The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-09
letter from STcMinnVtiIe.


MCMINNvILLE, Tenn, Dec. q.
To the Editors oftke Herald and Mail:
During the absence of your correspon-
dent "OrlOla," [ have agreed to send
you communication. It being near
the close of the year, have it in mind
to tell you true story.
1t was the last night in the year. We
first introduce you to the inmates % an
old attic chamber of an old dilapidated
house of a large city. A pale, weary
woman sits bv a dim taper sewing.
Near by, on low stool, is a bright,
handsome boy ofsOme sixteen summers
Looking up, he beheld the tears in his
mothers eyes. "Please. mamma. don't
cry! III say my prayer. and ask God to
bring papa back and make him good
again" Accordingly he knel;. and his
childish simplicity thanked the Giver
of all good for the comforts and bless
ings of life.
What gratitude of heart! when earth's
blessings were so few, an infant could
almost have told them overl What VEN
Grafton in one whom pleasure had
thought so little OF, he never stopped to
de"oy. An incense of holy prayer rose
up there in that dim, obscure place, such
as seldom flOated along the dome,
through the long aisles when the peal
ing organ, and other external methods
of worship, constitute the chief service
ofthe soul.
With good night kiss to mamma the
little one nestles down on his humble
bfi to sleep. He is soon wrapt in the
bright visions which childhood ONLY
knows AS he dreams. CANCELS minis
ter unto him"-leave the impress of a
New Years kiss upon his lips, and fill
his brain with thoughts of blessings rich
and rare. This is happiness unknown
to those, who, fondled in the lap of lux~
ury. are weary and heart-Sick ere the
clock has struck the hour, ushering in
the first round of pleasures for the glad
New Year.
Overcome by bodily exertion, her
heart bleeding from every pore, and her
brain on fire with anxiety and taxation,
to meet the daily wants, the mother let
her sewing fall neglected upon her lap.
All was quiet. No sounds stole up from
the sleeping city. The boarse wind
sighed dismally, as it penetrated every
crevice OF the rnde dwelling, portentous
OF what the winter was yet to he She
walked to the window and gazed sadly
through, where the panes were not COW
cred with the beautiful tracery of frost.
The moon beamed brightly, revealing
the sPlendor OF domes and palatial man
siOns, covered with the pure, unsullied
snow, now resplendent with Jewels of
ASO anu iiOSt "OIhs Vi
own weary lite was all that, cold, desc
ate appear ance of surrounding nature:
The proud bird seeks its sunny home
When summer flowers are gone;
SO, adversely her wealth dethrOned,
And She was left in misery alone.
She sank down upon a seat-leaned her
aching brow upon the window-sill, and
soon all care was forgotten. She was
enshrOuded in that mystic vail which
weaves such strange spells-making the
old yOung-the beggar lord-the sad
happy.
Meantime her husband entered the
chamber from a midnight debauch.
Though with bloodshot eye, unsteady
step, and bloated countenance, YOU
could trace the stamp of higb-born in
tellect upon his manly brow. He had
been endeavOring to regain his fortune
at the gaming table-instead of gaining
he had lost his last stake. In a tit of
desperation, he had come to take the |
only remaining cherished reIics-the |
family portraits. AS he placed them to- !
gether, the light fell full upon that of |
his wife. His gaze was riveted up
on it, so lovely did it seem. AS be !
brushed the dust from it, those |
ruby lips seemed moving to chde him |
for such a sacrilegiOus deed. He stands |
gazing at the lovely image in a dreams |
AAAAN SUI EyA'
Memory's casket is now opened, and |
brightly glow the scenes of his by>gone |
days, brighter and brighter growing, |
like sunbeam the mist Of |
vecissitude and despair. Again he is |
inkeling with a lovely maiden at the |
altar, listening to the holy marriage
pledge of love binding true
hearts firmly together. Then comes re-
OF those holcyOn days, and |
hn FL tnLypnjnCy nf a 6arLnnin,r al
Emotion crowds upon emotion. Goa
science stings with bitter remorse at
thoughts of his reckless course. The
past and future are 50 gloomy, he is
cOgniZant of the present. Re-
pentant at heart, he sank down upon
his knees and again vowed to abstain
rom the poisonous bowl. But would
ne keep that VOW? Yes in his heart
here had come total change. He
would be safe forever from that cursed
9vil. His own short prayer, with that
If his little child had been answered.
He passed over to where his wife was
sitting. She too, was reveling in fancy's
golden misunderstanding of prOsperity's
sunny days, when she knew no want or
;are. The husband gazing upon that
placid, sad, yet still beautiful face, felt
gain his old, idolatrOus love reminding
Ind, with his former alteration, press
I'd passionate kiss upon her lips. Her |
beautiful vision was broken! She
woke! Consciousness of the cold, desc
ate reality forced itself upon her. As
onished at finding her husband there,
ooking so calm and self possessed, her
'ewildered gaze was turned more fully
Upon him. But, ere she could speak,
le again repeated the vows she had so
ften heard. Should she listen? For
lad he not made such hundred times
,efore, and as often broken them? But.
here was that in his face which assured
er he would never again break his no. !
lie resolve. !
Years glide by on wings of gladness-
We behold again the same family group.
fortune smiles! and Plenty pOurs pro-
nsely from her horn all earth's needful
blessings. Fervept love and pure affec>
ion spread sweetness over AL. Though =
he close OF each successive year finds
hem still prosperous, none eUer finds
hem more happy than that last night
the gear. which brought such sweet
to estraDged hearts, and =
'itnessed the firm resolutions made, I
eVeT again to be broken.