Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-03-06

anu on Tue uoOt Was cNilIlon rU>0-
hght-the only thing approaching light
and warmth in the house, was a lit
tie sober that night. aud l saw in Mary's
eyes hope that turn for the better
had come. That look touched NE.
answered her thoughts. Ne. Mary /
said. Il am not better man YOU don't
see me sober by choice. have got my
discharge, and they have stopped my
money and my credit Mary satqsiet-
ly for moment, as if thinking then.
stealing up to my side and looking at
me from under her eyelashes. she said
softly. But surely your friends-thOse
who have drunk 50 much with You. a.
your expense, Dayey-they will help
you little could see her meaning.
sir. and understood the tone. She knew
then, and | have learned since, the val
ue Of such friends a pOthOuse friend,
sir. is like leaeh-it's all take and no
give with him. l didn't like to answer
her at frst-I felt ashamed, and as she
had left the stool | sat down upon it
and leaned my elbows upon my knees.
Mary kneeled quietly beside me and put
her face upon my shoulder l was still
. young man. and We hadn't lived long
enough to forget the love We once bore
each other, and somehow | felt revi-
val Of the love such as | bore her when
We were married; but | felt ashamed to
own it. l had been such a pitiful das-
tard. and had treated her so brutally,
that l could not say, as l did Of old.
Mary. my darling, or anything of the
sort; and 50 l only said. Why talk to
me Of friends, Mary ? haven't friend
in the world You have one earthly
friend she said (then felt her claSped
hands around my arm and that's me,
Davey. if you'll only let me be one; let
all that is past be buried. and let Us be-
gin by Gods help new life Itean't
be done l said; L an broken and ru-
ined man Everybody knows the wretch
have been-the children call me
Drunken David and where is the friend
that viii help me? The Great Friend
Of all will be your friend replied my
wife. There is no need to 90 far to
seek Him Ask help and strength from
His bounteous hand, and see if He will
not lift you up will He give help to
ne ? l said-.a drunkard and bias
phemer and sinner of the deepest dye 2
We are all sinners said Mary; but
drink made you blasphemer; 1 never
heard foul word from your lips, Da-
yey, until you got into bad ways Give
up one, and the other will fee away
Oh. Dayey, don't pause or think don't
say l an this or l am that. don't put
OF the hour Of repentance The preeiOu:
moments are flying by, and an Opportu
nifty Of salvation. once lost may never b
, regained- Oh. kneel with me here, Da
yeY. and ask for pardon and strength
: Her words ran through me like liquid
fire." said David, looking at his atten
tive listener with fearful eyes: land
: drawn away by them to better things
} together We knelt upon the bare boards
: and in the dim light, with the rain pat
. tering and the wind bowling outside. "
r asked for . better day and the sunshin
Of Gods love aud help. Oh. how I sob
. bed. how l mourned over the past. Ho'
: bitterly be~ailed the shameful year
f L had spent But this was followed b
[ the inward assurance of grace and hel
q from above: and when the stormy nigh
had passed away, and the sun rose u
; with its food of golden light, it foun
Us locked in each others arms and weeE
|. ing-but the tears We shed were tear
). of joy"
: do you mean that in one night 70
: changed from a drunkard to a sobel
o temperate man?''
r Il mean to say this. sir. said David
J, ''that change is change. and turr
E ing is a turning. If am looking hert
4 | must turn completely round TO loo
the other way It's no use just screwin
j. the head to catch peep Of what's b
hind me; that would be only half dOin
4 a thing. And 50 it is in the matter {
t drink. If a man wishes to reform /
d must give it up entirely. It's no use b
:. saying. IN have pint less to-day an
o a pint less tomorrow, and do It by d.
e grees: , for it will all end in the sam'
r. and when 1t comes to the deed he tc0as
/ do It Some such thoughts came int
: ny mind that night. and there the
. have remained ever since. resolve
It to touch it no more. and knowing u
+? veakness-for [ an a man, and man
? weak at the best asked for strengt
a from Him who Is able and willing
= give it and having signed the pledg
= from that time have had help and So
le port through many trial and troubl
re The turning was done in moment b
sr the trial was not over. Many tempt
a. ton to look back came upon me i; bat
y was helped and guided through all. su
"a taiDed when / was laughed and jeer.
at By my companions Of old. help,
ID when sought work hither and thithe