Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-17

a shrug, inquiring, "Did you know John
Anderson 2"
"IIe was my schoolmate in boyhood
and my bosom friend in youth" | told
5 him.
He then led me aside and spoke as
follows:
"Poor John He was the pride of the
town six years ago. This man opened
his hotel at the time, and sought custom
by giving wine suppers. John was pre-
sent At many Of them, the gayest Of the
gay, and tle most generous Of the party.
In fact he paid Tor nearly all OF them.
Then he began TO 60 down hill. AT
times true friends have prevailed upon
him to stop, bot his stops were Of shorI
duration. a short season of sunshine
would glance upon his home, and then
the night came more dark and dreary
than before.
lie said he never would get drunk
again, but still he would take a glass OF
wine with friend That glass Of wine
WAS but the gate that let in the food.
Six years ago he was worth sixty thou
sand dollars. Yesterday he borrowed
the sum Of fifty dollar. to pay his moth
er's funeral expenses! That poor moth.
er bore up as long as she could. She
saw her son--her darling hoy as she
always called him-brought home drunk
many times. And she even bore blows
from hin But now she is at rest. Her
"darIin2 boy wore her life away, and
brought her gray hairs in sorrow down
to the grave. Ga! l hope this may re.
form him r'
"But his wife z" asked.
"IIrr heavenly love has held her Up
thus far, but She is oaly the shallow of.
the wife she was six years ago, he re-
turned.
My informant was deeply affected, and
so was l consequently l asked no
more.
During the remainder of the afternoon
debated with myself whether to call on
John at all. But finally resolved to go
though l waited until after tea. found
John and his wife alone. They had both
Leen weeping, though could see at a
glance that EIIen's face was beaminc
with hope and love But oh! she was
painfully so. They p
we're glad to see me, and my hand was q
shaken warmly.
"Dcar C, don't say word of the ,
'ast," John urged, shaking my hand a .
econd time. 81 know you spoke the
ruth five years ago. / was going down
ill. But have gone as far as can
Iere | stop at the foot. Everything i, r.
zone but my wifi. have sworn, and II
ay oath shall be kept-EIIen and | are ~
.oing to be happy now" n
The poor fellow burst into tears. FL. I
en- followed sun, and | kept them COM 1
ANY. My God, what a sight, The o
IobIe, true man, so falIen-become e
mere broken glass-the last fragment CT
nly refecting the image it once bore o.
suppiiant at the foot Of hope, brgaing 81
grain Of warmth for himself and wife h
Md how had houored and loved that W
van and how | loved him still Oh =,
ow | hoped-aye, more than hoprd-I i,
elirvrd he would be saved And as =,
azed upon that witt-so trusting, so low +,
1g, so true, and so hopeful, even in the
lidst of living death-I prayed more
'rvenlly than | ever prayed before, that
rod would hold him up-lead back to
le top of the hin. In the morning
NV the two chldren-grown TO two in
lligent boys, and though they looked =,
ale, yet they smiled when their father
sSed. When went away John took
e by the hand, and the last words be
I'D were
Trust me. Believe in me now. -.
i'll be man henctforth while life lasts" -,
A lutte over two years had passed,
hen | read in newspaper the death OF
Hen Anderson. ! started for the town "'
here they lived as soon as possible, ~
mixing | might help some one. A
arful presentiment possessed my mind. '''
" Where is John Anderson 2" | asked. 'e
Don't know, Pm sure. He has been re-
me these last three months. His wife
ed in the mad-house last week ~ 20
And the children ?" ",
" Oh, they both died before she did," hr
! staggered back and hurried from the sh'
OF. l hardly knew which way went, be
t instinct led me TO the church yard. we
found four graves which had been trl'
l. ., ,L,., ,.,r, Tba r,otI,ar ,.;c,. cor