The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-09-03

George, we have been friends
tor many years. In being good
to each other we have been bad tt
each other-to those around US
Look at that right hand. Fol
years it has held the plow-hai
accumulated. For years it has
squandered all it earned. LooE
at it! For years that hand has
carried poison to my lips. Last
night it crippled my innocent
child. The doctor says she may
live, but will always be a cripple
Look at that hand! Will you with
an Ak cut it off? 1 hate it! We
have been friends. You have en-.
couraged me to drink, to dissipa-
ton. have encouraged you
We have helped to murder each
other. You helped me TO strike
the blow i never would or could
have struck but for drink. If you
are my friend as for years you
have claimed to be. / want you to
put your hand in mine and help
me to be a man. Help me to atone
for that dastardly act. Help me
to be myself again. Help me to
strength, not to weakness, as we
have helped each other in the past.
Help me to redeem myself in the
eyes of the poor child whose suf-
ferings you have seen. Help me
and l will help you. Dare you
can you-will your"
al will"
Under the branches of q low
maple, there in the filling light OF
the morning, two men strnck
hands and promised to be true
friends to the other. To help each
other up rather than down. Two
men walked slowly into the house,
arm in arm. Said one of them:
"Wife, the past is gone. Much
of my manhood has gone with it.
My friend here has promised to
help me bring it back to us again.
You know all. How l have dash
ed against your patience. How 1
have forgotten the promises l
made you-how 1 have wounded
your soul, crippled our child and
made myself different from the
man l hoped to be. Give me your
patience in the future-giye me
your love as l prove worthy of it
forgive me for the cruel words
and the unkind acts toward you
when l was not myself, and we
will see what the morrow may
bring forth as a reward for labor"
Three hours later the mechanic
was on his way to the village. He
went into his house and told his
wife what he had seen-what he
had heard-What he had promis
ed. He turned a new leaf and that
day began life anew. He got
right down to the bed rock. He
began to look out for his own best
interests. Kindly, yet firmly he
refused to drink when his friends
asked him to. To escape tempta-
ton he kept away from his old
hauXts. He went home at night
and remained there. He began to
inquire Of his children what they
knew and how they knew it. He
astOnished them by proposing
games and amusements. They
gathered about him in wonder.
They wanted to tell mother some
thing, and she was gone from the
room. They found her in her bed
room, on her knees thanking God
and the good angels for this dawn
ing of a day of promise.
In a few months the mechanic was
reinstated to his old position as
foreman of the large shop in which
he had at one time SO profitably
worked. His old cronies shook
their heads and said he was soft
was fool. But he kept the prom
Use made that grey morning under
the maple and marched right on to
manhood. New friends came to
him. Old friends who were real
friends, were glad to see him work
ing his way upward and gave him
helping hands. The color came
again to the cheeks of his wife.
He became q partner in the shop
and q sharer in its profits. He
moved from a small house into q
larger one, and furnished it till II
was indeed a home. His family
love him because he is loVable and
affectiOnate. He has kept his
promise and we honor him for it.
Why do we write this bit OF
history? Because of q letter be-
fore US from one we knew when
she was a child-from one we have
felt an interest in for years. A
letter from the daughter of a farm.
er, A letter from q young woman
who is still a cripple, but whose
soul is whole and strong in Its
love and gentleness. A paragraph
of the letter reads as follows:
- "When next
you come West do not tail to visit
as. Papa will be very glad tC
have you make our house your
hone SO long IS you will stay
We see by your paper that yoT
are again in health. Your paper
would tell Us that, il no one elsC
did, Our home is justas pleasant
: IS . home can be. Mother i!
growing old, as is papa, but they
do not seem to notice it. ! WisI
J your wife would come and try my
new piano which is in our "HomC
Corner" Papa bought the farm
that adjoined an old one on thu
south and is to give it to Robert a
q present when he marries, mex
October. Papa is so kind anC
. loving to Us ali that we miss hin
terribly when he goes to Miiwau-
kee on business, and are all 81
, happy when he comes home. En-
closed are q few pressed flower
} from our greenhouse, for you
: baby. Do not fail to visit US o.
we shall all be offended at YOU"
Perhaps We ought not to hav,
written the above, but we coulC
not help it. Others know Of tn,
: facts herein related, but none arr
. happier than are we to know that
: the two men over whose life darl
clouds came as they were called
have for years been the truest anC