Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-06-09

Maggie received il in the spirit in which
it was given. and without a thought O
The sign attached to knives in general
But the moment Mrs. Fulsom saw il an,
knew from whence it came she considered
it her duty 10 ''riSo in rebellion" against
Maggie'S accepting any such gilt. Bul
Maggie was possessed Of good sharc o
grit" and dsbelieving in signs and
SuperStitions she answered her mother.
arguments rs you have seen at the com.
mcncement OF the story. consequently
she was a good deal chaglinod at the little
accident which she plainly s.w afforded
her mother good deal Of satisfaction
proving as she thought, the theory which
she so firmly believed.
DO not wish to teach lesson oil re-
JCllioH or diso6cdjence to any ep,dauSh
ter, but truth compols me to stale that
while Maggie was turning that penkniie
Noyer in her fingers she was thinking OF
her mothers pyophcsy that "no good
would ever come Of such hca,hcnish
present" and racking her brain Tor some
method of making this same present an
instrument ol good in some ,edy or to
some body.
Now | must own that being q very
ordinary human being, Maggie was doing
a! of this thinking more rom desire 10
prove the falseness and ioolishncss OF the
ideas which her mother advanced. than
from any particular desire 10 be good,
though as our story advances you will
Iiud that she possessed The qualifications
Of a good aud true woman; when the
little siyCr plate on Que side OF the handle
caught her eve it brought tie idea she
wanted into her head. and jumping up,
she cxciaimcd,-
That's the idea, exactly. I'll do it,
and stick to il, too"
y few moments Of thought brought an
entire chrnEc over tho feelings of this
Young girl, and the smile died out. while
q look OF sadness took its place
Sic was thinking OF the lover whose
silt va, now hing idly in her lap. Clin.
ton Parker was IN some respects a re.
mlrbabiy zinc fcl.ow,-honorable, gen
crous 20 - fault, Intelligent, sympathetic
and warm hearted. his only failing seemed
TO be IN inability 10 say No" He was
impulsiye and so easily influenced that he
often committed acts ,ha, he would have
sacrificed much to have recalled; and i,
was the thought of this trait in his charac
ter which brought the shadow to Maggic's
brow.
Clinton Was as easily Influenced for
good as for evil. and when his high sense
of honor prompted him to tell his betrolh.
ed OF his shortcomings, The good influence
which she cxcrlcd over him did much TO
counicrb,lancc the bad which persuaded
him to DO that which his better nature
told him was wrong.
How many young men have found this
weakness to be the curse of their lives. !
From M inability 10 say "No" they drink
the first glass" when A word of two
letters firmly uttered and as firmly adhered /
to would have saved them. and those near
and dear 10 them life time of poverty
and wretchedness. 4 Vh2lc lifetime /
Think of it young men, and buckle firmly |
on as ycur safest armor this little word |
waich is so "big with meaning"
OF late, this zone failing" to which |
Maggie was giving such sad thought, had |
seemed 10 gain ground. Instead of
Yielding once in great while to tcmpta
tious-as during the first few months OF
their engasemcnt-hardly u visit passed |
but what he had something to confess
Something which. once irrevocably pass
ed, ho was very sorry for, and determined |
should never happen again. Things not
criminal in themselves. but which, being
violation of some resolution or promise
to Maggie appeared very much in that
light when regarded from an honorable
mans standpoint.
Oue of the greatest, in fact The greatest |
OF these misdemeanors. was the occasion.
al glass Though never drunkard, Gin.
ton had been accustomed before his &C.
qnaintance with Maggie, TO drink with a
friend whenever opportunity or inclina
iion invited. But since his engagement.
and for 4 long time before it, the influence
which Maggie exertcd over him had
restrained him very much, and she firmly
hoped that the practice which was such q
terror to her. was entirely given up
But of late he had confessed to her that
he had once or twice been induced in
moment of weakness. TO forget his prom.
ise, and join with some old ohums in q
social glass down town.
Maggie was sorely troubled by This
defect in his character, but when every.
thing else seemed to point 10 success and
happiness in the future, she could not give
mp ill she hld proved to be useless tn
earnest cll,r; which she had always made
TO help Clinton overcome this weakness
How 20 do this best and most elTectualIy
had engroscd her thoughts as she twirled
the little knife. and the idea of having
engraved upon the silver plate in The
handle letters which should be typical OF