Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-18

Ben looked confused, and rather red in
the face. "Why, you see," said he, '' the
winter was hard, and poor folks couldn't
get work. | was out for six weeks, and
went on tick, and then the landlord turned
me out of the place, and sold my bed under
me; times is hard, Bill"
$50 it seems" returned Bill, on whose
knee Nelly had climbed - and as to this
little one-thank We, brother, for taking
to her, but she's as light as feather, she
is, and don't look"
Hush, father" whispered Nelly, with
her mouth close to his ear, "hush; Uncle
Ben's been very kind; he always gave me
what he could buy, but if he would only
Not what? " returned Bill, in whisper.
/ "Oh can't tell you, father, now; some
| day I'll tell you. But oh, father, don't be
angry, l wanted to tell you long time
uncle Ben said it was silly. but he didn't,
care-I've joined the Band of Hope"
Band of what?" said Bill; and then he
lovingly stirred her hair with his lips
Join a Band of anything you like, Nell;
but its my opinion if you go on like this.
when l come back next time l shall find
uncle Ben alone, and that you've Joined a
band of angels" and a keen pain shot
through his heart as he looked at the little
thin face and large gray eyes.
Nellys tongue was unloosed, and she
told him of the warm room, and how all
the boys and girls had signed paper to
do without the drink, and of the kind gen
tleman who came to talk to them. ''And
oh, father, continued she 50 in three weeks
we are to have a magic lantern, oranges.
and buns. You'll come won't you?''
} ha ha1
turning aside his face, as if he could not
meet those clear eyes which looked
straight into his; I'm not Band Of Hope
boy; perhaps if were it would be a good
job. Come along, Ben cried he, let's 90
out for a cruise. and get in some stores:
you don't look as ifyou'd had much tea by
the looks of your locker. Wen get in a
supper; and, Nell, my girl, I'll bring you
bun and an orange, so keep up the fire
The two brothers left the room. Nelly
heard them clatter down the stairs and
listened to their footsteps on the pavement
till she could hear them no more; then
she took up the bellows that Ben had
/ dropped, and began quietly to blow up
! the fire, and sing the hymn that Ben had
been teaching her Then as the flame
mounted up and filled the room with its
ruddy glow, the bellows dropped into her
lap, she leaned her head against the chin
ney-piece. Il should like to know Jesus,
thought she. Mr.. Hope said Jesus loves
little children; | wonder whether he loves
me. | should like to know. Perhaps
father could tell, or Mr.. Hope" Her face
grew dark with thought, and she whispered
to herself
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee"
As she whispered the words, happy
feeling came up in her heart. why, Je-
sus brought home father, and took mother
to the beautiful place where she lives in a
gold house, and has plenty to eat, and sees
Jesus; she told me so before she went
Oh, Jesus and she clasped her little
hands. make Nelly good girl, and take
her to the beautiful place
The wind whistled, and the snow fell in
eddies, whirling round and round like dust;
some came through the broken windows,
and made little white heaps on the floor :
some came down the chimney and hissed
in the fire, which sank lower and lower
Poor little Nelly grew colder and colder;
the church clock had struck seven, now
eight, and still Ben and Bill did not re-
turn. At last she got up, put on the rest
the window, unmindful of the cold wind,
looking down into the dusky street. 4
few people muffled up made their way
along; women in their shawls, looking
blue and cold, came in from their work
Wearily passed the minutes, until nine
O'Clock struck, and faint, tired, and hungry
the child turned from the window, and
groped her way across the room. taking
up her little battered straw bonnet.
Two women were gossiping in the door
way, rs Nelly's noiseless step crept down
stairs. "Av, there's Bill Willis, a good
for-nothing fellow, just come home, and
seen that child of his, as thin as a lath,
and he and Ben, instead of bringing home
the supper, if they amt a drinking away at
that Green Dragon Why, bless me.
, 'how you scared me, Nell. What's the
matter? Go up stairs. child, you'll be
t perished with the cold
| Nelly said nothing, but closing her little
| lips resolutely, she stepped ON the pave
ment; her feet sank in the snow, and the
! wind blew her round and round, but she
pressed on, turned first one corner and
then another. till she arrived at an open
door; the floor was clean, the windows
covered with nice red curtains, and the
, air, rs the child shivered in the doorway
was warm, and heavy with the fumes O
, beer and tobacco.
Now, then, Ben, Bills given us :
+ yarn; you give us song-'The Jolly Sail
or" The song echoed through the room
and out into the night. as the chorus wa.
: loudly shouted by the revelers.
There was a silence. "Oh, Jesus,
whispered Nelly, teach me to sing
o Those in the Green Dragon were awe.
,,J bucbaJ bx- childish ,-nico olo,, , -,
, sweet, singing
= " Here suffer grief and pain,
; Here we meet TO part again.
| In Heaven we part no more;
Oh, that will be joyful, joyful, joyful, joyful,
Oh. that viii be joyful,
G When we meet to part 10 more"
e Not word was spoken. As the word
e died away, Bills head sank down as
9 some one had struck him death blow
and when he lifted up his face it was we
S with tears. Mates" stammered he
o that child has made baby of me. In
a brute, and she's an angel Steppin,
n into the passage, he led the shrinking
o child in.
Nelly said he, thou'st saved TIL
: !, father, I'll never touch drop or dram
l. AGAIN." and lifting her up in his arm
l. he turned his back on the /" Green Dragon.
e Ben following behind
e Dear children, my story is Just told
II Bill went with Nelly the next nj ght to tn
Band of Hope meeting. and though. as h
!, said, a big boy he signed the pledg
q amidst great cheering; and the tear
!. = trembled in his eyes, as Mr.. Hope graspe
N his hand, and said, "be man, Will:
9 and trust in God to help YOU
q please the Lord" said the sailor rev
n erently; land please Him, if I'm MAJ
le let alone a Christian-and I hone to he
"a Christian some day-there's the chill
1t who's done it." and he cast a look of dee
love on little Nelly.
Years have passed away Bill ha
IL made many voyages, and now he has lai
he by money enough to stay at home Uncl
le Ben has married Christian woman, an
Molly homes Is leadin1r q Ghr;c4;a,, LIE. L.