Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-16

vividly'before her, that a low cry of
anguish escaped her lips, and she hur-
ried from the room.
The next day Ella came home with
a new story. The stranger who was
so like her father, had visited the
school, and converSed with the teacher
who, at his request, had sent home
small sealed note by her. Ella was
very pale, and trembling as her mother
opened the mystic paper. No sooner
had Mrs. Remington glanced at the
handwriting than al consciousness
left her, and she fell back in a fainting
fit, Ella, frightened, and unknowing
what course to pursue, ran for the
nearest neighbor, and in a short time
her mothers room was filled with
sympathizing, though considerate
friends.
The paper, child. the note, were
the first words the mother uttered,
when she came to consciousness
BLESSED note-he is not dead, Thea.
See-here is his own handwriting !"
MY DEAR WIFE, am no longer
drunkard-will you receive me back
to your love, now that | have con
quered myself? Most humbly do |
ask this boon, conscious that | do not
deserve it-but promise that in time
to come, | will be a faithful, loving,
temperate husband to YOU, God help
inc me"
At that moment the door bell rang.
Ella ran into the room where her pale
mother sat. There were tears on her
cheek as she cried
"Mother-he has come-my father
whom we all thought dead-he wants
to see YOU
Leaning on the arm of her daugh
ter, the repentant, long-sufering wife
tottered down the stairs; he hearc
the step-Sprang impatientIy forth
and wife and daughter were claspeC
to his bosom.
"Haye YOU forgiven me, Helen ?"
~Have YOU forgiven me 2" was tn,
sobbing question. Il sent you from
me with cruel words no Christian
should utter. o. my husband tina
this has resulted in mercy, is of God
most loving kindness alone, | hav
died a thousand deaths since though
we buried you after the waves ha,
given YOU up. Can you ever forge
my cruel, unchristian words ?"
, Freely, dear Helen and only wor
der how it was possible YOU bore wit
. me so long. Most freely, since it ha
led to my reformation. God be pra
sed-I am a slave no longer. Yo
need never fear that | shall fall agai
into that accursed sin-ior / have. a
| trust. placed myself under a powe
=, ml Protector-even under the can
and guardianship Of our Lord jest
= Christ"
But where have you been all tn
time, father?" asked Ella, her gent
: eyes shining with happiness.
e In a foreign land. In the fir
E, heat of resentment | walked to Il
ii city. | did not reach it till near mo
7 ming, and there finding an old sea ca
4 tain, friend of mine. ready to sail
China, | Irecklessly took passage wi
y him, as he had often importuned me
" do. Once out upon the great ocea
= leaving home as thought forever, re
son came to me- | began to rehe
~ upon my past life, and | could see L
., thing but crime against society, |
- - wife and family, and my God. The
IL | made a resolve, that with help frC
t. on high, | would become the man Y
VII once thought me, Helen-that | wou
9e never return till | had conquered n
er self Many dangers awaited me, |
'r' passed through them ALL | went
nis the golden country, a~d while the
70 alone, wretched, sick and miserable
er- found the great gift that has made
III what | am-the Gift of redemptt
re- through the Saviour. Now, | v
!e make home happy. Here will | er
lei an altar of praise and thanksgiving
oi Him who has so wonderfully kept {
II returned me to YOU
The whole village was in an upr,
len as the news spread. Countless C
! ,n0 lectures arose, as to whose was
!. . body they had found, but the ident
l'll was never established. Henry R
a'e ington was welcomed as one from
vi dead.
reu So flowers blossomed once ao
III along the path of her who had b
ID" that most unfortunate Of all being
oe drunkard's wife-Uatchman
Non m Reflector.