Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-06
A TEMPERANCE STORY.
BY MRS. p. l.. HOPKINS.

GCoScLUDED FROM wEEKl
Three years had passed since the opening
of our story, when Mr. Matthews said, one
morning, as he slipped his smoking coffee and
noticed that his wiie's remained untasted.-
Bertha, have business at two of the sea-
port towns, this summer, and l propose to
take you and the children with me if you
would like to 60"
THAT would be so pleasant l have been
wishing for just that but supposed it would
be impractlcable for you to leave" replied
Mrs Matthews.
'"Are all of us going, papa? little Day,
and Johnny, and me?" put in Gracic.
YES" answered Mr. Matthews; land we
must have Martha, and cook, for we're going
to have some tent fixings, SO to keep house
some of the time; and we must stow away
big Tom somewhere, for we can hardly do
anything without him."
"When do you think of starting, Harry"
"ln about two weeks replied Mr. Mat
thews.
Very busy were hands and thoughts, in
this preparation-for so long and unusual an
absence from the little home. So busy and
occupied had Mrs Matthews been that sad
der thoughts had been crowded out, and her
husband remarked to her on the eve before
their departure:
Bertha, if the imaginary visit to the sea-
side can work such wonders with you, 1
don't know what the realization of it will
dom
Mrs Matthews answered aloud that, "the
thought of Il change for while seems very
pleasant" But within she said,
"Once could not have thought of leaving
home for so long time, but now l can go
without sigh. Perhaps the soft murmur
of the waves will quiet this deep unrest; or
the fresh sea breeze give me strength to bear
it."
They first located at the city of -, a
town not very inviting or interesting except
for its beautiful sea shore. This was enough
for Mrs Matthews; and she thought. on her
first visit to the shore, that she should never
tire of watching and listening to the low
communings of the changeful waves. She
spent much of her time in this way, seated
on some shelving rock hidden from view,
while her children were chasing the fairies,
or gathering their baskets Of shells, under
the care of Big Tom and Martha. But, after
while, Mrs Matthews detected in the muf-
fled voice of the waves that oft-repeated
question, "Was it wrong?" and, one night,
when fearful storm broke over the sea, she
seemed to hear, above all of the hoarse, jar
ring sounds of the storm, the clamorous
question reiterated, "Was it wrong? Was il
wrong?n
Mr. Matthews found his wife, one day, ear
nestly watching the waves, and so lost tC
everything around her that he felt quite
alarmed. lie took her hand and invited hei
to walk. saying,
Bertha, you do not seem TO pick up very
fast herei We will try our other resort to
morrow, That is much larger, and NOR
lively town; besides, it has many places o
interest to visit"
Mrs Matthews was not rs we'll please'
with her new stopping place Mt -, TO
the town was further inland, and she coulI
not get to the shore rs often rs she woul,
have liked Her husband had noticed, witt
fearful apprehensions, the strange fascina
ton the weird waves had over her, and trie
in vain to direct her attention to other inter
esting parts of the town; but her thought
seemed further and further away as she CAV
herself up to dark forebodings, which sh
neither stopped to weigh, nor had she tn
power any longer to control However, sh
was not left quite to fall. There came da
when little Oracle came running to her Il
great excitement, and said, rs she droppe
the basket of shells on the ground befor,
her mamma
Mamma, do come with me l have foun
the best gentleman, and handsome, too
Though at first he held me so tightly that
was almost afraid; but he said he did nc
mean to. so forgave him. And he wante
to see my mamma
"Gracie, dear, you may 60 and ask tn
gentleman to come here (if l must Sc
him)."
Oracle soon came back, leading by th
hand gentleman of fine appearance, an
well dressed, Mrs Matthews raised he
eyes reluctantly, then, with bound, was b
his side, but unable to utter but one word {
the JOY that overwhelmed her.
"Brotherl"
"Sisterw and they were folded In eac