The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-27

thing so pure and precious MS this
child l-one of the little ones whose
angels are ever before Thy face"
A deep quiet fell upon his soul as be
bowed his head once more and walked,
still moving slowly, onward. And now,
contrasted with the innocence, sweet
ness and purity of his wife and child,
stood out before him an image of him
self that made shame-spots burn on
his cheeks as if fire had touched them.
They so loving and unselfsh; so true
to him in all things; so free from
earthly faint, and he so selfish and
worldly, yielding to gross appetltes,
and giving his thoughts to what was
mean and sensual, instead OF to things
good and noble
"Giye me strength to lead a new
and better life," he prayed. as he
moved along the street. "This night
] have turned my back upon the evil
that was opening its jaws to devour
me. This night ] set my feet in a new
way. Let thy power, 0 Lord, pass in
to my poor resolutions, and | shall be
saved
Home at last, It had taken him
nearly two hours from the time he
turned so resolutely away from his dis
solute companions Entering very
quietly, he went first to the bath loom,
where he washed bis hands and face
and carefully cleansed his mouth to re.
move, if possible, all smell of liquor OIL
tobacco smoke
How silent it was. How strangely
he felt, Softly he opened the cham
ber-door and stood in the presence oil
his wife and child. How peacefully
they slept Their faces lay close to-
gether, both so young and fresh SO
tender and sweet that they looked like
sisters, instead of mother and child.
A little while he remained bending
above them. Great waves of tender
ness came sweeping over his heart
/ They had never seemed so lovely and
precious. STOPPING, at length, for he
could no longer restrain himself he
touched his lips to the fair forehead OF
bis wife. She moved slightly, but did
not awaken. Then he kissed the little
one who had said, ere she went tc
sleep,
Tell him to kiss me when he comes
home, mamma, t..you May be II
know it in my dreams
An angel must have told it to hel
now, for, while yet the touch of hi.
lips was warm on her lips, a glad lighr
flooded her countenanoe. As the light
faded slowly off, her lips moved, anc
she said, still sleeping, yet speaking
out clearly
BLESS dear papa, and make him
good and happy"
The fathers heart was too strongly
moved already to bear this without
losing his self-control. A sob heaveC
his Heart. Then clasping his arm:
about his sleeping treasures, he hug.
ged them passionately to his heart
God bless you and keep you from
all evil, and make me worthy of you
my darlings y
This was the sentence, spoken il
fervent, that met the ears of his waking
wife and child.
We cannot picture, in words, the
JOY that filed that young wifes hear
when the full meaning of all this came
like a great light into her soul.
She never sat lonely in the night
watches again, waiting with shad
owed spirit for the loved but absent
one, in fear of the very thoughts thai
went out after him. And few and fal
between were the times that the little
angel of their home asked that kis,
might be given which she could fee
only III her dreams
Little ones, pray for those who are
dear to your hearts. The angels are
nearer to you, because of your limo
cence, than they are to those who ar,
older and less pure, and they can Otter
give to your prayers a power for goot
that will fall in blessings on those yor
love.-T S. Arhur.