Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-12

drunk, as he had been unable to procure
liquor, and Stella moved her stool close
up to him and laid her head upon his
knee and wept. He looked at her sor
rowfully few moments, then said: 'Stel-
la, am not drunk why do you weep|
He smoothed her hair kindly; the first
caress he had bestowed upon her for
three months. tn r,,a...q
"Ol Berta, my poor, dear husband it
seems so good to see you sober, i cannot
keep from crying. But how long will
this last? O., if you would only stop
drinking, we could yet be happy. "
"Happyi Stella? think what you are
saying. Is it possible you could be happy
without fine house and costly furni-
ture?" 5.siai
90, please do not bring up the memory
of my folly. 1t was the one great mis-
take of my life. have been made to
feel and see wherein true happiness con-
sists; not in the vain pomp of worldly
possessions, or the parade of costly fur
niture, but in the possession of a cheer
full, contented disposition, and faithful,
loving heart. / have had terrible les
son-one will not forget while life lasts.
If you would turn from that viper that is
coiling its fatal folds around you, we
could soon, by industry and economy,
earn little home, and just think how
happy we could be. ! have tested the
friendship and charity of the fashionable
world-I have weighed it in the balance
and found it wanting. | see the path Of
duty as never saw it before, and it looks
cheerful and inviting. Can you, will you
turn from the poisoned bowl ere it is too
late?" she pleaded
with Gods help | will The cursed
demon has not gained complete power
over me-has not fastened me inextri-
cably in its loathsome embrace-and j
will turn from it as would from viper.
My darling wife. methinks i already see
pretty white cottage nestled away
among the green trees and climbing
roses in some quiet little village Hur-
rahl he shouted, swinging his hat in
the air.
"There is hope for the fallen" said
Stella, as he drew her head upon his
bosom and kissed her fondly.
"Berta, this is the happiest day of my
life, and hereafter you will ever find me
faithful, loving wife, whose chief aim
will be to make you happy. i will live
for God and you. g
And you will never again see me
under the influence of alcoholic stimu-
lus, as have found that it only browns
the voice of conscience to lure one ON to
the deepest darkest pit of hell--it charms
to destroy. Tomorrow we will leave
this city-cheerfully leave it with its
ruinous temptations-and 90 to a new
home. Cheer up, little wife there is yet
happiness in store for us. The darkest
hours are all past, and we will ascend
the hill of Life with our lesson written
upon the tablets of our hearts to keep us
ever in the path of rectitude.
" He that conquereth self is greater
than he who conquereth an empire"
said Stella.
Hal hal you want to make hero of
me already" he replied.
You have always been true and
noble herol | think-l know, | was to
blame for the misstep you have made,
and may God forgive me. "
"Amenl" replied Bertram.
And did he keep his pledge?
In beautiful little village, surrounded |
by green fields and charming groves,
Betram Chester and his wife are living |
in an easy, home-like cottage. Honey
suckles and roses mingle their perfumes
as they cling to the pillars of the porch.
The cottage, with the ground apper-
tanning, is the home they have earned,
and now they are enjoying the fruit of
their labor
Saturday evening Stella sat ON the cosy
porch waiting the coming of him who
was all in all to her, At length she
espies his noble form as he buoyantly
approaches his cottage home. She
threw on her hat and ran over the grassy
lawn to meet MIN,
"My dear little wife, there is nothing
beneath the blue dome of heaven that
makes a man so cheerful and happy
after days wearisome labor as TO gaze
upon the happy, smiling face Of his wife.
II causes one 10 forget the petty annc5- /
lnces of life and bask in the snashine of
domestic bliss. The wealthy whose
lnly desire is TO create admiration and
envy, do not know the meaning of the
word happy. Why, there is ecstasy
mere in the very air. Every rustling Of
he leGyes, every twitiering Of the birds,
s music to me now. l wouldn't ex-
change places with a monarch and as
iume all his cares and responsibilities,
aid Bertram joyously, ul
1on arc monarch, Of which no
iobier earth can boast, and you reign
my heart. But comel sspper
s waiting, said his wife,
They entered the cheerful sitting room,
ghefo Iempting repast was spread.
he furniture was cheap, but neat and
Dretty, and Bertram gazed around the
Dom, his old happy smile wreathing his
mouth, and love-light illuminating his
handsome blue eyes. He declared that !
ood never tasted % ielieians er palaia-
lie befote, aud Stella smilingly replied. |
The fruit Of labor is always sweeter
han the bread Of idleness, and happy
learts make happy homes"