Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-10
A Little Child Shall Lead Them.


seal on everything. The mothers greeting
was with tears aud sorrows, though the true
mother-heart stirred with love as she held
her only baby-girl in her embrace. The
sturdy boys who had preceded the tiny mai
den, had been greeted with love, but as they
grew older the evil associations about them
far ontweighed the feeble mothers intlu-
ence and indeed the current had proved
too strong for her, and she had almost for
gotten the good principles of early days and
quite laid aside the tidy ways with which at
first she had made her home attractive.
Her husband. never firm in principle had
Welded. step by step, to the influence of his
companions. tin the saloon knew his presence
oftener than his home. An old story 80
sadly old that we see and hear it daily with
only feeling of restless impatience at its
rendition: forgetting that for those who
live il. il is fraupht with sorrow ever new
with pain at which the listener can only
Guess. The bows as they grew older followed
in their fathers footsteps with dangerous
haste, while the POOR. feeble mother be-
walled her lot in helpless fretfulness, and
the scanty comforts of the home grew more
seanty wear by year.
The Oldest son, a lad of seventeen, seemed
RAPIDLY making hopeless shipwreck of his
life Sometimes for days and weeks he was
absent, no one knew where then, as il with
some desperate reaching after better life, he
would work steadily for few days, only to
be swept away again by the tide Of evil in
Auences around him. There was good in
him-Aasbes of generosity, a kindly spirit
toward the weak aud helpless hours of re-
morse. when some patient heart that had
learned Christ might have gained a soul /;
IL
fainter. and the priceless, human soul, be-
canse no eve pitied and no hand saved.
drifted down the broad way, for there, at
least there was no lack of helpers. Such
was the home on which the innocent baby
ewes opened.
Months nassed. The little creature grew
fairer every dav. The large. blue ewes had
a denth Of nathos in them. and seemed to
anndal 10 all that was pure and true in every
heart Her hair. soft and curling, framed
"a fair and sweet face ne any little lady
in the land. robed in fine linen and dainty
/ laces. ever had. The mother, watching the
little one daily. poured upon her a wealth of
| love that one would have wondered to find
| in so worn A heart.
! Graduailv for habv's sake. ihe house grew
hripbter. the sunshine found wav through
the low window. because once when a stray
beam crent in. the little hands were stretched
eagerly towards it. by slow degrees the un
tidy room was put into sembance OF order
and the mothers tones grew softer, for when
her voice was sharp and fretful the lttl'
mouth grieved, and the soft eyes had fright
ened look. But in sunshine and smiles the
fair little face was bright with content
Time wore away until half year OF her lii'
was spent.
The older brother hurried faster and taste
on the way to ruin, lie had visited hi
home but once IN the hall year, and then iol
a hasty hour. AT last he stood once more
upon the threshold. 1t was pitiful to see
in one so young, such marks OF dissipation
and so haggard face. The morning wa'
one Of those rare June mornings which brint
some brightness to every place, and the room
was full Of sunshine. 1t was without occu
pants, except near the sunniest window, th'
old, worn cradle stood, and prompted mor'
by curiosity than any warmer feeling, h
bent over it. There lay the little chil'
asleep, so fair, so innocent so in contras