Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-29

or similar to those given above, will
not describe them.
A Father Reclaimed.
[ was once asked by Mr.. Grant to
call on two young ladies who had de-
sired to see me. | went to the house,
was shown into a room, and received
by young lady, who motioned me to
a seat. AS | sat there for few mo-
ments, waiting for her to speak to me,
| gave a glance round the ROOM
There were evidence of better days
"lang syne,' though | shivered, for
there was no fire in the CRATE, and the
weather was cold, when the young
lady said
"Mr. Cough, my sister intended to
meet you with me; but she has sprain-
ed her ankle, and is unable to see you.
Ny mother has been confined to her
room for many weeks, and to her bed
for some days. 0, sir, it is hard for
a daughter to speak of a fathers in
temperance but what can | do? I
have sent for you as NY last resort.
Ny father Is good and kind when free
from drink, but when under It's infu-
ences, is cruel-he actually robs US
OF the common necessaries of life
and | would not ask You to sit in a
cold room, had we materials for a fire. "
Iinvoluntarily glanced at a piano
forte that stood in a corner Of the
room. She noticed it, and said very
/ quickly:
"You may think that pride and
poverty 20 together; and they do
You wonder why | de not sell my
piano forte. | cannot sell it. My
father bought it for me on my birth
day years ago. Its like an old friend.
learned to play on it. Mother loves
to hear the tunes that remind US Of
days gone BY fear, forever. Ny
father has asked me to sell it; and
suppose | did? Il would be but to
/ procure him the means of intoXication
for a time, and we should be little
better for the sale. | cannot sell it.
| will not part from my piano unless
my father takes it away by force"
left them. Mr.. Grant sent them
provisions and wood. In a day or
two | called again. The father was
there. After a short conversation,
he said, to my surprise:
"Mr. Cough, have you pledge with
you ," have. Il will sign it," l
Immediately produced it; he at once
wrote his name, and stood up a
/ pledged man, no more to drink intox-
icating liquor
! watched the young cir! when he
said: Il will sign" She clasped her
hands; with lips apart. her eager
eyes watched the pen. She seemed
breathlessly anxious, till the name was
/ recorded; then she sprang to him,
and twined her arms, as well as she
could, around his neck (she was lit
tie creature.) How she clung to his
breast. Then unclasping her hands
she said:
"Oh, father | am proud Of you.
Mr.. Cough, he has signed it; and he'll
never break it. | know him; he'll
never break it. No, no, my father
will live a sober man. o, father
father y The tears were raining
down her cheeks, as he passed his
hand caressingly over her face, when
she said:
Father, YOU spoke of selling the
piano forte. We can send for Leon
ard, and he will sell it tomorrow, and
what it brings will pay what we owe,
aud We shall have something to start
with again, shan't we, father ?"
Yes the poor heart was comforted,
and she gave her piano-her old
friend-cheerfully. Why? Because
her father would live a sober man.
/ Oh you who sneer at temperance,
and mock at our pledge, come and
. look at scenes like this! And thank
God there have been. and will be
many like it!
There is not a man, who has labor.
ed in this field of reform, but can give
you such incidents by the score
mothers, sisters. wives and daughters
lifted from despair to hope, from an
guish TO JOY.
A lady told me her father had been
drunkard for years-had broken
his wife's heart-she was the only
one left of the family that seemed tc
care for him: and she had devoted
herself to him. watching him, nursing
him, even going to the grog shop tc
take him home. Think oft! young
, daughter leading home a drunken ia
ther! She induced him to attend {
lecture | gave in Philadelphia, il
8 which | described the sorrows of tht
drunkard's children. He sat there
: his hands convulsively twitching
; then turning to her, said, in a choke(
voice:
: Birdie, dear, did you ever sufel
like that with me ?" All she coult
5 say was: "Oh, father, dear father !!
; Birdie, I'll sign the pledge; l will.
ooh, father, dear father"
: At the close of the lecture he cam,
! up and signed it; and, said the lady
"from that day he never touched it.
: He lived but six years after, and die,
e a sober man. Thank God for thes,
green spots, these bright CLEANS ol
! sunshine amid the gloom! | love t.
call them to mind; they rest me whe
n weary, comfort me in trouble, an,
i have many, many times encourage
c me when | have been despondent.- =
}. John b. Cough.
s. The LOST WOMEN OF FIFTH AVE
s NUE.-Some evidences of disconten
l. with an aimlesS life have appeare