The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-30
How the Double Blessing Came.

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How the Double Blessing Came.
Deacon Gray had habit and be carried
it through life, Of making the wants and sat
ferlngs Of others in some sort his own, The
habit, or whatever else it might be called
certainly increased with his wears, and his
UoFthy help-meet during the long period Of
their welded life, through the influence Of
aasmilat.n, and, above all, the heavenly
fruits OF a 7sanctifed sorrow, lad grown to
be modelled very nearly after the same pat
tern.
So when the deacon sat down one wild.
stormy night, paper ard spectacles 10 hand,
and related the "neHs," which was in every
bOdy's mouth, as they seated themselves
around cheerful tea-tables and blazing fires
or gathered in social knots at the village
store, Mrs. Gray ceased to rock back and
forth IN her arm chair, cushioned with hens
feathers, and dropped her knitting work,
quite regardless Of little black and white
Kitten at her side, which instantly put the
BAL TO the use feline fancy suggested.
and what will become Of Jerry ~
Fifty other people that day had asked the
sane question but, coming from good Mrs.
CTTay.s honest, motherly heart, the very
words sounded differently, like the same
tune played in dissimilar keys.
4 l5 deacon's eye, as it sought the open
ptF r, fell on the shipping Inst, TUT il was
quickly withdrawn, as If the glance panied
bin. Ills answering marx most persons
would have tho1ght decided DEPRESSION
f 'm the subject
ct IS just three years tonight, Mary.
since Ue heard our boy was drowned. We
were expecting him home from that long
Voyage, and you put on your best silk dress
thti he bought Tor you in Canton, and set
she tea-table with ths China set.''
Mrs Gray's eyes sought the burning en-
bers, which flashed and flicker ID on that
neyer-to- oe-forgotten night ; ana -uss made
another tangIe in the yarn.
pain, sharp, bitter, choking. strangled
her reply. iliism was their only son, the
pride of their hearts, a frightened, merry
BOY. But be was born within sight Of the
aes, and from his early childhood, when he
built mimic ships that made wonderful vow
ages over mimic oceans, all his thoughts and
desires conferred OF the blue heaving waves.
With strange fascination which his fond
parents, much as they loved hizl, could not
resist.
~ William went to sea. 1t almost broke
the mothers heart but whea ne came homo
from his first voyage, looking so handsome
and manly, With tLS rich, healthful color
flushing his bronzed cheek, it throb6ed Win
such pride and JOY, as only mothers heart
knows.
He had story to tell. Far away from
home but with all its sweet influences hov-
ering sround bis path like SO many guardian
angels, pacing the deck in the starry tropieal
night-Vstches, God had met him. not n
fame, net il the earthquake, nor the wbirI-
wind, but in the ''still small voices of love
The prayers Of Deacon Gray era his wife
were answered, sr1 William went hack "a
his ship, that most noble sight on Gods
earth, an open-hanied, open-hearted Chris |
tisn sailor.
Their came the shock. It traced broad
burrows On the good deacon's kindly face.
bowed his tall, straight form. and silvered
his Wile's brown hair; but we draw a veil |
over that fearful night, "a fresh IN The
memories Of both. Theirs was a sacred sor-
row, and it yielded the peaceful fruits Of
riEhieonsness.'
"Do you think that AM Of Williams
clothes that you keep il the red trunk would |
DO for Jerry, with little fixing - inquired |
the deacon, clearing bis voice which had
grown little husky.
We TllI not transcribe gentle Mrs. Gray's /
reply ncr relate the long conversation which
followed, extending into the small hours Of I
me night. suffice It to say, that on the NOR
row the deacon's horse and team took Jour
ney to the h0yel where Jerry lived.
The poor boy was crouching on straw
pallet n one corner, resisting ali endeavors,
stern or kindly to induce him to cult his
NIelcbed home that was home no longer.
His stuer bad deserted him when 40 infant:
his mother in her thirst for liquor forgot ali
her maternal instincts, and died one cold and
stormy night from the effects OF drinking.
Jerry must 60 to the poor-house, the
neGhbors said but Jerry had another mind
shout the matter, and half frightened at the
crowd Of strange faces, looked about him
Hi,h 2 pinched hungry face, and eyes like
ahose Of a wild animal At bay. They pitied
bin, and dislIked employing force but while
celebrating what method to pursue, Deacon
Gray entered the hut and made his Wav
.hrousa the crowd to Jerry {
MY POOR boy, | am sorry for you. If !
you don't want to go to the poor-house per-
bsps you would lie to 20 home with me.
have no little poy, and Iwant one. You shall
Rave some nice clothes 10 wear if you will
some."
The deacon waited for no answer. He !
IaW the qnick, eager look Of the boys face,
be yielding, lrastful clasp Of bis little hand,
Ind drove away with him. Mrs. Gray met l
hem az the door Of the pleasant farm
louSe.
Stake these dirty duds OF the frs thing, 4
Mary" said her husband, sand give him bis
supper, and then he'll do.N
Mrs, Gray was not slow in obeying the
ADVICE. Her heart warmed to the poor, for !
AIKEN bog, es his eyes rested on her face
Nth a shy, timid gaze, hungry for new I
lraughts Of the love that had never been his
'efore. Ii
HE would really be pretty" she said to ,
Ter husbond, after the washing and dressing
pentions were over, s'if il weren't for bic
arVed look. But wen soon remedy that" 4
Ind slipping into the pantry she tllled the I
Aina bowl that William had lfked to eat !
iom 80 well, and set 1t before Jerry. Il
Andso, warned as be had never been in