Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-22
VOL. 71.-361O. NO. 10.

by fair means or foul, to accept II, and they
were immensely satisfied and delighted.
Totty insisted on hanging up his string Of
many-oolOred beads in the window, TO imi-
tate the effect Of the stained glass OF the
great church window.
at looks pretty when the light comes
through he remarked and Elsie admitted
that they might play they were painted win
dows, with some show OF propriety When
everything had been stuck somewhere, Elsie
swept the floor aud made up fire, and put
on the tea-kette, TO have everything ready
TO strike motncr favorably on her return.
scENRIv.
freezing, bright, cold afternoon. "Cold
as Christmas y say CHEEKY voices, as the
crowds rush to and fro into shops and stores,
and come ont with hands full Of presents.
"Yes, cold as Christmas" saws John
Morely. | should think 10 Cold enough
for fellow that can't get in ANYWHERE
that nobody wants aud nobody helps |
should think So"
John had been trudging all day from
point to point, only to hear the old story
times were hard, work was dull, nobody
wanted him aud he felt morose and surly
out Of humor with himself and everybody
else.
II is true that his misfortunes were from
his own fault but that consideration never
makes man a particle more patient or
od-natured-indeed, it is an additional
bitterness IN his cup. John was an English
man. When he first landed in New York
from the old country, he had been wild and
dissipaied, and given TO drinking. But by
his wife's earnest entreaties he had been
pefsuaded " siga the temperance pledge.
aud had gone on prospcrously keeping IL for
year. lie had good place and good
wages, and all went well with him till in an
evil hour he met some of his former boom
companions, and was induced to have a
social evening with them.
In the first half hour Of that evening were
lost the fruits Of the whole years self-denial
aud self-control. lie was not only drunk
that night, but he went of for a fortnight,
and was drunk night after night, and came
back to find that his master had discharged
him in indignation. John thinks this over
bitterly as he thuds about in the cold and
calls himself fool.
Yet, il the truth must be confessed, John
had not much "sensc of sin, so called. lie
looked on himself as an unfortunate and
rather ill-used man, for had he not tried very
hard TO be good, and gone great while
now, Just for one yielding, he was pitched
out of place, and everybody was turned
against him lie thought this was hard
measure. Didn't everybody hit wrong some
times Didn't rich fellows have their wine,
aud drink little too much now and then
Yet nobody was down on item.
It's only because I'm poor" said John.
"Poor folks sins are never pardoned. There's
my good wife--poor girl - aud Johns heart
felt as if it were breaking, for he was All af-
fectionate creature, aud loved his wife and
babies, and in his deepest consciousness he
knew that he was the one at fault. We have
heard much about the sufferings Of the
wives and children Of men who are overtaken
with drink but what is not so well under
stood is the suffering of the men themselves
in their sober moments, when they feel that
they are becoming a curse TO all that are
dearest to them. Johns very soul was wrung
within him to think of the misery he had
brought on his wife and children-the greater
miseres that might be in store for them.
lie was faint of heart he was tired; he had
eaten nothing for hours, and on ahead he
saw q drinking saloon Why shouldn't he
60 and take one good drink, and then pitch
off ferry-boat into the East River, and SO
end the whole miserable mudde of life al.
together?
Johns steps were turning that way, when
one of the Shining Ones, who had watched
him all day, came nearer. and took his hand.
lie felt no touch but at that moment there
darted into his soul thought of his mother,
long dead, and he stopped irresolute, then
turned TO walk another way. The hand that
was guiding him led him to turn corner,
and his curiosity was excited by a stream Of
people who seemed to be pressing into a
building, A distant sound of singing was
heard as he drew nearer, and soon he found
himself passing with the multitude into
great prayermceting. The music grew more
distinct as he went in. man was singing
in clear, penetrating tones: