Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-04
"Irs Adjoining. Teaclicr!v

And living dying, we're ever With thee
"It's Adjoining, Teachcr!"
was passing through Bow street, Coyent
Garden, London, one Monday morning in the
winter. The snow had fallen thickly dur
ing the night. The sky was clear, but the
wind was very cold and piercing, making
ono feel grateful to God for warm clothing
and good food As | walked quickly along,
my cycs rested on n little girl about nine
ycars old, whom ! recognized as a scholar
from a ragged school whore | had the honor
Of being a Sunday teacher. She was stand
ing by the police court, and anxiously look
ing down the street, as il watching for
something or somebody. | stopped, aud
said 10 the child
"Well, Jessie, dear, whatever are you do
ing here, standing alone in this place, your
little face almost blue with cold You
look shiyerinc and starving, my poor child
why don't yon run alongf 20
" Please, teacher" said Jessie, 81 m
a-watching for the big van what brings 'cm
up here Of morning"
" Brings whom. Jessie p
-" Them prisoners teacher, what's took mp
by the policemen in the streets Of a night
for being drunk or what gets a-hghtiu'
| understood now what she meant.
" But who is it you are expecting 10 see in
the prisoners van. my child No one be-
longing to tou, hope "
"lts mother" answered Jessie, looking
grave and sad.
ooh, dear | am sorry to hear that tell
me, how did your mother get there
"'Taint the first time, Teachers I've seen
her there aforc. Last night when I left
school, was SO happy it was so nice. !
was a-thinkin' of that beautiful story You
read to us out of the Bible of that good man
what loved God and what didn't die, but
God sent 70 fetch him away in a grand car
riage, something like the Lord Mayors, only
the horses were like fire, and the good
prophet was took up all at once to heaven,
without bein' put in them ugly coiins. Oh,
it was nice, teacher. When ! got home, |
ran mp stairs. We lives in the top front at
tic, but the door was locked. knocked ever
so many times. but mother wasn't there. |
knew then she had gone out to get drunk.
| didn't like b make a noise TO let the lodg-
ers know, so | sat up all Of a heap across our
door, thiukiu if ! got to sleep and mother
came homc she would be sure to tumble over
me, and see that was there. Mother amt
uukind, teacher she never hits me- but af-
ter father died she took to drinkiu.' | loves
her, aud prays to Jesus 10 take that wicked
drink away from her.
That's right Jessie am glad you pray
TO Jesus. Tel Him everything Did your
mother come home at last 2"
" No, teacher she didn't. When it got
daylight went out Of the house as quiet as
mouse, and walked about Covent Garden
Market, and picked up bits Of orange peel TO
eat. didn't have no supper last night, and
no breakfast this morning. I'm so hungry
and so cold"
Such was little Jessie's eloquent story
will go across to the ham and beef
shop, and get you something TO eat" | said
10 her. feeling only too happy to be able thus
20 help, in a very small measure, the poor
drunkard's child in her carly sorrows. |
quickly returned with a good sized meat pie
and a loaf Of bread Here, Jessie, here is
a good breakfast for YOU. Can YOU say thank
you to Jesus for it, dear 2"
" Yes, teacher, can, and to you, too" she
answered, while a faint smile crossed her lit
Tie white face.
When she had eaten half the pie and half
the loaf, she carefully rolled up the rest in her
apron. Her eyes were still eagerly watching
IN a certain direction, when she called out
20 me, "'Tis a-comin, teacher, It's a-comin."
She was right. The prisoners van drove
up, and stopped close by where we were
standing. | felt it my duty to stay there
and protect Jessie, whose position seemed so
lonely and so sad. The door Of the van was
opened, and one by one the miserable Of
Tenders came out, and were led inside the
police court TO be examined. The last that
came out was most wretched looking
woman. At her appearance Jessie pushed
through the crowd and cried out, Mother,
mother, look at me am here, your little
girl She was not ashamed thus to claim
this poor, wretched creature as her mother.
Jessie went into the court, and continued
on my way, musiug on the fearful conse-
quences of intemperance. Many of these
poor children become the victims of an early
grave through exposure to cold and hunger,
and from want OF raiment and proper sleep.
Shall not the parents have dreadful ac-
count to render by-and-by, when they shall
meet God?
Four years have passed by. 1t is Sunday
afternoon again in the winter, in the month
of January. The day is fine, and the sun is
peeping out for a little while, Just to cheer
the ward of the infrmary, where many poor
women and children are lying very ILL., In
corner of the room by the window, on a
little hard pallet-for | cannot call it bed
is a young girl. She looks about thirteen
years of age. Her face, though emaciated
is very sweet and pretty. Intelligence and
thoughtfulness are written on her counte-
nance. pass on softly by each bed, giving
a nod and a smile to those who are suffering
and expecting little sympathy from visit
ors The nurse came up to me and said
"Your Jessie is dying, ma'am."
Hush, hush, nurse " answered !; " don't
speak so loud; the child win hear you"
"Nly Jessie" did hear the remark, and
said to me;
"Never mind, teacher; it's all right.
am very, very happy"
my darling, If | had home, | would
take you to it you should not die here"
Come closer to me, teacher dear; my
eyes are getting so dim. | can't see you,
but know your voice so we'll ] know It's
you. | want to tell you something. There
are lots of women in the ward, and they are
very i'll, but they don't love jesus. They
swear, and it frightens me. have talked
to them when could, and told them about
the loving Saviour, who died on the cross
for their sins. | told them that Gods Holy
Spirit had given me new heart, and that
am going home to heaven to be with Jesus,
because all my sins are pardoned, and washed
away in the blood of the Lamb of God.
Dear teacher, don't fret because ] am here
Jesus ndu nONnefe 10 lay lils ueaT Heuu.
You won't leave met"
mo, darling" | said ." | will not"
She seemed to be doing little; but pres
emily she said" 'Tis a-comin', teacher"
My thoughts ran back TO that snowy morn
ing, four years before, when had found
little Jessie shiyering in the cold, watching
for the prisoners van in Bow street. But it
was not the black prison van that met her
eyes now she had far different object TO
gaze upon.
"'Tis a-oomin,' teacher, It's a-cominp"
"What, dear :"
"That beautiful gold carriage, drawn
by the horses of fire. Jesus is a-sendin
for his little Jessie. My Jesus, here am /
lots Of angels--I see-teacher, kiss me- Tell
Polly Bruce my favorite text for keepsake
There - remaineth - thereforc-a rest - to
the people--of God. Jesus-wore a crown
of thorns-and me--a' crown of gold"
She ceased TO speak. | thought she was
sleeping. The daylight had gone away the
ward was dark; but when they had lit the
gas saw that my Jessie's happy spirit had