St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-02-24
John Ross.

The room was small, but there was 8
noatncss and warmth about it that made
it, TO some eyes, very bright and attrac-
tive, on the evening of the 11th oi
March, 1868. By the fire sat pretty,
intelligent-looking little girl; and at the
tca:table presided pale woman, whose
attention was almost cngrosscd by hus-
band absorbed in his evening meal OF
''haricot." This was his favoite dish
OF mutton chops, carefully fried with on
ions and turhips, and left to stew until
the clock struck six, and the husbands
familiar step was heard without.
FEATHER" must have strong tea ard Il
fresh loaf, for lie works hard all day
long. ''Mothcr' and Ally are content
with stale bread and the smell of the
savory haricot. Dear, kind, and self
denying souls they would rather give
up their own mc;s! altogether than re-
strict him to Il solitary chop, albeit 4
good dinner is carried to him every day.
"Was it nice, father ;" asked little
Ally. "Ay, just as usual" was the an
swer, "hungcr is the best sauce, you know,
Ally" The mother smiled. 1t was
scant praise, but she WAS satisfied.
"Iou won't be going out again to-
night, John, will you = she inquired
presently.
Her husband hesitatcd. lie was TO
drunkard, yet the tavern had for him
very great attractions. lie liked excite
mcnt, political discussion, and the gossip
which lie called conversation 1t never
occurred 10 him that it was worth while
to converse with his little daughter and
his thoughtful, intelligent wife The idea
of telling the two who, in all the world,
best loved him, what lie read in the pa
pers, or what events had occurred, was
as far from his thought as Iapland from
Patagonia. Poor John Ross he had
yet to learn that Il man has other duties
besides those of earning, spending and
buasting Of his wages.
II must 60" he said, "lor they will
expect me.
"l;ut You will not be long p
81 don't know that dcpen'ls-but
' oAi iitN'i bOi ST bul NhIillNH l'I
as you did last night"
Very well, John. Say good night
to father, Ally, dear"
The child put up her mouth for Il
kiss.
Good night, dcarir," she whispered,
as he stopped to receive her carc-s
''comc rs quick as you can
He WAS zone. Mrs. Ross washed up
the cups and dishes and put them, with
Ally'S help, into the cupboard. Then
she sat down TO mend her husbands
waistcoat. They were dull that night, and
with reason; yet the child laid her head ON
her mothers knee with sense of rest and
calm that seldom came TO her in her faith
cr's presence. Soon she began to sing
the little hymns which the children oi
her school had learned. Then kuccling
to pray beside her mothers chair, she
began 10 say, "Blcss dear father tonight,
and bring him home safe, and help me
TO be good child TO him and mother"
AS these words rose 10 heaven the door
was opened by John Ross himself. I'm
perceived, he now waited i'll the shadow
to hear the rest. 1t was not much, if
measured by the number of its words
simply similar prayer for other rela-
tivcs, and that all comprehensive one
which Christ taught his disciples; but
there was Il beauty i'll the scene, 4 touch
ing pathos III the voice, and above all Il
reality in the petition, which compelled
John Ross to bow his head AMI worship.
Nor even when the last Amen was utter
ed, could he persuade himself TO come
forward and disturb them; for Ally be-
gan to talk about him, saying, Il do
hope he will come before 90 to sleep
Don't you mother %
''Ies, darling; though | cannot ex-
pcct it," said her mother
The child waited little while, and
then said, SIS it far ?'
Mrs. Ross had been sitting with her eyes
fixed on the fire, thinking, perhaps, of
her bliihe grihood and earlier married
life. She started now, asking, "Is what
far ?''
"'The Welcome Home where father
goes every evening don't you know o.
Did she know? All, too well, too
well 1t required some effort to answer
calmly, "IIalf Il mile"
'tAnd why docs he never take US
there ~
'It is not place for little girls, dear
child"
''Do people work there, then?'
"Worll? Oh, no"
"What do they do, mother p
"They talk, Ally, and-and smoke"
"And l suppose" said Ally, gravely
ID suppose they kneel down too -
"What made you think 50 %
'Because, when l stay awake till
father comes home, notice that lie docs
not kneel down here; and so | think he
must have said his prayers at The Wei
come Home
There was no answer; and in "a few
minutes Ally's little feet went pattering
into an inner room, where, after being
snugy tucked up by her mother, size lay
awake, listening for the step which was
too often so long in coming.
Meanwhile the father, sitting alone be-
side the hearth, mused over the little
sermon which his child had, all uucon-
sciously been preaching. lie would