Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-22

HOuSenOlu WOTk DIS mtSut ueSt oouCiioutO
to keep our poor wreck of home together
as long as possible. l had learned to write
a fair hand, and was engaged in copying
some papers for a lawyer of our town. 1t
was nearly ten o'clock. My poor mother
put on her spectacles, and opening the
Bible, began to read. Rachel aud L sat
by the fire, listening to the words of truth
and soberness, My poor mother had fallen
upon portion of Scripture, which, from
its applicability to her own situation and
that of her children, had affected her feel
ings, and the tears were in her eyes, when
the loud tramp upon the doorstep an
nounced the return Of my father. His
whole appearance was as usual omlnous OF
evil. Ny mother stirred the fire, and [
placed him chair, which he kicked over,
and threw himself down upon the bed, and
called for supper. Mother told him, in
gentle manner, that there was nothing in
the house but some bread. He told her
she lied; and swore terribly. She sat
silently by the ire-l looked up in her
face she wept, but said nothing,
Don't cry so, dear mother" said Ra-
chel. Wife," said my father sitting on
the edge OF the bed, when will you leave
off crying?" Whenever you leave off
drinking, husband" replied my mother, in
the kindest manner.
My father sprang up in hurricane of
wrath, and with dreadful oath, hurled a
chair at my mothers head. l sprang for
ward, and received its full force upon my
shoulder. Rachel and my mother fed to
a neighbor's house and my father struck
me several blows with his feet and fist :
and as | made my escape, left him dash
ing the furniture to pieces with the fury
of mailman l rushed forth to seek shell
ter amid the driving storm from the tenn
pest of a drunken fathers wrath. | went
as speedily as possible to the house Of a
friend, and begged him to take compassion
on my poor mother and sister. Having
received his promise that he would 60 in
stantly over to our cottage, | took the res
olutlon which [ have already stated.
After | had passed a comtortless night
in farmer S barn, pushed forward to the
city. | had little change in my pocket
[ bought biscuit of travelling baker
and | had no relish for any other than the
beverage Of Gods appointment, which was
near at hand. When | reached the city
[ directed my course to one Of the wharts
and succeeded in obtaining a voyage IN a
ship bound to China.
1 worked hard and strove to please tee
captain. soon found that plowing the
. ( 4 J;4arao+ 20, 81 bo 10 ri
Happily, had been taught by my dear
mother, and my poor unhappy father also
till he became incorporate, to put the full
est confidence in the promises Of God
When we arrived at China the ship wa:
sold. The captain kindly got me a yoy
age to England, | laid out my wages By
his advice, | could not have followed
better and kinder counselor We had ,
most boisterous voyage to Liverpool; bu
whenever pulled rope, always pulled
a little harder for the sake Of my pool
mother and sister Rachel | had savet
nearly every penny Of my wages, and my
little investment in Canton turned out fal
beyond my expectations. l do not thinI
[ was avarioious but [ felt il to be my
duty to save my earnings for my honoreC
mother. Nevertheless, felt myself au
thorized to indulge in one luxury at least
so upon my arrival at Liverpool, wen
into the first bookshop | could find, an(
bought myself pocket Bible.
Five years had now gone by in which
had sailed many thousands Of miles anc
visited various parts of the world. Dur
ing this period, | had 90 together large
sum OF money than | had ever expected
to possess at twenty-one: besides havin!
made several remittances for my mother
use, to whom | wrote upon every conven
lent opportunity. They all came to hand
as | afterwards learned, saving one, il
gold, which went to the bottom with poo
Tom Johnson, who was lost at sea. Il
was fortunate enough to save my har,
earnings, Just let me say, for the advan
tage OF every brother sailor, that there ar
tour things | never did never suffered
drop Of grog to 90 down my matches
blow high or blow low | never rolled
sinking weed, like sweet morsel, under
my tongue never crossed hands with
drunken landlord; and | never bore away
from poor fellow whose hammock wa
harder than my own.
My five years absence from home nigh
have extended to fifty, but for many rec
elections of my mother and sister, whct
became more forcibe from day to day
My remembrance Of my father was o.
the most painful character which otter
brought tears into my eyes, and served
only to render the image Of cruel an
degraded parent more frightfu and re
voting
+ | had shipped about this time on boar(
the Swiftsure, from London to Oporto
Ooe afternoon, two or three Of us, a day
or two before the ship sailed, had strollet
over to the south side of the Thames, tc
look at the dockyards at Deptford. A
was rambling among the docks WHOM
est fellow as ever wore tarpaulin He
was born in our village.
why, Bob" said he, I'm heartily
glad to see you, my lad; so you've takeI
leg bail of the old folks, and turned rover
in good earnest, ?" told him, | hopeC
he didn't think I'd left my poor mother tc
shirk for herself in her old age.
Not jot,' replied the old sailor
" Neighbor Seeley told me tie whole story
and said he had put the sweat of you
brow more than once or twice either, int,
the old lady's hand, and made her ole
weather-beaten heart leap for JOY to hea
you was so thoughtful a lad [ saw you
mother about year ago, and your sistel
Rachel"
[ shook old Tom johnson by the hand
I oo,,ld not roctrain mn Eonlinor fnr