The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-27

J
and woe My poor mother used to clasp
me to her bosom to keep me warm, and
once--once l remember-when her very
tears froze on my cheek Oh how my
mother prayed to God for her husband;
and I, who could but just prattle learned
to pray, too. And / used to see that
husband and father return to his home,
and remember how bitterly my poor
mother cried and trembed. ta
"'When I grew older I had to go out
and beg for bread. All cold and shiver-
ing 1 waded through the deep snow, with
my clothes all in tatters and my freezing
feet almost bare. And saw other chill
dren dressed warm and comfortable, and
l knew they were happy, for they laugh
ed and sung as they bounded along to-
wards school, These boys had sober
fathers | knew that their fathers were
no better than mine had been once, Tor
my mother had told me how noble my
father could be if the accursed demon rum
had not been in his way-but the fatal
power was upon him. and though he
often promised. and though he often tried,
yet he could not escape.
:" Time passed on, and / was eight
years old, and those eight years had been
years of such sorrow and suffering as I
pray God 1 may never see another ex-
perience. At length, one cold morning
in the dead of winter, my father was not
at home. He had not been at home
through the night My mother sent me
to the tavern to see if | could find him.
had gone half the way when | saw
something in the snow by the side of
the road. stopped, and shudder ran
through me, for it looked like human
form. / went up to it, and turned the
head over, and brushed the snow from
The face. 1t was my father land he
was stiff and cold | laid my hand upon
his pale brow, and 1t was like solid mar
BILE. He was dead iisa 9a ai GOO
"Poor Jack stopped moment and
wiped his eyes. Not one of us spoke for
we had become too deeply moved. But
he soon went on.
II went to the tavern and told what /
had found, and the landlord sent two of
his men to carry the frozen body of my
father home. Oh shipmates,f cannot
tell you how my mother wept and groan-
J ed She sank down upon her knees and
clasped the icy corpse to her beating bo-
} som, as though she would have given il
life from the warmth of her own breast
4 llSheyleEeds sshsrshusband through ALL has
errors, and her love was all poworfu
now. The two men went off and left the
body still on the floor. My mothel
, wished me to come and kneel by her side
did so. Ny child said she to me-
t and the big tears rolled down her cheeks
I--syou know what has caused all this
: This man was once as noble and happy
: and as true as man can be, but, oh SCI
7 how he has boen stricken down. Prom
t ise me, my child, oh promise, here, be
fore your dead feather, and your broken
J, hearted mother, that you will never
e never touch single drop of the fata
t poison which has wrought for US all thi
y misery. 5 aa
"sOh shipmates, did promise, the
}, and there, all that my mother asked, an
God knows that to this moment tha
promise has never been broken. M
father was buried, and some good kin
a neigkbors helped us through the winter
When the next spring came L coul
Il work, and / earned something for m
: mother. Not for the wealth of the worl
e would 1 break the pledge l gave m
mother and my God, on that dark, col
e morning. And even had 1 made no sue
e pledge l would not touch the fatal cuI
d for know that l have a fond, dotin
k mother who would be made miserable b
t, nv dishonor, and would rather die tha
t bring sorrow upon her head. Perhar
you have no mothers; and if you hay
II they do not look to you for support, fc
e 1 know you too we'll to believe that an
a of you would ever bring down a loyip
2 mothers grey hairs in sorrow to th
a grave. That is ALL shipmates. Let n
now go, and you may enjoy yourselvt
lie alone, for do not believe that you wi
i, again urge the wine cup upon me- 81
: GAS Jack thus spoke he turned tt
ut wards the door, but Tim Black stoppe
IN him. e.
a. "sHold on Jack cried Tim, wipir
his eyes, and starting up from his chai
o, hare got mother, and love her as we
W, as you love yours, and your mother sha
not be happier than mine, for by the To-
a. [ bear her, here swear that she shs
to never have drunken son. | will drir
en- no more.
We 's'Give US your hand, Tim, cried Sa
C. Pratt, 'I'll go with you.
ON II waited no longer, but quickly stal
ad ed from my chair, | joined the other tw
a and ere long the whole five of US join
to with Jack Small in his noble life pls
at We called for pen, ink and paper, a
ng made Jack draw up pledge. He sign
q it first and we followed him, and VIII
for the deed was done knew we were
happier than we had been before
mt many years. The wine on the table "
untouched, and the liquor we had dra
ss, during the forenoon was now all gone
lad its effect.
t. ssTowards evening we returned to
ks ship. There was frown on the c;
GU tain's brow as We came over the side,
we he had never known US to come off fr
DAYS liberty sober. But when we !
on all come over the side and reported o
few selves to him his countenance chang
est He could hardly give evidence of his Q
to senses. ~.
s .ssLook here, boys, he said, after