Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1874-09-30
PORT TOBACCO, MARYLAND, SEPTEMBER 30

sha'n't 60. can't live without you
Who will be hereto take care of me y
1--WE been thinking" said Tom.
gravely, II think great deal lying
here, that when I'm gone, father will be
different You know" and here he
dropped his voice, and looked carefully
around, as if to see lest any one might
be listening, "you know that father
drinks and that's why he comes home
50 late and says he can't afford to send
you to school; and why he is so cross
and why, sometimes, he beats you
Don't speak of it dear" sobbed the
sister. II wouldn't mind, if it wasn't
for you"
oreaRgg oreaRggim my aHGeaPj9d il n1fygzII.iu II.iu spg il
But sometimes | think, when | die
father will be different He says he
loves me, and it may make him good.
you see. What is it the Bible says p
Through much tribulation.' Yes it Is
through much tribuIation, we win the
crown. What was tho verse we learnt
at school? | keep forgetting. The one
about being tired" !"
"Oh! know said Lizzy. Come
unto me all that are weary and heavy
laden, and | will give you rest
Come unto me-" repeated the
brother. ole does not deceive, Lizzy.
He loves you and me, too, and he will
take care of us. lie is going to give
me rest up in heaven"
But the sister was not to be comfortcd
Tom was all the world to her. To lose
him was to lose everything.
The day wore on. Night came. Tom
lay looking at the lilly and no one knows
how very many sweet thoughts it sug-
gested to him Now and then his sis
wanted anything. Iie Always snaiNvu
her with sweet smile
Father is late, tonight" he said, at
last when the darkness came; and he
sighed.
lie will be here SOON" said Lizzy,
uttering words of hope, in which she
hardly believed herself Try to sleep
little, dear"
So Tom at last fell off into doze-
Ten o'clock came, and yet no father
Worn out with fatigue and anxiety,
Lizzy crept into bed by her brother 5
side, and sank to sleep also.
1t was midnight when the father came
in. The noise woke Tom up. He half
rose on his elbow and looked around
At that moment the moon emerged from
cloud, and its light, falling through
the window, lit up the sick boys face
with a glory as of a seraph's.
The father started back, sobered at
once. 1t seemed to him as if a hale
direct from heaven encirculed his boy
H''s' atner, saiu iuiii, come mere
please"
The man went softly to his sons bed
side, sank on his knees, and took the
lad wan hand tendcrly in his own. HC
was awcd.
BE kind to Lizzy," said Tom, wist-
fully, looking into his fathers face
''Shc won't have any but you when !
am dead, father Let her go to schoo
again, please she is so fond ofschool
"0h. my son, my SON." interrupted
the now pcnitent father, bursting into
sobs You will get well yet"
Il shall never get well,' said Tom
But don't cry father, | shall see mother
you know. And by-and-by," and {
strange look came ON his face, look o.
joy and faith inexprcssible, "by-and-by
well all meet again, sha'n't we? Kis,
me, please, and then go to bed, or well
wake sister
The father, choking back his sobs,
kissed the boy. Il promise to be kind
to Lizzy. he whispered. s'she shall g
to school. viii never drink another
drop. As God is my Witness he add
ed solemnly, Il neverwill.'
Tom took his little thin arms from
around his fathers neck, where he hac
put them for the last kiss, and then sanl
back on his pillow very much exhausted
"How sweet the flower looks in til,
moonlight" thought Tom. "What
happy boy I am to have it And t,
have father promise to do better" h,