Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-12-27
THE WIDOWS
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
A CLEtGYMAN'S STORY.
IN sYLVAxUs CODE, JR.

90 long time. l went 20 work III edrHSoI'
~ In nv nulpit laboIs, and in my every day
Intercourse with tie people, sought 10
-otn Christianity living, operating power
COMPANION for the hearthstOne and the
--rrt,shon: a guide and mentor in all the
,s,, affairs of life 3; a support under the
ttIr'Ian Of earthly cares and source ct
tinssad hone in the hour Of sickness and
Inst At the edge Of the village, on the
III and under the shadow of Mount
1rosnect. stood a small cot, with shed,
.aw-house, and shop attached. Ills
shon had been once shoemaker shop
hut the door was locked now, and the
Strings Of leather lay untrodden about the
Stenp;ng-stone, growing black and crisp IN
10 storm and sunshine. knew that the
I11T Naomi Preston lived there that
.I,a lived alone-aud that she was very
or And had heard her sad story
tpor her husband had died a drunkard, and
how her only child-her son, Nocl-had
f,lIan into temptation, and 5een tori from
her by the hand OF the Law.
Noel Preston, was really a true-hearted
hoy said Charles Bradford, who was my
infrmant " and the time was when he
uas one of the fairest lads in the town !;
hnt his fathers fall broke his spirits, and
lie took to drink. The rest of the story you
can easily imagine. A mothers love did
OCCASIONALLY hold him back for little while ;;
but the demon had fast hol on him, and
finally drew him down. Two years ago
come Christmas, Noel Preston, then nine
taen. got into drunken quarrel or per-
hans / should have some other term than
onarrel, for l have it flOm those who were
lis boon companions that he never quar-
relied. The circumstances were simply
these 1t was Christmas evening, and a
dance vas going on at the tavern. Noel
Ua. in LIQUOR, and went there to see the
dancers. and hear the music; and drank
nnre-drank until he was intoxicated.
One Of the dancer s, who had drank enough
n bring out the natural littlenCsS of his
conI. objected to NoePs being allowed in
the tavern, and finally wound up his open
ing speech upon the subject by declaring
that with the landlords permission he
would put tie drunken puppy out. Noel
heard him, and demanded to know W HON
he called drunken puppy, upon which the
dancer-AaIOn Robinson by name-replled
that he called him-NOel PrestOE-a
drunken puppy, and then he added SEN
tence which was perfectly awful"
"Charles Bradford told me what Robin
son said, but | cannot transcribe it here.
After Robinson had uttered those dreadful,
brutal words against the memory Of NOels
dead father, Noel caught him and dragged
him down into the hall, and thence out OF
doors, where he challenged him to stand up
like a man, and either take those words
hack or fight. The result was fight
during which chance blow, delivered full
upon the side of Robinson's neck, directly
under the ear, dslocated the spine, caus
ing almost instant death. Noel was ar
rested, and tried, and convicted Of man
slaughter, and sentenced to imprisonment
for ten years.
1t was during the last week in October
that called upon Mrs. Preston. l founC
her alone in the little cot, and a feeling OF
extreme sadness possessed me when l saw
how poor she was. She had just been eat
ing when | entered. Upon the ricketty
table where a pewter plate, a small broker
pitcher, brown drinklng-mug, part Of {
loaf of black bread, and piece OF rust.
boiled pork. There was one other chat
beside that which she occupied, and thl
she offered to me. There '. as a bed in th
room; and, over little pine bureau
against the wall, between the two iron
windows, was tackled up triangular piec
everything not absol Itely necessary for TIL
common wants of life had been sold.
The poor woman had handed me
chair. but she had not done it i'll spiri
of welcome. In flct, L could plainly Sc
that my presence was not agreeable TO nel
but meant to overcome her dislike II
could.
You're the new minister, suppose
she said, after had taken tie prOtfere
seat.
Ito.d her was, and that in the roun
Of my parochial visits | had called iii to Sc
her.
She looked up into my face, and coul
detect the signs Of inward struggling. Pre-
sently, she said
You might have saved yourself tn
trouble, sir. | don't belong to your parish
and have no part in your affairs. ldon'
have the companionsip of those who atten'
your meetings, and l don't want it. Wha
did you come here Tor :"
For moment this question, coming a
It did after such a chilling speech, rattle
HOn-plussed me, but | quickly recovered
myself.
Il came to see you, to visit you as
visit others who may be in 9QSble ant
sOrrOW."
She laughed d bitter, freezing laugh, an(
cried;
And what are my troubles and sorrow
to you? Can yon bear them for me 20
Yes told her. 1--WE can all help t
will fl give you my love, and sympathy
and goodwill, and pray for you, will no
that relieve you of portion of the burden?
"Who talks of love for such as me
Bah, It's lie. Nobody loves me! An
what do you suppose l care for your pray
ers? How can your prayers benefit me
tell you they are empty, senseiesS Things
''That must depend upon what sort {
prayers put forth" said to her, with
kindly smile. 81 mean to show you tia
my prayers can do much. The cold Tintc
is coming, and you must have food, tue
and clothing; and you are entitled
them. l will pray for you as would pra
for my own mother. My lips shall spea
only what my hands are willing to max
good. You must allow me to take tn
place, SO far as l can, Of him who has bee
taken from you.
For few seconds, l could not tell ho
she was going TO receive this. Her hea
was bowed, her hands pressed over ne
face, and L oOuld see that there was an IL
ward Struggle. But the gentler spirit II
umphed aid love for her boy moved h(
T. speak.
90, sir God forgive me if l have bee
harsh and unkind to you; but you don
know what have to bear. You've hear
The story of my poor boy ?"
YES" | said.
49," she went on, cit isn't his bein
away from NE that cuts the deepest int
my heart, but when l think tue brand
upon him, and that in all the time to com
men must shun him and despise him-C
1t is cruel, cruel -
told the suffering woman that she wa
mistaken. told her that the best men {
the town did Lot regard her son as mui
uer6r, nor think him a very GREAT crimiIa
For my own part, [ looked upon her q
q poor unfortunate, whose youthful Lii
had been made dark and bitter by the eli
CumStance Of Lis fathers death and u.hns