Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-01-15
SAVED FROM THE EVIL TO CONE

h"'0 mOiNJ Ivy my A0h0AAhNo'' 0n"
give him to me! My all-my only one!'
Mrs. Ashton prayed on, repeating again
the cry, ''Give him to me !" She could
not say, "Thy will, not mine, be done !"
No; she could only plead for the one
great boon, his precious life.
He was her all-"the widows son."
AS she still knelt beside him, the look
of suffering passed away; the painful
breathing ceased; he sank into sweet,
refreshing sleep. The mother felt that
new life was given him-he would still
be hers.
Her prayer was granted. He grew
rapidly in strength Soon her pride,
her darling, raised as it were from the
dead, was again making the house mer-
ry with his infant glee.
Years passed on, Herbert's will grow
ing stronger his more and more exact
ing nature at times forcing feeling of
uneasiness in his mothers heart. Yet
she would seek to drive it hence, with
the more cheering thought, "He will
grow more considerate and manly in a
few years"
Gifted with the brightest talents, he
mastered with perfect ease his various
studies at school. The proud, fond moth
er pictured to herself his brilliant ca
reer in the future. but no he would
not strive for fortune or fame There
was no need of his shaving for a living.
His mother had means abundant" he
said.
Time rolled on. In his early man.
hood he won the heart of beautiful
girl. Carefully had Mrs. Ashton con-
cealed his many faults, that any other
than mother might have termed vices.
"Rose will win him from such. He
loves her so truly, and she is SO charm
ing, he cannot resist her efforts,' the
fond mother murmured.
Roses low, sweet voice was whisper
ing in her ear, "Oh, what happy girl
What happy, happy little family we
are, and must always be ~
Weeks rolled on-months, only few,
when the mother felt keenly how terri
bly, mistaken she had been in the course
she had pursued with her boy. When
gently she demonstrated with him, his
cruel, heartless reply pierced, to the very
quick, the heart already SCARED by his
many wounds: Thank yourself for what
l am. You have made me so"
Daily she saw the loving, confding
woman-the Rose once blooming so
brightly-growing paler; the young life
blighted by her sons cruel nature.
His reckless extravaganza drew heav-
lily on the mothers once ample means.
Worse and worse it grew, until she had
nothing left but the merest pittance.
From the home of luxury, they went to
one where only the strictest economy
must reign. But Herbert still dressed
elegantly; his cigars were the best, his
wines old and pure. Yet he earned no
money, the mother knew. How did he
obtain them? A great fear entered her
heart. Was he gambler? Oh, if that
we're all 1t came at last-the last
drop in the cup of bitterness, which wife
and mother both must drain.
Herbert was arrested on charge Of
forgery. The last few remaining arti.
cles, membranes of former days, were
disposed of, to raise money with which
the counsel, one of the ablest barristers
in the country, was obtained. Oh, the
agony of those days during which the
trial was pending-the terrible suspense
At length the case was given to the jury
At home, praying for their loved one
waited the wife and mother, to know tn,
result Soon it -conviction-witl
the terrible sentence, five years impris
onment. A few days more, and they
must bid him adieu.
The day of parting came. Oh, VIII,
can describe their anguish D.? Rose wa
borne insensible from his cell. Witt
her fond arms clinging about him, tn
mother exclaimed, sob, if 1 could bea
this for you, my boy, my boy Willing
ly would l die to save you !''
The miserable man, at length brough
to his senses. pressed the trembling forr
to his bosom, and said, with emotion
81 know you would, my mother. Oh
would that | had died in my infancy
Why, why did you pray for my life
You see what curse it has been to a
who love me Goodbye; they call me-.
Again she felt his arms about her
and with wild, despairing cry, 81
started up, sObbing forth the word
why yes, oh, why ?"
She looked about her. The light W;
dim; but then, before her, as in yea
long gone, she could see her little He
bert lying ill-dying. She passed h
hands again and again across her bro,
and then gently on the pale, little fa'
beside her, What was it? A dream