The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-05-05
MISCELLANY.
THE FALLEN RECLAIMED
OR,
The Good Templars' Triumph.
BY +. s, ARTHUR.
BY +. s. ARTHUR.

perance, to a woman whose thin, pale
face and heart-broken look, told but too
plainly, that she was the drunkard's wife.
Not dollar, John Surely you will
not waste dollar Of my hard earnings,
when you know that can scarcely get
food and decent clothes for my children J.
As the wife said this, she looked into
her husbands face with a sad, appealing
expression.
Il must have a dollar, Jane said the
man Grmly.
%, John, remember our little ones,
the cold weather will soon be here, and
! have not been able to get them shoes.
If you will not earn anything yourself, do
not waste the little my hard ltbor can
procure Will not fifty cents do = Surely,
that is enough to spend for
Nothing will do but dollar, Jane,
and that must have if steal 1T was
the prompt and somewhat earnest reply
Mrs. Jarvis laid aside her work me-
chanically, and rising, went to drawer
and from box containing only two dol
lars, her little all, took out one dollar, and
turning to her husband, said as she hand
ed it to him
Remember that you are taking the
bread out Of your chidrens mouths! =
Not so bad as thst / hope, Jane y said
the drunkard as he clutched the money
eagerly something like a feeble smile
fitting across his disfgured and distorted
countenance.
Yes and worse !! was the sponse,
made in a sadder tone than tina: in which
the W fe had first spoken
How worse, Jane ?"
John!' and the wife spoke with sud-
den energy, while her countenance lighted
with strange gleam, John, I cannot
bear this much longer feel myself sink
ing every day. And you--who pledged
yourself
Here the voice of The poor woman gave
way, and covering her face with her
hands, she bent her head upon her bosom,
and sobbed AMI wept hysterically.
The drunkard looked at her for mo-
ment, ani then TURNED hurriedly, passed
from the room For some moments after
the door closed upon her husband, did
Mrs Jarvis stand sobbing and weeping
Then slowly returning to her chair near
the window, she resumed her work, with
an expression Of the countenance that was
hopeless.
In the meantime. the poor wretch who
had thus reduced his family to state of
painful destitulion, after turning away
| l.. al ctn oil
the street, with his head bowed down, as
if engaged in, to him, altogether n new
employment, that Of sclf,commueion All
at once a hand was laid upon his shoul-
der and a well known voice said
Come, John, let's have a dl ink
Jarvis looked up with bewildered
air, and the first thing that caught his
eye, after it glanced away Fl ON the face
of one of his drinking cronies, was sign
in bright gold letters, bearing the words,
Eagle Coffee House That sign was as
familiar to him as the face Of one of his
children At the same moment that his
eye rested upon this, creating an involun-
tary impulse to move toward the tavern
door, his old crony caught hold Of bis
coat collar and gave him a pull in the
same direction. But much to the sur
prise OF the latter, Jarvis resisted the at.
tempt to give his st'ps direction that
would lead him into his old accustomed
haunts.
Wont you drink this evening, Jarvisi
asked the other with look of surprise.
There was evidently a struggle going
on in the mind OF the drunkard This
lasted only tor moment or two, when he
said, loudly and emphatically-
MOP
And instantly broke forth from hi
boon companion, and hurried away.
A loud laugh followed him, but hC
} needed it not Ten minutes walk brought
him to the store Of respectable trades
man
is Mr RI i'm lie asked as he en-
tered.
Back at the desk, was the answer o
clerk.
And Jarvis walked hack with reso
lutte air
Mr. R want to join the GooC
Templars.'
E You. Jarvis = Mr. RI said in tone
of gratifel surprise
| yes, Mr. R. 1t is almost a hope
less case but here goes to do my best
Are you fully sensible of the step 20,
, desire TO takei'
think am, Mr. R.. I've drank no
thing since last night. and with the he'll
of Him above, am determined never t
, drink another drop as long as live!
Mr. R-took his name, and as tn
' meeting occurred that evening, Jarvi
was requested to remain, and go up t
Temperance Hall with Mr.. r., who ha
: no doubt but what dispensation could b
: obtained for initiating him that evening
g On their arrival at the hall, much sur
h prise was manifested at seeing the inebr
: ate, who was well known to many Of tn
d members. When It was known that Jal
n Wis had applied for admission to the Lode
Q the vote was large and unanimous to rt
"a ceive him and he was initiated in du
\ form, and received the warm congratuls
y of the brothers and sisters. He returne
y home with hrmer step, and his hea