Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-11-13
Firesids Department.
Brownies Work
BY MARY DwINELL DHELLIs

81 am real sorry L Qldn.t get
my lesson" exclaimed a young
girl with dark brown eyes and a
profusion of wavy hair. IL stud
led and tried that horrid old sum
a dozen times, but l was thinking
most all the time about some
thing else."
"Well, Mr.. Varney needn't
scolded so dreadfully," said an
other. G'Twas an awful hard les
con, any way"
$50 it was" replied the first
speaker, whom all the children
called Brownie without fully
appreciating the fitness of her
name. "'Twas just the hardest
We ever had, so 'twould have
been all the grander to have
learned it; l wish / had. Ishould
think Ned Leighton would feel
real proud l should ifI was in
his place"
"Proud!" repeated a scholar
scornfully; 4 don't see anything
he has to be proud of; he's no
body but a drunkards boy
Hushp half whispered Brown
10, he'll hear you
What if he does2 Who cares? l
don't. l tell you he is nobody
but a drunkards boy
Alasl for the warning and the
boy. Ned Leighton heard the
cruel words. In his happiness
gained the appreciation of his
teacher, he had forgotten that
his father was a drunkard. No
wonder he hurried away, and in
a secluded spot gave vent to his
tears.
Here, as Brownie was on her
way from school. she found him,
and, knowing well the cause oi
his grief, said cheerfully, allow
can you cry, when you had such
a splendid lessons l shouldn't il
/ was in your place.
Wouldn't you if your father
was a drunkard?'
Il guess not,' she answered
with some hesitation. 'fd try
and have him not be a drunkard.
How would you try9 asked
the boy, looking up with pitiful
smile.
'I'd ask him to sign the pledge
and keep it. Then, if he did, you
see he wouldn't be a drunkard
Can't you ask him?'
NO; 1 can't Brownie. Yeu ask
him, won't you? Seems as though
he'd do it if you asked him
Won't youp
There was short silence, but
at length Brownie said, yes, ]
will"
Mr.. Leighton was new conner
in the village, a blacksmith, and
good workman when free from
the influence ofliquor. The day
after the conversation above mar
rated, he was obliged to remain
in the shop much later than usual
so that the glowing light at the
forge was in striking constrast to
the darkness without. From that
came a child, who seemed fascin-
aoed by the wierd shadows on the
blackensd walls, and the fitful
leaping of the flames up,the wide
mouthed chimney
well, my little lady, what can
l do for youa'
"This question recalled her to
the fact that she was not in fairy
land, as she had fancied; and ex-
tending some papers she held in
her hand, she said, please, sir
will you sign the pledgeg'
what pledgep was asked.
sThe pledge not to drink any
thing that will make you drunk.
who are you, childP
sMy name is Miriam Way, but
they call me Brownie
q thought so,' responded the
man absently. "You look'like a
Brownie. What sent you here 2
Il come because Pm sorry for
Ned
my Nedg
yes, sir. One of the scholars
said he was nobody but a drunk
ards boy, and he felt so bad
about it he cried, and l found
him hid away by himself. You
see, sir. he had his lesson just
splendid, when the rest all miss
ed; but he didn't care about that
he telt so bad because his father
was a drunkard. And-and-
please sir, wont you sign the
pledgeg
sBut ifI do, l can drink just
the same if Pm a mind to-
yes, sir; but that would be
telling a lie and / don't believe
you'd do that if you was sober
NO, child, l wouldn't. 1 amt
SO far gone as that, if l am a
drunkard. SIT down in that chair
and I'll think about it.
Brownie seated. herself and
watched Mr.. Leighton al his
work, while he seemed wholly
unconscious of her presence. At
length he said, You can read
the pledge. Let's see what you
want me to promise
I've got two. I'll read them
both One was a simple pledge
against the use of intoxicating
drinks; the other included to-
bacco and profane language.
The last is the best; I'll 60
the whole figure or none.' And
again Mr.. Leighton resumed his
work. A few minutes elapsed,
whom he asked, were you afraid
to come in here to night?''
Just a ittle,' answered
Brownie frankly. But you see |
wanted to help Ned
Bring me the last paper you
read.' Under the comprehen-