Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-09-27

but by tacit consent, their lips were
sealed on that one subject. When, how
ever, the week had heightened into ten
days, and Alfred was still absent, Mr..
who believed that he had
been very considerate, felt it his duty,
or his privilege, to say something.
sLet me see, how long was Alfred to
be gone?' he asked, with a face that
would have been very sober, if he had
not tried so hard to make it so.
"a week was the time set,' said his
wife. Il look for him every dav.'
'Ha! ha! ha! Poor Mary. l am sorry
for you. 1t will shake your faith in hu-
man nature wonderfully.
'It is not shaken yet, Jouas. Alfred
will be back
well, it may prove as you say, Jonas,
but you will not speak word to him
about it?'
Certainly not, Mary, tluless you wish
it. l am willing you should carry out
your plans
THANK you, Jonas
That same day Alfred returned, WON
derfully improved by the trip.
"a little over my time,' said he, grasp
ing Mrs. Cheeryble's hand. sbut we had
bad weather on the lake. You have not
been anxious about me?'
Il should have been, if had known
you were on the lake during that Storm
she replied. 80 r -'7..EtE .a.
She trusts me- thought Alfred, with
a glow of pride. Not a trace of suspi-
cion. Oh, the touch of her hand, so
friendly, so helpful, does me ten times
more good than all the advice Mr..
Cheeryble ever gave me. ~
Mr.. Cheeryble appeared not less
pleased than surprised at Alfred's re-
turn; but his faith was no stronger.
Il hope he is not holding off to get a
larger haul he said. a4
i guess he is not, Jonas.'
The evergreen venture was peeuni-
ary success. Every shrub was readily
disposed of, putting quitea handsome
sum in Alfred's pocket. Again Mr..
Cheeryble predicted all sorts of disas-
ters, and again was at fault.
Alfred deposited his money in the
bank, and resumed work in the garden.
Cheeryble was forced to admit that
well; sbut'-what a penchant Cheeryble
had for sbuts' and 'ifs, s,'-'something will
turn up yet, and spoil it all, he always
added. All, if he could have been at
home just one day, and seen how faith
fully his brave, true-hearted little wife
| followed her plans, he would not have
| spoken those discouraging words. II
| he could have seen her, sitting near
where Alfred was at work, conVersing
with him as with a friend, or reading to
| him; if he could have seen her repair
| ing, with her own hands, some little
rent in the coarse frOck or coat, or fast
ening on stray button; if he could
have seen her doing thousand little ia.
/ salx IL sol
weigh words as the wheat outweighs
the chaff. do YOU think he would have
said one word to dishearten that noble
| wife? Not he. But he did not see all
or any of this, and unwittingly he casl
many a stumbling block in her path.
| Now, l do not suppose that Mr.
| Cheeryble wanted something to turn
up 1 hope he was too good a man fol
that. Yet it was not pleasant,to say tht
least, to be outdone by such quiet, lit
tie woman as Mrs. Mary Cheeryble HI,
was quite concerned about it; and
am sorry to say it-kept himself better
Informed as TO the conduct of ALFRED
Blackmer, than he had ever done Will,
the young man was in his counting
room or store. I will not say that h
watched him with the hope of finding
some departure from the right, but
will say, that if he had unfortunatel,
discovered anything of the kind. II
wouldn't have been bit surprised.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Cheeryble pride,
himself OH having done Alfred many
good turn during the summer. He oft
en- walked down town with him-as
, safeguard, perhaps-and filled his ca
with that good advice which alway
hung at the end of his tongue. We'll
, perhaps he was right. At least, the mo
tive was goot.. And if his strange sifs
and butts did sometimes send chill t
the young mans heart, he tried to be
lieye they were kindly spoken for hi
] own good.
But there came day, in the early al
he had been looking for so long. III
t was just coming out of the store, wher
, choncing to look up the street, he sa,
) Alfred. The young man had stoppe
before drinking saloon, evidently re
plying to some words addressed to hiI
by a man who stood in the door, Ho,
Cheeryble watched him.
Alfred made move as to leave tn
| place, but the man in the door, grea
bloated libel upon humanity, steppe
| out on the walk and caught him by th
sleeve. Alfred stopped-he hesitated-
: he turned toward the door. He wa
struggling with the tempter--strugglin
. single-llanded with his unnatural app,
tite. Jonas Cheeryble, standing ju
across the street, might have helped hil
). if he had thought of it; but he onl
e muttered: 'Just as l expected. l hay
| talked, and talked, and this is all tt
t good it does. If he does not yield nov
: | shall have more hopes of him. Bu
r he WILL know he will. Poor boy
What pity 2
; Another man came out of the saloor
: The two were too many for poor Alfre
: Blackmer. His strength gave way.
It crossed the threshold.
$ God pity him!' exclaimed Jon:
, Cheeryble. 'Lost! lost! nothing ca
v save him! Poor Alfred! and I ha,
tried SO hard!'
d in danger. A helping hand was nea
: A carriage stopped before that vi
place. A richly attired lady left tt
e soft, silken cushions, sprung lightly
the filthy pavement, and fearlessly e.
d tered the den of iniquity.
Good Heavens! it is Mary!' excla n
:. ed Jonas Cheerybie, wild with amaz
4 ment. MY wife in such Il place as tina
Did ever!
He hurried across the street; but ju
I as he reached the saloon door, Mr.
e CueefyDle caiI1e out Will Alfred.
MARY! Mary! for Heavens sake wh
are yon thinking about, to go into SUI
T.. Il place as that! right in broad dayligf
# tOo?'
Mrs. Cheeryble put her hand gent
It over her husbands lips, while she sal
: in low, sweet tones, that fell like mus
= OIL the listeners ear:
k Jonas. oar duty to the erring ones, do
not consist In aoOrds dl0nep
d That was all. And it was enough.
IS All the rest of that day those wor
dwelt with Jonas Cheeryble, calling
|. new thoughts; opening new pages f
1T his inspection; showing him how ma
row had been his view, and how littl
}; how very little he had done. when
Is thought he was accomplishing so muc
L MARY, | stand convicted said h
> grasping his wife's hand, as, in the dee
II ening twilight, they stood alone in Il
magnificent parlor of their palati
" home. 1T is not by words alone, but
I earnest, steadfast, fearless work. ha
e been walking in the blacklist of dar
ness: but, thank God, am out in Il
blessed sunlight now: and with II
Of help, and your own, Mary, 1 will CONT
X lie in the way you have pointed OUT
E. Need l tell you that he did it? Ne
he 1 tell you that, from that hour, he ga
he Alfred Blackmer the helping hand