The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-09-29

Don't talk like that, Tom, or
shan't love you half as much as I do
now. You know we are deeply in
debt and penniless, aud the landlord
threatens to turn us into the street.
Do, please do, Tom, 90 to your old
master. I'm sure he'll give you
work."
"No, WON'T" I answered, very
sharply.
Mary seemed greatly hurt, but said
nothing. After that, instead OF get
ting. better Us before, she became
worse. Day followed day, and week
followed week, and still things were
in tho same unsatisfactory state.
could not got work not even On old
job.
Mary was dyingi
l hadn't any faith in prayer then -
but I thought that was the time TO
try it, ii ever. We couldn't be worse
off than we were, so took to pray
ing TO God that Mary might get bet
ter; aud whether twas nature, or
whether twas faith in prayer, worked
the cure, certain it is that Mary from
that time began to mend, and ], too,
seemed all the better, although l was
half starving.
i've had such q stragne dream
said Mary TO me one morning when
she was nearly well, and when there
wasn't q bit of crust in the house TO
eat. II dreampe,d d Tom, that you were
back at your old shop, and that you
were foreman there. Do go to the
old master to-day, and ask him TO give
you something to do"
mo, | won'tn / replied as sharply
as could; for | was determined that
l wouldn't humble to him.
Then l will go for you," she said
very quietly. -,
Nonsense, Mary. You'll go on a
FOOLS errand."
"Can but try" said she; aud before
l could say anything further, she was
ready to start. Then she came to-
ward me, and putting both her hands
OH my shoulder in that confiding, low
ing manner which cannot be resisted,
and raising her clear, heavenly eyes,
beaming with hope, TO mine, she
sweetly said, Tom, we have
been married only a short time,
and l am quite disappointed in you
| don't know why, but / always
thought you were q tcetotaler; and as
l know you always keep your word,
please promise me you will be Que
now and forever" :"
It's precious queer" said ], "if I'm
not n tcetotaler now; for there's no
money to buy drink or anything else
with, whatever"
Il know that" she said; "but |
want you to promise to be teetotaler
always, or, II you think that's too
hard, until We live in house of our
own; and she finished by giving me
one of those bewitching smiles all
women know so well how to bestow
when occasion requires.
an promise that with the greatest
pleasure" answered; "tor when you
were so very i'll, Mary, dear, / had
time TO think over matters, and came
to the conclusion that il l hadn't got
drunk on that unlucky evening, ]
should have been in work now, and
able not only TO support you, but TO
purchase those nourishing things the
doctor ordered"
Never mind, Tom, dear, all will be
right in the end, you may depend up
on it, now that you have promised 10
abstain. That dream l had in the
night, though, still haunts me. ! wish
you'd 60 up to the shop"
"No, WON'T" said, again, "but
you may if you like"
"All right she nodded. with another
smile, and after giving me kiss she
went out. / did not think for mo-
ment she was in earnest, or l wouldn't
have let her go.
In about an hour she returned, with
pleasant news that she had been Ia
the shop, had seen the master, and
l was to go to work again on the fol.
lowing Monday morning, provided
meant to keep my promise of being q
teetotaler.
"Mary, my dear, said to her,
"when say thing, l mean it, and
by Gods help, I'll keep fast to my
word"
II believe you with all my heart
Tom, or wouldn't have went to the
shop SO willing. I'm sure you'll keep
your promise.
And / did. / went to the old shop
the next Monday morning a little be.
fore six o'clock, and the governor al
once asked me it it was true was q
teetotaler, and whether I meant to
keep the pledge. asked if he ever
knew me to break my word. He
said "No," and I told him l wasn't GO
ing to begin then. And l set to work
singing as merrily as a lark, and quite
astonished and alarmed the other
workmen, ay, and the governor too
by the vast quantity of work l man
aged to get through during the day
And the whole week passed off quickly
and happily and was really surpris
ed to find how soon it was ended
And when l took home to Mary ever,
farthing of the first weeks wages, WI
danced like two little children, and
laughed till we cried. And every.
thing seemed SO very joyous and diff
ferent from the dull, dreary weeks
had wilfully wasted-not perhaps al
together wasted, for / had been learn
ing a wholesome lesson-that W.
thought we were living in another
and more beautiful world. The mex
day, Sunday, We went to church yer,
early, and asked the minister to offel
up that thanksgiving in the Prayer
Book which says: "For all Thy
goodness and loving kindness to II