than all, there too, is the gra,
49, full and humble heart, and there is the el
quent voice of that once lost but now
,e claimed father, eloquent sometimes amid
ro sobs and tears, leading the devotions al
PRAYERS of that family on hpnded knees