The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-01

summoned me At last death release
Edward Kueelan. and opened CORES
pondeDre with the iriends who na1 csat
him off, on behalf Of the Two orphan
boys, whose only heritage from their
father was diseased appetite and the
shame that attaches 10 II drunkard's
child. The years have passed, bu, al
ready the eldest is Fastening with rapid
steps tow ards his fathers doom while
the youngest, knowing total abstinence
alone can save him, ia makiDg strenuous
exertious to uprooi the seeds implanted
at birth.
This, Charlie" continued Uncle Rob.
ert, unfolding u slip Of paper from which
he reverentially took long lock ol hair.
"is gray enough 10 have been cni from
the head Of n woman Of seventy but she
was only thirty. Ellen, my only sisters
hair" And tremulous dngers tcnderly
stroked the white lock She married
at twenty young man of fair prospects,
a rising lawyer of no bad habits. To be
sure. he occasionally INDUCED 10 a glass
Of wine, but so did nearly everyone else.
Elen's husband had no inherited tenden.
cies that way, and there were no special
causes that led to mis- ruin. Gradually
he fell-so gradually that we noticed the
detected, worn look on Ellen's face
months before we knew the cause. Friends
begged her to leave him, but she reso.
lutely refused, saying that the marriage
vow was for better or for worse. The
worst had come. but, God helping her,
she should keep the wilc's place by his
side while life lasted. la ten years
time he died Of delirium tremeps and in
one short week the faithful wife who had
borne SO much, yielded her life. One
more. Charlie. and | am doas."
This time Uncle Robert handed Char.
lie an exquisite painting cn ivory, the
face of young girl, rarely beautiful in
feature, but with an expression Of the
saddest A curl Of rnjdy brown hair
lay beside it.
This is the portrait Of Alice Fame, at
whose feet laid my boyish heart. She
was some five years my junior. | finish.
ed my college career when but twenty.
one, aud then pleaded for an engagement.
but to that her father-her mother was
not living-refnsed to consent for at
least two years. Seeing the propriety of
his objections, and with all the hopeful.
ness natural to youth, expecting that
period soon to draw to close, spent
the time travelling When, at the expi.
ration of the two years | returned to my
home. it was to find sad change. It
was low Alice who refused my snit. Mr..
Fame had always been moderate drink
er, but some embsrrassments 10 business,
superinduced by an unfortunate specula.
tion, occurred almost Immediately after
| left home. and he then began to take a
little more and more to drown sorrow
as this reverse was followed by another
until tho daily potations had heccmc so
deep that he was recognized as a common
drunkard that is hard word, Charlie.
Alice's little sister, child OF only eight
years. was condemned to snffer, as the
price of one of his drunken orgies, from
spinal complaint, the result Of heavy
blows he had inflicted. To these two
Alice devoted her life refusing my love.
At my earnest request she had this pic.
ture painted. For five years longer iha
father lived, until he had drunk up every
cent Of his large property, and had not
a small sum hecn left the children at their
mothers death. they would have been
penniless Then again sought Alce's
side, urging her to become my wife ; but,
with love looking from her eyes and
trembling in her voice, she refused. say
ing she could not properly perform the
double duties OF nurse aud wife. Both
Bessie and myself would be- neglected
Though her heart was linked to mine
her life could not be. Bessie is still a
patient sufferer and Alice Al unweared
nurse. II unseen coronets eser CLEAN on
woman's brow, Alice's must be resplSnd
ent."
Uncle Roberts husky voice failed, and
he bowed bis head oD his hands, while
great tear drops trickled through his in
terlaced fingers.
Charlie Selwyn's voice broke the ST
lence, saying, "Uncle Robert, give INT
the pledge. | will sign, and with God'i
help. keep it."
"Bless you, my boy, bless YOU :" AnC
dropping on his knees, from Unclc Rob
ert's lips welIed up to the great whit,
throne heartfelt prayer Of thankfulness
National Temperance Adrocate.