The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-01-22

baW Hitut ht-oVl
help me; but the time came when I
grew uneasy. Times the lad would come
home wi just little too much and al
though he were sorry enow when morn.
ing come, il did not prevent its happening
again and again. You see; sir, he were
II light hearted, clever lad, but not with
the strongest head and mind, while I
were older, more experienced, and had
seen too much of life to let any one Or
anything oveImaster me. And when tho
pubicans found that the lad could sing n
good song. and tell a good tale, they wers
glad enough to encourage him. And
when | saw his hand grow unsteady, ani
when | heard him say one day, crying
the while, that he had sent no money I.
his ovid mother Tor many a long day
past, knew the lad were going bad.
4" tried all could to wean him frae
it. tried many times and many w,ys,
but he went on from bad to worse And
you wouldna la' known the far.haired,
fresh Mark Howard that came to me. in
the stout, bloated man he were at twenty.
one years old.
"Well, sir, were in my room one
evening just one year ago, thinking may
be, OF tn lad--for since he had gone bad
l had kept ava, frae' the public house
when | heard low knock at the door,
and thin pale woman came in and
crossed TO the fire.
" 1t were Utter night, sir, and she
Just stood by the fire and held out her
thin hands as though she had to thaw her
voice before she cod speak and then
sue turned TO me and she turned TO ms
and said: 81 ha COON for my lad, John
Arnott-ior my son Mark Howard.
"And | dared na say as Cain did,
AIN my brothers keeper ? for | knew
| was - but | tried to calm the widow
ard in the midst in came the lad.
80, sir, it was n pitiful scene to seq
the widow pat back the thick tangled
hair and look into the moist eye. aud
bloated face OF her son, trying hard to
lind few OF the features of the lad as he
had left her And t were still more pit
ltul to hear her deep sigh, and to see her
sitting over the fire long into the night,
praying Go to give her back her son.
"WelI, sir, after she left, Mark tried
hard to change, and | had hopes, and
DO think il ii had ma been for thae public
house landlords that he would ha' sue
cecded, but he paid them too well for
them to let him escape and although he
would send his spare money home, his
songs and jokes were well worth a tho
liquor he could drink.
' 1t was hard and bitter sight for me.
Ever since the widow had sat by nv
resldc felt the sin Of which | had been
guilty weighing sorely on my heart
who might hae led the lad straight, had
led lin into temptation.
We'll, sir, TO make short tale short.
er, one day after he had long and trying
illness, saw Il color IN his cheeks did
not like to see, and heard dry cough 1
dreaded to hear; and said, Mark, lad,
we nun pack up our kit and start for
home. And, sir, there come quite u
flush into his cheek, as lie said, 'rhour't
right, John; let US start at once"
''Work was slack then, and could
knock off for a week, and 80 we started
1t were beautiful June weather, and we
made the journey slowly, stopping often
by the way. ! never enjoyed the coun-
try more and Mark got back little OF hi.
strength.
"Wcll, sir, when we reached his
mothers house and she saw us she Just
started up, crying out, Thank - God for
this-thank God for tIis!" as though I
hadna brought her only son to die in her
arms And Mark said gloomily, 81 left
you mother, with money a promise to
make you rich and happy. and now ha'
come, a wrctchcd and dying man, to
trouble you for the rest Of your days"
And then | said, not that | meant TO be
generous, sir, "Mark shall be no trouble
/ TO you; | should ha' looked after the lad
long afore this but | will now at all
events.
"She never said one word, sir; but
she just went 20 the cupboard and brought
us book, an, would you think it, sir, it
were the book of the savings bank, in
which she had put all that Mark hal
ever sent her. and there it was ready to
comfort him now. We couldn't help i:
sir, and 20 we just broke down and cried
like children.
g used to come and see Mark, chance
times. lie may ha' got better for a while
but we all knew that he'd never live to
see the flowers blossom again. came
for the last time week ago, just in time
to see the Gear lad die He were very
happy, and 70 like, as he lay in bel, tho
boy saw three years ago, that could
scarcely believe my eyes. You see, sir.
/ the hand Of death was smoothing AVA
the sin and sorrow Of those bitter years.
"He stretched ont his hand to me. AMI
,milcd, the dear lad. Good by, john
he said, you've been very kind to me.
I've seen you after John, and I'm glad
OF. Don't cry; it's all my fault where
| NAV gn,' anl he laid his hand upon the
Bible by his side, 'I'll never let fall
word of blame on John Arnott.'
/ "Thcn | said, God bless thee Mark,
/ lad Far twnlva months has narar n