The daily gazette., 1877-07-05
The Cranberry Meadow.
A SIMPLE STORY.
ICoNCLUDED.l

When the speaker commenced, Thomas,
feeling himself uneasy, wished himself
away. But by degrees he became more
and more interested, until his eye fixed
upon the speaker, and the tear that rolled
down his bloated face, proved the depth
of his feeling. He heard his own case so
well described, the remedy so plainly
pointed out, so affectionately urged, that
new light seemed to break upon his mind
and he inwardly exclaimed, 81 can do it,
l 'oiL do it, if die in the attempt" and
at the close of the service, going boldly
up to group of temperance men, who
were surrounding the speaker, he request
ed that his name and the name of his
wife might be added to the temperance
list. A murmur of appreciation followed
his request, and hand after hand was
presented for shake of congratulation.
Nancy pulled her husbands coat as she
heard her name mentioned, and said
family, "Not mine, not mine, Thomas"
But the words were unheard or disre-
garded, and he bent steadily over the
shoulder of the Secretary until he actually
saw the names of Thomas and Nancy
Milman, among the names of those who
Of ardent spirits.
As he turned to leave the chu ch, VIM.
Stevens, a sober industrious man, friend
of Thomas in his better days, but who
had long abandoned the society of a
drunkard, took him by the hand, and,
after expressing his satisfaction at the
course he had pursued, invited him to
call at his house on his way home. After
some hesitation, Thomas and Nancy
consented; the latter being exceedingly
pleased at being again invited to call on
Hannah Stevens.
AS William opened the door, Hannah
rose from her seat by the cradle, AM
I glanced first at her husband, and then at
his companions, with look of astonish-
ment and inquiry, which yielded, how
/ ever, to one of kind welcome and glad
surprise, when her husband said:
81 have brought you some friends, Han
nah."
eyes," said Thomas, "and may we
henceforth merit the title"
Nancy hung down her head, as If
ashamed of. the thoughts that were pass
ing through her mind. Hannah, noticing
her appearance, feared she did not sym
pathize much with her husbands feelings.
| must encourage the poor woman, thought
she, or her husband will be undone. If
Nancy does not encourage him by her
example, all will be lost.
The company then seated themselves
around the cheerful fire, and while
| Thomas and William were engaged in
conversation, Hannah threw aside the
qI lit to let Nancy see the baby. IL W as
just Tue age of her own, but oh ! how
different The rosy, healthy little crea-
ture before her, in It's clean night-gown,
sleeping so soundly, recalled to heI mind
har own pale, sickly, neglected child at
home in its ragged, dirty dress, so seldom
changed and tbs tears started into her
eyes at the sad recollection.
Hannah saw the effect produced upon
her feelings, and wishing to increase it
still more, asked her to walk into her
bedroom to see her other children. Han
nah was kind and careful mother, and
knowing the strength Of mothers love,
she wished to make use of this strong
principle to recall the wretched wanderer
before her to sense of her duty. Nor
was she disappointed in the result Of her
experiment. Nancy was evidently af-
fected at view of the neat, comfortable
appearance of her neighbor's house, and
Hannah seized this opportunity to point
out to her her dreadful neglect of duty.
1t was kind but plain, faithful reproof,
calculated to awaken in her bosom every
feeling of mother that yet remained.
| Nancy did not leave the room until she
had promised, by her own example, to
encourage her husband to return to the
uniform practice of sobriety. Thomas
and his wife then took leave of their kind
neighbors.
We will leave this happy fireside and
Just accompany Thomas and Nancy to
their desolate abode. AS they approach
ed the house the faint cries of the neglec-
ted baby first met the parents ears. Poor
Mary was endeav0ring, as usual, to quiet
the little sufferer. There was no fire
upon the hearth, no light upon the table,
| but moonbeams through the changing
clouds were sufficient 10 reveal the gloom
and wretchedness of the drunkard's
home. Thomas and Nancy could not
but perceive the contrast between the
home they had just left and their own.
1t was contrast most sad and humllia-
ting.
Early the next morning the first person
the family saw coming down the lane was
little William Stevens. He had in his
hand basket of potatoes, which his
father had sent Thomas Millman, with a
request that he would call at his work
shop after he had eaten his breakfast
This unexpected present gave much joy
to this destitute family and Mary, with
her little brothers, will not soon forget
how acceptable were their boiled pota-
toes that morning, though eaten without
butter or salt. Thomas called, as he
was requested, at William Stevens work
shop, and found there a job which would
employ him for day or two. 1t was
joyfu1ly and speedily undertaken, and,
after an industrious days work he re-
ceived at the close part of his wages to
Law out in food for his family. Thomas
had little to struggle with this day, and
OH the whole it passed by easily and
pleasantly.
employ her mind than her husband, she