National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-04-16

h'sci Win l)dpd anu mamma on
waking.
This nice place to seep,' said he
gratefully. Benny love mamma
And don't you love papa too p
asked father gently.
20, yes, Benny love all the folks,
but papa, why don't you be good all
the timer
and why amt l goodr asked
father incautiously.
80, you dwinks wum, and sares
wicked words, and don't pway. o,
papa, don't dwink wum no more
My father did not speak; but he
folded the little boy in his arms, and
beat a soft tattoo on his curly head.
Perhaps he hoped to sOothe him
back to slumbers, but the child had
got an idea and out it must come.
'1fyOu gets dwunk and sares wick.
ed words, you'll 60 to the wicked
place, and then you won't have no
itty boy, nor baby what's gone up
the skies. Papa will have to he all
loney, all loney.'
Nothing could exceed the gentle
pathos of those words as, rolling his
little head on the pillow, he repeated
them, in his soft musical voice. You
should hear our father repeat them,
and their effect on the poor inebriate.
There was quite stir in our
neighJorhood when it was rumOred
that good man was coming to live
in the Basset House. Nr. Bassett
was young man who had settled
Oh the place, but who in less than
four years bad sold out this stock of
furniture, etc, and gone with his
younr wife to California. His
house was to be sold or rented the
first opportunity, and a coed man
had taken it. That was the best Of
all. for in our town there were many
that Benny would have rejected il
his catalogue of good men.
was coming down the street one
day with a measure of wild fruit
had been gathering for sick wom-
an, when | saw Il cluster of ladies
standing before 4 door and talking
earnestly about the coming strang
erS. 1t seemed that the good man
had come to preach to the people
who needed it so much and had con
cludrd to make home between the
two villages where his services were
mainly expected. Hearing that the
young couple had intended to board,
it WAS wisely suspected that they
were not prepared for house keeping.
Now all we have got to do said
good tat mother Hanson, lis for each
one to give or lend few things to
fix up the kitchen, and maybe Il bed,
room or two and tue rest of the
things viii come along easy like
SAW that the old lady had pair
of heavy blankets on her arm. that
looked hot in that sultry sun, but
there was basket i'll her hand with
cool linen pillow-easeS, woven by
her own hands, and some fresh dam
ask from the same factory.
Other ladies had their offerings
with them, pieces of crockery, OF
some culinary article; odd and mis-.
cellancous they were none of them
paired or matched with another, 'but
better than nothing in an empty
house, said Mother Hanson. with
characteristic good sense. linger
ed long enough to learn that on
Tuesday week, they must have cv-
erything completed and supper
prepared for the minister and his
wife, and it was hoped that every
family in the little ncighborhood
would be represented. Then | walk
ed on with my head and heart full
of one grand idea.
would make an Offering to that
enterprise, not for myself alone, but
for the family. Something should
be given from our poor home, tt
that Of the holy man; if not,
should feel that we had no part OF
lot in the matter. Even the gospe
that he came to preach should b,
sealed to us. and we left, as Benny
would say, all alone, alone.
| went home in one of my reckless
moods, and began rummaging th'
house, but there was not one tha
we could possibly spare that woul'
answer at all. Mother thought
} was crazy, and did not wonder, TO
! poor pa had been fuddled for sever
al days, and there was only enough
bread for the little ones, and bein,
quite u tall girl, needed food, an,
was very nervous without. At las
! | found a towel, strong and no
, quite bleached, and ran to mothe
to ask her if might have it.
why where did that come from
sai d she, 1T is one of the dozen
wovr when 1 was only fiiteen;' an,
mother held this drcamiy in he
hand, thinking of the old times.
u want it mother said |.
'Well,' she answered, lookin
wonderingly into my iace.
, Coin to bc married, Fan 2 hi
hicough) said father; wouldn't d
it, women are spinners her
, in this village (hicough.)
| .And the men are all reelers, l IN
swered saucily.
Mother looked sorrowfully at m,
| and now that had got an oflerin
/ for the parsonage was softenc,
: and Thought the good time comm