Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-02-06

Mabel Clifton sat before one of the
windows of hef fathers, magnificent
mansion. A servant stood in waiting.
She was making out list Of articles
wanted for the next day. Coming
foot steps arrested her attention. She
raised her eyes from the papsf ahd look.
ed out. The crimson flush deepened on
her bright young face as "Oh!" in a
tone of deep feFfet escaped her lips.
She turned, aftef all instant OF
thought, and said:
'sJohn, I am not just ready to finish
this lisl and shall not send for an hour
yet. If yoti have shything to attend to
III the meantime you can do it,"
MIR. Clifton had been reading in a
distant part of the room. Hearing the
door close aftet John 8 departure, he
asked:
"You have not forgotten to send fol
those wines 1 spoke Of, my dearf
''He has not gone yet, papa"
"Ah; well do not make it late; -
They will be very btisy tonight" hef
father said, turning again to liis paper.
"PapAl"
s'Well, my dear"
"a boon, papa: Promise to grant
me, this last day of the year my booti:'
'sWhat is it, love?'
'sPromise To grant it first
'Not in ighorance, my child"
'"Trust me, father"
She had an eafhgsl eager, noble look
in her eyes that her fathef did trust in;
and he promised her.
"Well, well you shall have your
way"
''Father, let US have i6 *ihes to.
morrow"
"Whati No, no; 1 cannot grant you
that. No wines? Why, child have
you gone crazy? For twenty-five years
past l have offered my friends wine Oh
New Years Day, and never have felt
that l was doing anything wrong
What has cofie over you?"
s'Oh, father, l nefef have felt as jast
now, when offered young men wine
and Just now, when was making out
the order for John, l CHANGED to raise
MY eyes Just as Edward Livingston was
passing. 1t tieeded bit glance I'd see
he was very much under the 1nflttence
of wine. Father; his mother is a widow
he her only child. All her earthly
hopes are in him. Will they not be
wrecked, think you, if he INDUCES in
the wine cup? Tomorrow he will
make many calls: Beautiful women
will offer him wine. He will not have
the courage, possibly the wish, to de
cline. Tomorrow, night, most likely,
then, he will return home to fill his
mothers heart with sorrow. | wish not
to contribute one drop to that bittei
cup"
stMy deaf; whether we have #iiies o1
NOT, with hin. it will be all the same; as
you say he will make many calls"
"Father, if you had son you wotild
feel differently. Think how many
young men of the brightest promise
have failed, nay, worse, won truly dis
grace and early graves from the love Oh
wine A ~ snH'
II feel as if Edgar Livingston stooe
on the brink of fearful pfetapfce:-=
Father, stretch your strong arm to draw
him back-if only one step, and tor 9
! moment. If we don't save him, it will
be a comfort to think we urged him ffo
toward, on his fatal course
'Mabel, you are very deeply interest
| ed in the young man. Am | to CON
clhde-''
| aNothing more thar for his own ant
his mothers sake; would endeavor t.
| save him, or any other young man II
his danger, father Here will be one O
his first calls Possibly l Cab detail
him IoHg enough to prevent his visiting
many places where he would be expos
ed to- great Temptation. Oh, father
please grant HE this e.
"Really, desf, I feel disposed TO Dc
as yoN wish, bis 80 many will be yer.
much disappointed, Besides, hav'
not the courage to- make this grea
change, and set FIVE hundred tonsdes t
work specializing about the cause Of it
Some will declare I'm about to fail
others, that / hsve grown penuiious
| All, what is it, johns"
\ Just then the the servant entered an
handed an envelope, SAYING
GA telegram, SIR