The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-04
1Concluded from First Page. !

Ana these having departed, JOnu spent
the rest of the night in making good resell
ulions, in snatches of ftful sleep, in think
ing of His previous career, his present
weakness, of his gloomy future, with an
occasional prayer, go God, if there be a
God, help poor wretch like me- to which
the answer seemed TO come, with unvarying
monotony, "Ilelp yourself {; suffer and be
helped"
When morning came, however, John
Thompson was a changed man-changed
in that he recognized something of the diff
ficulty and hardness Of his position-ln that
his heart had been touched-iu that he was
resolved to endure something for something
to be gained. He made no observations
about reform to his wife merely said be
would try and get her some money soon
but she noticed, with queer surprise, that
he betrayed singular curiosity about
household affairs, seemed anxious about
the coal, the rent, and a variety of things
which had troubled John Thompson very
little for some years past. lie also inquir-
ed about the precise date of her birth day,
which struck her as a most singular pro-
ceeding. He found that this event was
about three months distant. Going to his
work that morning. John soliloquized
"That is where have always made my
mstake-in not being able to bear, in not
counting the cost of reform, in thinking TO
get up without pain, in wanting something
for nothing. Fool that | was Now, il it
tears my vitals out, will conquer !"
Notwithstanding the valiant boast, how
ever, John went to a physician that day,
and inquired of him whether there was
anything that would destroy the appetite
for drink. But the sum of this gentleman's
remarks was this "You must cultivate
and develop the will power it will grow
if you stimulate it 1t will in time balance
the Objectionable tendency, and if you per
severe you will conquer but it will cost
you effort-pain."
Gust what the Old Year said" thought
John "the same old story well, let the
pangs come-the sharper the better,
Oh, when man makes up his mind to
this, the battle is more than half won.
John resolved to tell no one, as yet, of
his new resolution but, on his wife's next
birthday, in three months time, if he had
kept the faith, he would tell her, and great
would be her Joy. In the meantime he
would SO arrange appearances that she
should not more than suspect and hope that
new and brighter days had come.
We will not bore the reader with the de-
tails OF Mr.. John Thompson's struggle-his
solitary struggle, his bitter struggle-for
him it was a silent, bloody sweat. Having
started with the idea that the "job" he was
about to do would be costly, he was not
disappointed. For two whole nights he
slept not a wink and only by brief snatches
for week his nerves became unstrung
he feared he would drop in n fit his hands
trembled, and his work was imperfectly
done, insomuch that his employers repri-
manded him severely, solemnly warning
him that his drunken habits had all but
completed him ruin, never dreaming that
his peculiar demeanor and confusion and
tremor were the results of bitter internal
struggle. At the end of some three weeks
John Thompson, as he was going home one
night, stood suddenly still stamped his feet
upon the sidewalk, and exclaimed aloud, in
blank establishment "Three weeks gone,
and not drop The Winter King was
right it was all matter of pluck-of the
bearing of pain"
From that moment John felt that the
matter rested with him; that he could con
quer the monster. But though he felt that
the center of his enemy was broken and his
TANKS enveloped, still he ceased not &c
pound HIM with the heavy guns of renew.
ed resolution, until rally should be impos
sble.
Ills utINt5 bOUu DtShl W ECCONCI
their reactionary prostration, and he begar
to look forward to his wife's next birthday
and to prepare for her little, or rather /
great surprise. To some extent she was
indeed, already surprised. She had no
ticed, with strange, trembling joy, that MOI
only did her husbands breath not betray
the everlasting rum, but that he grew kind
or every day. But, really, we must cut
this story short.
On the thirty-frst anniversary of Mrs
Thompson's birthday. John proceeded Il
the savings bank and drew therefrom the
sum of seventy-five dollars which he saved
in the three months of his sobrlety. With
the money he went to the various stores
and made sundry purchases in accordance
with list which he had carefully prepar
ed, of articles which were needed IN the
house: There was little of almost every
thing-crockery, tIn-ware, half dozer
knives and forks, a black alapaca dresi
pattern, clock, some cotton cloth, ant
four pairs of Juvenile shoes-making hi
purchases with great quietness and method
and with these all in an express wagon HI
drove to his house. And when these thing
were carried in, and the eXpressman hat
departed, he SAID to his amazed wife:
MARY, this is your birthday, and thes
are some things you need"
John" she cried, 'dear John, what doe
this all mean ?"
at means,' said John, "that things ar
changed"
'And you don't drink any more ~
''Dont drink any MORE" said John, will
solemn echo.
Don't drink any more,' piped the chill
dren, as Mrs. Thompson quietly "gav
way" to her feelings, resting in a dramati
attitude upon the bosom of John.
But ecstasy is, in It's very nature, tran
silent a family 'sccne," even the mos
emotional, can't last much over half al
hour, and at the end of that period Joh
and his family were prosaic enough. Blu
they were laxative and happy.
"Why didn't tell you of my resolution?
said John "because l feared could no
keep it. l only did keep it because l count
ed the cost closely and resolved to pay it t
the last iota."
Let US hurry to the last scene.
1t was New Years night again. job
had kept the faith friends had gsthere
around him his resolution was buttresse
with supplementary aids. His bushes
had prospered his wife began to lool
young the feet of his children were warm
ly clad, and John was deputy gram
something in a temperance organization
and had spoken with considerable ablit
aud great earnestness at several Temperance
meetings, always, however, laying grea
stress upon the need of courage in com
mencing the work of moral reconstruction
he never said it was easy. He is becomn
useful man and there is savings ban
and life insurance policy in his burea
drawer. His children are able now to at
tend the Sabbath school regularly. John
own name is on the books of the churc
of which his wife has long been member
he is usually quite orthodox in his belief
but troubled sometimes with doubts an
difficulties, so that he might at times b
characterized as Msnnechean gnostiC
touched with medieval Pelagianism, wit
q Iaah Of the A rian harnsx hut he read