The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-01
WESTON W. VA, MONDAY, JANUARY |, 1872

LOOK, mOthcT r. sue cTleu, ~ i've never
seen them 90 out together before"
Mrs. Harley smiled, and looked gratificd,
"Folks often do things at Christmas that
they never do at any other timC,h she said.
Faith watched them 60 up the street,
Mr. Morgaa looked i'll, she affirmed, and
they were walking very slowly. ThcneXt
dav she did not SEE him at all f; but in the
afternoon the lttld servant went out, and
on her return she had quite enough to do
to answer the door to errand-boyS. She
had evidently been ont to give orders; and
il was on Christmas Eve,
after tea, just rs Faith and her mother
were getting really to 90 uptown the
little servant brought message over from
Mrs. MoTgan-compliments, and an invita-.
tion to the widow md Faith to dine over
the way on the morrow. Mrs. Harley ac-
cepted it in much establishment. II was
such an unusual thing to receive an invi-
tation of the kind, for since she had been
widow she had not been taken much
notice of by ueighbors and former friends.
What with going uptown with her
mother, and the anticipationS Of the NOR
row, Faith was N mn ccstacy of enjoyment
Before going to led that night, however,
her pleasure took more solid turn. Do
You think, mothcr,n she said, "tbat Mr..
Morgan is going to try to,bc good now, |
have told him how good father became
before he dicdl don't think he has been
tipsy since that day.
81 think not" replied her mother
And ! do hope that he will try to be
good. We shall zee Ns time goes on"
The next day they went over the way
to dinner and spent very pleasant after
noon there. Both Faith and her mother
rather maryccd that no intoxicating drink
was brought on the table at dinner; and
not even at desert wns there ANYTHING oil
the sort.
After quietly pcclng on orange for Faith,
Mr.. Morgan looked up with moistencd
eyes, and said, {" suppose You knew, Mrs.
Harley, that God spoke to me by your
little girl few days ago?r A pause, and
then he continued, 81 have tried to give
heed to that voice; and during the last
day or two have had conflict with
myself, md with old habits, greater than
| can tell YOU. But, please God, | am
gong to keep on struggling. | took the
first step in new and happy direction
when transacted little business with
Miss Faith, the other morning, at your
door. went home and to bed, to he out
Of the way Of temptation while | felt so
weak physically, rs well rs morally. And
got moral strength lor something better,
II you will) before got physical strength /;
for MS read over that chapter which Faith
md had been talking about, I came to
those two verses, the sixth and seventh ol
Isaiah the 5jth, and went over and over
them again, until felt such hope rs bad
never felt before; and this hope infused
such lie and strength into me that | at
last vcntured to think that the former
things night really pass away, and that
all things might become new, and | think
so now, Mrs. Harley, after more reflection.
what mercy that It is never too late to
begilr to do right! Though my head Is
grown grey, and though have spent
years md health and wealth in a sinful
wretched course, vet have the assurance
that it is not too late, / have indeed been,
rs beast before God;' still. lie has
sent nc most gracious nessagcot mercy"
Faith looked up and said earnestly.
"And will you always ~
"Yu, indeed, | trust so, he replied,
with equal earestne%.