Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-10-12

ant story, II might be of j Oseph or David,
or of some good child who afterward be-
came great man, and then she would
part Wille's brown curls from his forehead,
aud, In voice can never forget, say:
Promise me, Willie, when you go out
from your home into the would and its
temptations, and your mother has laia
down with her gray hairs to sleep In the
churchyard yonder, promise, my child,
that the memory of her prayers and coun-
sells shall keep you from all evil ways ?
And Willie would raise his head, lift
his blue eyes to his mother, and answer
i promise you will make first-rate
man. mother, and after he had said his
evening prayer, we would 60, happy as
birds that nestled in the apple-tree, to rest I;
and then just as we were sinking to sleep,
we would hear well known football on
the stairs, and Toying face would bend
over 10 see IL We were nicely tucked up.
1t was long time,' father would say
alter pause, since l heard from Willie,
but sure am that he has never fallen in
to any evil ways. The memory of his
mother would keep him from that
Rap, rap. rap. went the words of that
lady at the door OF the old mans heart
Creak, creak, creak went the door on its
rusty hinges angel of God, held ye not
only see the susdued man bury his face
In his hands and his whole frame shook
like an aspen leaf, as she heard him muir.
mur amid childlike sobs:
My mother. . my mother.
Aud she knew the tears that were wash
Ing those wrinked cheeks were washing
out also many dark page in the record
OF old BilFs past life that stood against
MIN; so, with silent prayer of thankful
ness she resumed
But there was one scene my father low
ed TO talk about more that all the rest. 1t
was the morning YOU were married Mr.
Strong. 1T was enough to do any ones
eyes good, he would say to look at item
as they walked up the old church isle. he
with his proud, manly tread, and she, a
delicate, fragile creature, fair as the or
ange blossoms that trrmbled in her hair.
| r-member how clear and firm his voice
echoed through the old church as he prom
is.d TO loye. protect and 10 cherish the
gentle being at his side, and knew he
thought, a. be lookd down fondly upon
her. that the very winds of heaven should
not visit her too roughly.' And then NV
father would tell us OF A home bright by
watchful affection. aud of a dark-eyed boy
aud Ialt. haired yirl ,vho Gam. ,nar a
while To GLADDEN. il ana then vou Lno,
he removed 10 Tie West and Ios, si,hI of
Won. Mr.. strong
Once again ii. Indy n,us.d for,he ,g
ony OF The strong MN before her we.
fearful 10 b-EolI. AMI when .hr mol.
again. il WA. in aIny.r ,,,ournf,,l -
II promised nv father nrrvions =, b;s
death. that II ever vI.ifed h,s p.tiv.
State, | would seek our hi, oIJ friend
Boz. when | lnouir.d tnr Won th.r nm.
folded n terrihI, t,l. IN m. NJ S,ron,,
They told me of ! darL.eved how who iss,
his home in disgust amid desusIr far ana
the homeless seas. of The uantl. and M.
complaining wife who went down with
a PRAYER on her lins tor her .,r;np ms.
band brok.n.hc,rted To ,h, yrave. of the
fatrnaired yirl th,y nlaced nv b.r In =, II,.
tie while. on Is a sad sad story I
heard of my father : old rrienhs >,
.. [, kil,ed them - said old uu
in "A voice uil.d with emotion. as h.. Irr.a
up his head from his cIs.p.d b,uds and
looked upon th. lady every ,-atur.. v..,r
ing such a look oil agonizino r.mnrs. ,,d
helples, d.s,air thar sb. shudJer.d ~ ha.
LoId il. wide ooen stood th. door thar
and ,he LADY h,.,eu.d IN mass H.
small hand vas laid gentle ne, nan.
Even tor all there Is REDEMPTION ana
you well know in what manner. In the
name of the mother who loved you, in the
name of your dying wife, and OF the child
who sleeps beside her ask you, will you