The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-23

proposed that Susie go to bed if she di
not keep quiet.
"You mustn't say anything 'cept villa
you're told" said Polly.
At which Susie opened her eyes wide
and said, ''Oh, OIL can't I talk about te
and all that by myself?"
Eyes: but not about anything else,
said Polly, feeling very anxious aboa
their secret.
"Well, said Susie, ''after tea we shal
talk 'bout-nOw, member, I shan't tel
what about"
Mr.. Cosnett burst out laughing, anG
very considerably began talking about
something thas he thought would divert
Susie's eager mind from the secret which
they all wanted to keep little while
longer.
The little ones sat down to the fire
with father while Mrs. Cosnett got the
tea, and meanwhile Arthur was busy in
another room. He had carried the
Bible away unnoticed by the others,
and was there inscribing within the
the cover words that they had decided
upon during the day. When that was
done, Mrs. Cosnett brought beautiful
book-marker that she had worked in her
young days, and put it between the
leaves. Then they left it there, and
went away to tea.
must not dwell upon that happy tea
time. You may imagine all about the
cozy brightness of the room, the chatter
of the children, and their enjoyment of
their fathers teetotal birthday.
As soon as the meal was over and all
.ln SY1oIn roI1 in-,Fy,I1r-
"Now Arthur's got to go and fetch
somefn'."
And, lest the secret should suddenly
burst the bounds of her rosy lips,
Arthur went and fetched the present.
He brought it in with a flushed face,
and placed it on the table in front OF
his father
"There now, dadda," cried Susie /;
we've bought that for you with oar
very own money, and I put sixpence to
it."
"Did you, pussy" said her father,
laughing. Then he opened the beauti-
ful book and read:
"TO DEAR FATHER,
ArthaGr, Polly, Mary, Willie and Susie
CO8nett, in Thankful Remembrance
of His First Temperance
Birthday, Christmas, 1868"
He read the words over more than
once, till at last they locked all blurred
to him, and a bright drop fell just be-
low the inscription.
Children" he said presently, in a
rather unsteady voice, "you are very
good to remember father SO. 1 can't
tell how much good your present has
done me, how great blessing it may
yet be to me and to all of us. Come, [
must kiss you all around for it, not for
getting Susie, who has put the noble
sum of sixpence toward buying dadda
this beautiful book" "
He got up and kissed each of them.
Polly's thin face was glowing with Joy
" You must kiss mother, too" she
said, /" for she put a good bit toward it,
father"
Eyes, I'll kiss mother, too" ne said,
merrily, "though till within the last
year, l must confess, I'd almost forgot
ten how to. There, good lass" he adj
ded, after kissing away tear that was
rolling down her face. "And now let
US just look at two or three familiar old
texts in this book, and then we will all
look at the splendid pictures together"
He turned over the leaves and read,
4" When l said My foot slippeth, Thy
mercy, O Lord, held me up" He
turned the leaves over again and read,
g Look thou not upon the wine when it
is red, when he giveth his color III the
cup, when it moveth itself Alright. At
the last it biteth like a serpent and
like an adder" And, "Wine
is a mOcker, strong drink is raging, and
is deceived thereby is not
WISE" He turned again and read,
9 God is faithful, who will not suffer
you 20 be tempted above that ye are
able but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that We may be
able to bear it" Once more he turned |
the leaves and read, "He that over
the same shall be clothed in
white raimeut and will not blot out !
his mans out of the book of life, but
viii confess his name before my Father
and before His angels" "Be theu
faithful unto death, and will give thee
a crown of life"
John closed the book and said, "Ah, !
where could We find such inspiring
words OF counsel and comfort? They
Jhb Low f5SOi 1bGO NSNCis hSFSI
as long as live shall I forget this, my
first teetotal birthday, and [ do pray
that every Christmas we may yet be
spared to see may find us all more pre-
cious to each other than ever. You
have made this happy Christmas in
deed to me, wife and children, and /
shall see how much I can do henceforth
to make Christmas and all time happy
to you."
Father" said Arthur, presently,
60 there is one text you ought to have
spoken for u just now. think we've
got it quite deep hewn into our hearts,
though"
"What is it, Arthur"
This, father: 1t is more blessed
to give than to receive"
"Ah, that's beautiful text to have
in your hearts and to practice in your
lives, my lad-a text for Christmas and
all times, for you and everybody else.
# the world is to be made bright and
happy as our little world at home here
S TO night"