Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-15

huu VIC UANk 10 Alcnlueuu hIuIe udYs bbu
catch me foolin' away another day round
that old fort"
"Oh, John I'm SO proud "--she paused
abruptly, for bis eyes dropped with a looI
Of conscious shame. What mood was b,
in2 Would it do to speak them lie
had showed hack from the table, and there
was a serious. hr-away look 10 bis eyes
bat nothing sullcn or forbidding Sh,
went around and dropping on her knees be
side him, slipred her arms about bis neck,
saying Oh, John, | wish you'd prom
iso me you'd never drink no more whisky"
That's most too hard on a fellow but
III promise not 10 not drink too much
ag'in,' he answered
But I'm alcarod that wouldn't do no
good"
" You talk ike you thought | hadn't
sense enough TO stop when I've got enough,
If try, ne exclaimed
Oh, John. don't talk so you know
you promised me that nigh onto a year
ago; but you think you'll just take one
dram, and then just one more, and afore
you know it, it's too much If you'd only
promise now that you'd never taste nary
drop ag'iu"
Still he kept bis eyes steadily turned
away from hers.
Don't you mind now she went on
" how .qour mother said one time. Il
reckon, Nancy, YOU count John a mighty
rough chap hut he's Oh right at the core
and don't you mind how she used to pray
for you in them old timcs2 Don't you
MUD the evenin we heard her praying
down By the old spring? If she's watch
ing you among the stars how proud she'd
be to hear you promise. And John" she
continued dropping her voice to a whisper,
+" | pray, too sometimes. | haven't never
told you, but I've been feeling right serious
here Of late I've taken to readin my
Bible, aud I've just made up my mind to
live better'n u-ed TO- aud pray for you,
TOO, and itseems like Godhenr me-" And
she laid her head on his shoulder to hide
her tear7
His arms slipped aroundher but he still
kept his eyes turned stubbornly away from
hers. AT lost laying his face against hers,
be spoke earnestly Yes, Nancy, | prom
se'
Presently, starting u0, be exclaimed, ." II
haven't stayed tin plum dnyightm
Oh, John come and Kiss baby aiore
you 20, hc looks SO sweet. Sammy Sam
my wake ap, honey, aud kiss pappy"
B.os- his sleepy eyes Pappy's little
man I'll bring him some candy when |
come home again"
All day Nancy went about with such a
/ light, CHEEKY heart as she bad not carried
in her bosom for many a day singing
'uatches Of OLD hymns, and thinking happy,
hopeful thoughts Of him who, all those long
hours, was working his rudder against the
strong current Of the Missouri.
That evening the stars shoue brightly
down upon her, when she knolt by the little
window, aud asked Gods blessings on her
husband nd his good resolutions
But she was awakened lew hours ai-
terward, by a rush and confusion, a shower
Of glass aud hail across her bed; aud catch
Ing her baby in her arms She sprang up,
frightened and bewildered 1t was ter
rible storm one long to be remembered by
all who felt its terrors. hedeaiening roar
of the wind and hail almost drowned the
loud thunder claps \ binding fash Of
lightning showed the trees almost bent to
the ground, and the house rocked to and
fro like a cradle. She suddenly felt new.
strange feeling, as if she was flying, float
ing, through the air. She thought that she
was dizzy, aud caught hold Of the bed. A
terrible crash-sho never knew how 1t all
happened Her bahy's cries aroused her.
The wind end rain chilled her through She
started to spring up but something held
her down. A shock Of pain darted over
her' and putting out her hand, she ielt
great beam lying heavily across her limbs
IL seemed as though 1t was crushing her
Something struck her. then another, anc
another. How they stung Oh was hel
child unsheltered from that pitiless storm
tbs screams grew louder Oh she must
reach hlm She could see nothing through
the thick darkness, but she knew that he
vas not Tar OF. What II be, too was last
ened' crippled She stretched her arms ;
every movement made her pam more eX'
cruelatlng. She strained every nerve She
could almost reach him. Whit 1t he was
tree and could come TO her 2 " On sam
my Sammy she called, " come to nam.
NY Inc child ceased crying. She heard
him move His warm body touched her
hands that were groPing IN the darkness.
She caught HIM IN her arms and hugsed
him to her breast. She fclt OF his head
MS arms his feet 5 sound aud whole. How
taank kiul she was ior that But how those
cruel han stones must have bruised him
She re.iel bun on the ground aud erouched
over hun she could move just enough ioI
that. Ihe frightened child ceased CRYING
aud put bis arms about her neck. If she
eould only hnd something to cover them
from the storm. She reached around, but
could touch only cold mud.
On! that terrible pain She bad al
most forgotten it IN her anxiety for her
child. IL grew more and more lntolerable.
Il seemed as though the hai.siones struck
through into her brain. What it they
Killed her Was she afraid to die E? Vis-
ions OF eternity, Of the heaven OF her faith.
rose before her. Should she dwell With
God aud the angels forever Was It pos.
slble that there would never be an end ?
No, she was not afraid Of death. But her
child, her husband-how could she leave
them Not yet No, no, when life
opened before her She must live to help