The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-05-10
MISS, THURSDAY. MAY 10, 1877.

his household dropped from the hn8efe
that her sin had made too weak to hold
them, Johns strong hand picked them
up. Henceforth the servants waited
upon his orders. So devotedly atten-
tive was he to his wife that his business
suffered. He could not bear that hire
lings should witness her disgrace so
openly. His own great nature gave nm
faith even in hers. ''It will be easier
to rise, the more I keep the world shut
out from a knowledge of the depth OF
her fall" he would say to himself IN
his faithful vigils by her side, when she
wps absolutely too insenslble to know
he was there.
Despite his care, John shuddered
sometimes to think how many ravela-
tions the smart housemaid probably
made to her circle of acquaintances.
He could not lower his wife still more
by broaching the subject to the girl.
Indeed, he was dependent upon her sor-
vices. Who else knew SO well how to
manage his child?-poor innocent, thrust
into on existence, reekine with the
fumes of its mothers winel
When Amy was sufficiently herself,
John read to her, but she only dozed
and never seemed to listen. Then he
bravely took her out to theatres, con-
certs, drives. Though society guessed
his misery, he would keep Amy mp. as
far as showing he was not ashamed to
be seen with her could do :t--but his
great heart was breaking oil the while.
Alas, she lacked that strength in her
self to work with him. Her cunning
| was more than a match for his endeav-
ors to keep the wine cup from her lips
One sheltering twilight he carried her
down the steps of her home as easily as
the maid might carry his baby, and
shutting her little. covering resisting
form into carriage, drove her to the
Asylum for Inebriates.
When he came down to breakfast
next morning, the cook declared to the
houScmaid, master didn't look as
though he'd slept wink all night
The brain plays sad havoc with the
body A stoop WAS beginning to bend
John Forestal's broad shoulders, and
the dark locks on his temples were show
ing silver streaks. lie had too much
strength OF character to sit idly down
and let life drift away or shake society
for q moment with his suicide, though
he was wretched enough to do either.
He went back TO his counting house and
took up the broken threads Of his ousl
ness, though ,he.r breaking made it
necessary FOR him to leave his elegant
house and seek a more modest dw, ling.
He was glad to leave it. !, had grown
Dteful 10 him.
,4,nya ssoy ia tl.o o7.lNn heGar grad
uallv to work change for ;he better.
, II first She WAS furious at what she
looked upon rs cruel Imprisonment,
but the wise management of her case,
and Johns grandly forgiviug letters at
the first hint of reformation, slowly
opened her eyes to her sin and his pa.
tience.
No one dared to speak her name
lightly to John. Only his pastor von>
tured to praise his long g-suf1'ering. 81
suppose God knew the poor little wo-
mans weakness and sent me to take
care of her." was his simple answer.
By and by Amy was brought from
the asylum, pale, puny wreck. No
one would have guessed her former
beauty, but in Johns sight her face was
prettier than it had ever been, because
the light of better purpose shone in It.
4 purified soul looked ont from the eyes
that had lost their girlish brightness.
When she was able to carry the bur
den Of life alone, God called John 10
lis reward.~ The promises OF his viGN
orous frame were not'fulflled. His.do-
nestle unhappiness had worn him out,
He rests from his labors in Il secluded
spot, where many a soft summer twi>
light pale, sad faced little woman and
slender girl, come to Jay fresh floral
offerings. The elder woman 8 tears fall
gently. If he could only hear her graft
itude, She did not realize it all till John
went home. Where would she have
been but for his brave patience, his nm
worrying devotion? He had saved her
from herself