Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-05-15

been today, for you will save me mon.
ey at that"
The poor man could not speak his
thanks in words, but his looks spoke
for him, and Manly understood them.
He received his three dollars, and on
his way home he bought first bask-
ct, then three loaves of bread, a pound
OF butter, some tea, sugar, and piece
of beef steak, and he had just one
dollar and seyenty-fve cents left
With this load he went home. 1t was
some time before he could compose
himself to enter the house, but at
length he went in and set the basket
upon the table.
"Come, Mary" he said, 'I have
bought somathing home for snnnnr
Here, Nelly, you take the pail and
run over to Mr.. Browns and get a
couple quarts of milk"
He handed the child a shilling as
he spoke, and in half bewildered
state she took the money and hurried
away.
The wife started when she raised
the cover of the basket, but she dared
not speak. She moved about like one
IN a dream, and ever and anon she
would cast furtive glance at her hus-
band. He had not been drinking
she knew it-and yet he had money
to buy rum with if he had wanted it.
What could it mean? Had her pray
erS been answered? ? o, how fervently
she prayed then.
Soon Nelly returned with the milk,
and Mrs. Nelson set the table out
After supper Charles arose, and said
to his wife:
Il must 90 up to Mr.. Manley's Of
fee to help him arrange some new
plans for his house, but | will be home
early"
A pang shot through the wife'S
heart as she saw her husband turn
away, but still she was far happier
than she had been before in a long
while. There was something in his
manner that assured her and gave her
hope,
Just as the clock struck nine, the
well known foot fall was heard, strong
and steady. The door opened, and
Charles entered. His wife cast a
quick, keen glance into his face, and
she almost uttered a cry of JOY when
she saw how much he had changed fol
the better. He had been to the bar
, ber'5 and to the hatter's. Yet moth
, ing was said upon the all-important
subject. Charles wished to retire
early, and his wife went with him. In
5 the morning the husband arose first
and built the fire. Mary had MOI
slept until long after midnight, having
been kept awake by the tumu ltuous
emotions that had started up in hel
bosom, and hence she awoke not SC
early as usual But she came out Just
as the tea kettle and potatoes began
to boil, and breakfast was soon ready
= After the meal was eaten, Charles
arose and put on his hat, and then
turning to his wife asked:
What do you do, to-day ?"
a must wash for Mrs Bixby."
/, "Are you willing to obey me once
more ?"
"Oh-yes.'
"'Fhen work for me to-day. Send
Nelly over to tell Mrs. Bixby that you
1 are not well enough to wash, for you
5 are not Here is a dollar, and you
9 must do with it as you please. Buy
something that will keep you busy fol-
9 yourself or children"
Mr.. Nelson turned towards the door
! and his hand was upon the latch
He hesitated and then turned back
He did not speak, but he opened his
arms, and his wife sank upon his bos
L ON. He kissed her, and then having
gently placed her in a seat, he left the
house When he went to his work
that morning he felt well and very
Il happy. Mr.. Manly was by to cheer
him, and this he did by talking anc
acting as though Charles had never
been unfortunate at all.
1t was Saturday evening, and Mel
son had been almost a week without
rum He had earned fifteen dollars
ten Of which be had in his pocket.
. MARY" after the supper table hac
been cleared away, "here are ten dol
! lars for you, and / want you to ex
. pend it in clothing for yourself anc
! children. | have earned fifteen dol
lars during the last five days. | an
to build Squire Manly's great house
2 and ho pays me three dollars a day
a good job, isn't it ?"
k Mary looked up and her lips moved
e but she could not speak a word. Sh,
u Strugg led for a few moments, and ther
burst into tears. Her husband tool
!. her by the arm, and drew her upor
his lap, and then pressed her to his
h bosom.
l. "Mary," he answered, while the
tears run down his own cheeks, "yor
are not deceived. | am Charley Mel
# son once more, and will be while
| live. Not by any act of mine shall
Il another cloud cross your brow" An6
n then he told her of the words he ha(
e heard on the previous Monday, while
q he lay behind the wall.
"Never before" he said, adid I fully
n realize how low had fallen, but :ht
d scales dropped from my eyes then al
IS though some one had struck them of
g with a sledge. My soul started W
1t to standpoint from which all tht
Il ~ -