Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-02-09

1eLGECs EO1. n ILL
wasn't ever cross and quarrelsome, and he
never got dead drunk, but he would drink
every day 1t worried me dreadful, and |
don't know how his wife stood it, David,
Id say to him, You're a-gOipg to ruin just
as fast as you can take yourself there. i
know it; but it aint no use 10 talk | can't
help 1t, he'd say, and so it went on.
'One day there was few ofthe men sent
'One day there was few of the men sent
out on the railroad, to see about taking some
work two or three miles out of town. David
was one Of EN-, and not hardly as steady as
usual even. After the train got going pretty
fast he went out on the platform and tried 10
step across to another car. lie staggered
and slipped, and Just saved himself by one
hand from going right down between the
wheels. Ii was a minute or 50 before he
could get rightly 10 his feet again; but when
he did be was sober, and knew how near
he i come to being crushed to death under
the wheels. The idea Of an awful sudden
death like that, and going into the other
world drunk, as you may say, TO meet every
thing that : 10 come, is enough to make any
man stop bit and think. 1t did him. He
didn talk much to anybody the rest of the
ride, and the first thing he did, when he got
home that night, was to hunt up one Of
them Temperance societies and take their
pledge
Wei, We were pleased enough when We
heard it, and YOU never did see such glad
woman as Mary. But David couldn't work
the next day-he was SO shaky without his
sprits-and the day after twas the same
thing. We tn ught he d get over it in few
days and get used to doing without; but be
didn't | s'pose it had took too deep hold Of
him, and he Just got weaker and weaker.
The doctor told MIN it was stopping 50
sudden, and that ne i have to take a little
liquor along to keep bin up till he'd get
stronger. But David only shook his head
and walked off That doctor tried it over
and over sgaiu-l s'p0se be meant well, too
and he said twas the only thing would
help him; but David wouldn't give up-.i
swore, says he.
A bad promise had better be broken
than kept says the doctor.
Its the best promise ever made, David
tells him.
We'll, says the doctor, 4 don't say You
ain't right 10 want to stop drinking; It's the
way YOU DO il that's the matter. You'd
oughJer stop by degrees little to-day and
little less tomorrow, and so on.
You ve learnt a good deal doctor, and
think good deal Of your opinion, but you
needn't ever tell me that a man can get rid
ola sin by holding fast to it,. know what
am and what the first drink of liquor d make
Of me We sworn | wouldn't touch il, and
| won't, says David.
Then my man you Il die, says the doctor.
There's nothing elSe'll save you.
David looked out OF the window a minute
kind of steady ike, and then he smiled.
We'll. I'll die a sober man, says he, and
I'll keep my pledge, sban't Mary?
Her face was most as white as his, ma am
but she lust said-'Yes David, and they
stuck to it, both Of en-. We could all see
how it was going after that, but he never
changed his mind; he'd only be troubled a
little, sometimes, when he looked at Mary.
Can't help You any. I've killed myself,
Mary, he'd say, .buy still j, ain't 50 bad as
it might have been Read to me what the
Bible saws about him that 0ycrc omoth.' And
she'd read to him all that about the star, and
crown. and white robe, You know,
lie died in a few weeks. The doctor sand
be was fool, but never could believe it
was looked at Just that way up yonder. Mary
and me, We called him a hero. She saved
money by sewing and one way OF another 10
buy little white stone for his grave, and I'll
tell You Just what she had pat on to it
Faithful unto death
The little man looked steadily into bis um
hrei.l for few moments, and hammered
vigorously at riyct. Presently be raised
f.7 Irar m
Nilmot' face.
i used TO think, ma an, that when the
Bible spoke about the great number up there
that had 'c0me out of great tribuati1n, and
washed their robes in the blood Of the Lamb.
it meant Just the martyrs and such. Bat
tell You ! know now that there a good many
sorrows worse death, and 70 live for Him
is harder it would De to die for Him some
times. But there a good many brave. true
souls thats adding it-m1re than most folks
think for. only they keen up such CHEEKY
faces. some of en-. that nobody but God VIII
ever know they did come out Of great tri5ula-
ton. There, ina am. your umbrella is mend
cd-d0uc good and strong. If do say it my
self and likely 10 last a good while vet and
g through a good many storms he said,
returning the repaired umbrella for iaspec-
tion. Il often wonder what sort of errands
they'll % on-thcse that mend-and who'll
90 under en-
Both glad ones and sad onos, no doubt,
Mrs. Wilmot answered smiling little at the
fancy. w nat is the price?
'lhirty-fvs cents-thank y0u, ma am.
Come Johnv, my boy, We must move on.
Much obliged to the lady for giving MS such
nice warm place % rest IN. amt we? Good
morning ma am and the little man shout
derel bis bundle of umbrellas, and lmpod
away, followed by Johny.
Marion stood at the window as they went
down the street, and watched ihem with
thoughtful eyes Some things that she had
been that morning trying to persuade her
self were far of and visionary, seemed sud
denly to have grown near and real. Gold
and dr0ss were not the same. there was
coming fiery test that would try them.
Truth. nobleness and earnest life were some
thin. more than name or fancy. The
great multitude that no man can number,
to which the finger Of revelation pointed,
proved that. There were many brave, pa
tient hearts, pressing steadiasty forward, as
the old man had said; and she? No, she
would not barter her truth, fetter her soul,
aud lower her life from its highest aims, for
any place the world could offer.
She stole away TO her own room 20 write
the answer that left her true to herself and
10 God: and the old umbrella menGer went
on his way and never dreamed that he had
be,n Heaven : messenger to fellow pilgrim.