The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-03

supp. nope again hiuuieu w III his Dosol
as he entered. r g
sDon't you want q hand, Mr., Mason z" i
asked in hesitating tone. e.ii
"Not drunken one, Jarvis was the r
pulsive answer. "'""ll' Ni4"
ia"But Pve reformed; Mr.. Mason"
$50 should think from your looks
"But indeed, Mr.. Mason, / have qu
drinking, and have signed the pledge"
ITO break it again in three days; perhaE
three hours"
"Won't you give me work. Mr.. Mason, if
promise to be sober2"
"No. For l would not give copper fc
your promises.n s. ,
Poor Jarvis turned away. When he ha
placed his hand to the pledge he dreame
not of the repuses and difficulties. He wa
good workman, and thought that any ON
of his old employers would be glad to ge
him back again, as soon as they learned o
his having signed the total abstinenc
pledge But he had so often promised
amendment and so often broken his promis
and disappointed them, that they all lost al
confidence in him: atleast the two to whom
he had thus far made application. 3
After leaving the shop of Mr.. Mason, Jar
Wis seemed altogether irresolute. He would
walk on few steps, and then pause tc
commune with his troubled and bewilderec
thoughts.
II will try Landlord" he said at length
half aloud; che will give me work surely.
| A brisk walk of some ten minutes brought
him to the door of a small hatter's store, in
| a retired street. Behind the counter of this
store stood an old man busily employed in
ironing hat. There was something be-
nevolent in his countenance and manner
As Jarvis entered he looked up and shade
passed quickly over his face.
"Good morning, Mr.. Landlord" said Jar
Wis, bowling with something like timidity
and shame in his manner.
"Are you not afraid to come here, john
replied the old man sternly.
Il am ashamed to come, but not afraid.
You will not harm me, 1 know"
Don't trust to that, John. Did you not
steal-aye, that is the word-did you not
steal from me the last time l employed you 9'
The old man in manner was stern and ener-
getic.
II was so wicked as to take couple of
skins, Mr.. Landlord, but did very wrong
and am willing to repay you for them if you
will give me work. l was in liquor when l
did it, and when in liquor 1 have no dis
tinct consciousness of the evil of any ac-
ton"
"Give you work, indeed! Oh, no, John,
Icannot give you another chance to rob
me-"
"But l will not get drunk any more and
you know, MIR. Landlord, that while was q
sober man and worked for you, l never
wronged you out of a sixpence worth"
Wont you get drunk any more9 All!
John, have lived too long in the world,
and have seen too much to heed such prom
ises.n
"But am in earnest, Mr.. Landlord; 1
have signed the pledge this morning"
"Youm in tone ofsurprisc.
'Yes, signed it"
"Ah, john" after a pause, and shaking
his head incredulously, 81 cannot credit
your word, and am sorry for it."
"If have signed the pledge, and if 1 am
really determined to be reformed man,
will you give ME work, Mr. Lankfordl"
The old man thought few moments, and
then said, halfsorrowfully, II am afraid of
you, John. You are such an old offender
on the score of drunkenness, that have no
confidence in your power to keep the
pledge"
"Then what shall 1 do ~ exclaimed poor
Jarvis, in tones that made the heart of the
old man thrill-for nature and pathos were
In them. Now that am trying in earnest
to do better, no one will give me word
OF encouragement, or a helping hand.
Heaven help me, for am forsaken of man."
Have you been to see Warren 2" asked
the old man.
YES, and he threatened to kick me out
of his shop"
MASON wants hand, know. He will
no doubt be glad to employ you"
I've tried him, but he will not give me
work"
MIR. Landlord stood thoughtful and irreso-
lutte for some moments. He pitied, from his
heart the poor creature who thus importuned
so earnestly for work, and whose trembling
hand indicated that he had forborne, at
least for a time, bis accustomed stimulus.
But he did not wish to have him in his shop.
Tor he had no confidence in him. At length
he said:
John, If you will bring me a certificate
from MIR. Robinson that you have signed the
pledge, l will give you another trial; but if |
you disappoint me again, you and are done
forever"
The countenance of Jarvis frightened I'D
instantly. He turned quickly away, without
.eply, and hurried off to the shop of Mr..
robinson, the secretary of the society he had |
olned. The certificate was, of course. OBJ |
aimed
land you have Joined sure enough, John.n
VI. Landlord said, in changed tome, as he
glanced over the certificate.
Indeed l have, Mr.. Landlord" |
And you seem In earnest"
III was In earnest in anything in my
life, am in earnest now"
Keep to your pledge then, John, and all
Will be well. While you were sober man.
preferred you to any journeyman in nv
hop. Keep sober, and you shall never want
days work while I'm in business"
by the aid of Him who knows how
luch IN earnest l am, will be true to nv
ledge, Jarvis said firmly, and in solemn
one
"Only trust in him, John, and He will be
trength In your weakness
Il Will try" was the humble answer.
The poor man was now shown his place
the shop, and once again he resumed his
Tork, though under tar different impulse
ian had, for years, nerved him to action.
ut his nerves were all unstrung. His hands
look so that he could with difficulty use,
nth the required skill, the implements of
is calling. He experienced likewise. a
mixing, sickening feeling, and at times a
lzzness and obscurity of mind would sud-
emily come over him, exciting the liveliest
notions OF fear lest nature would not bear
under SO sudden withdrawal of its &C.
lstomed stimulus. Gradually, however, as
Is mind became intently fixed upon his
ork, and his body felt the i'm pulse of man
ii activity, slight reaction took place,
I'd the whole machinery of his physical
anne moved on with something approach
g to healthy tone. His hand grew stead
r though it still trembled. ..
Two hours brought his regular dinner
me, when Jarvis, WHO began to feel the
ant OF food, returned home with new and
range feelings about his heart One i'm
Use was to tell his wife what he had done. !
III what he was doing. But then he re-.
how often he had Knocked her I
W sprlnging hopes-how often he had
omlsed amendment, and once even Joined |
temperance society, only to relapse into t
wer and more degraded condition.
mo, no." he said to himself, after deba-
lg the question in his mind as he walked t
wards home, II will not tell her now. |
IL first present some fruits of my repen- i
nee. will give such an assurance as will @
cate confidence and hope.n b
Mrs; Jarvis did not raise her eyes to the C
e OF her husband as he entered. The h
mt OF that once loved countenance, dis C
tel and disfigured, even made her heart il
K when she looked upon it. h
The frugal meal passed in silence and re- 81
lint. ;r
lrs. Jarvis felt troubled and oppressed. OIL
the nros moot bafora 10, ,.iI :