Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-22
Seed-Time and Harvest
OR, TnE sAILoR.BoY's RETURN

1t must be nearly midnight, thought [
as [ walked rapidly along. | had travelled
full fourteen miles. The rain descended
in torrents, and finding ready admIttance
at farmers barn, L climbed upon hay
NOV, and threw myself down, thorough J
wet, weary, and sleepless. What an aw-
full visitor it is, thought l. at the poor cot.
tager's fresidel How torcibe and true
are the words OF Holy Writ! If wine be
" a mocker," in the castles of the rich
among the habitatons Of the poor " strong
drink is raging" There was [, at the age
of sixteen, turning my back upon mother
and sister whom | tenderly loved. As the
recollection of all they had endured al
ready, and the anticipation of their future
suferings rushed upon my mind, had al
most resolved to return but alas , what
could | oppose to the uDgovernable fury OF
an unkind husband an1 an apostate father ?
No, thought |, will fly from that which
| can neither prevent nor endure. BY the
kind providence of Him who hath prom
ised to be the Father Of the fatherless-
and such, in reality. | AMI may win, by
honest industry, the means of bringing
comfort to her who bore me. when my ia
theirs intemperance AMI prodigality shall
have made havoc Of all that remains. My
resolution was fixed. Sleep was gathering
over my eyellds. [ got upon my knees to
commit myself to God in prayer. | could
scarcely give form to my scattered thoug hts
it seemed, under the condition Of nigh
excitement in which | then was, that my
father was before me, enraged at my de.
parture, and demanding who had taught
me to pray. 1t was he himself who frs,
set me upon my knees, and placed my in
FAINT hands together, aud put right words
into ny mouth, and bade me ask Of God
to put right thoughts into my heart. How
often had he led his little household il
morning and evening prayer. Degraded
and changed he was; but he had been oncs
kind father, tender husband, generous
neighbor, faithful friend, a pious and
protesting Christian.
Drink and ruin, hand in hand, had en-.
tered our dwelling together. The rum
seller had laid my poor misguided father
under the bonds of an unrelenting and ia
tai appetite he had won away the little
children's bread and converted our once
happy home into an abode Of wretchedness
1t was evident to me that we were going
to destruction. My fathers interest in the
welfare Of us all was at an end Debts
were accommodating fast. His farm wa:
heavily mortgaged. His habits long age
had compelled the church to exclude him
from the communion and the severes
abuse was the certain consequence when
ever my poor mother went singly to the
table Of the Lord. | could have borne
my fathers harsh treatment of myself and
of my peor sister Rachel; but he re
turned home at last, constantly intoxica
ted, and when opposed in anything, woulc
swear, and rave, and break the furniture
and abuse my poor mother in such an awfu
way that | could stand it no longer.
L waited cautiously for favorable op
portunity, and asked my fathers permis
sion to 60 to sea. He flew into terrible
rage, and asked me what induced me tt
wish to leave home. | hesitated but a.
he urged me to speak out, " Father" sale
[, " it kills me to see you and hear yor
talk and act SO badly to poor mother
He flew into a greater rage than before
and bade me never open my mouth on tn
subject again.