Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-06-22

COlDlOTI her tuOtlef. Dut the little udiius
were folded and did not unclasp. The
little mouth smiled but no words came
forth. The long lashes swept the cheek
aud the sweet blue eyes opened not.
A nameless horror seized him; he
wrung his hands convulsively, his breast
heaved with a new emotion, and he
pushed open the ldoor and rushed TO
the bedside.
"What makes the child sleep so. Lau-
IA ?" he asked, wildly Selling the little
hands.
His wife looked at him with horror
stricken eyes, that was her only answer.
Mamie, dear, wake up" said he gent
ly shaking the sinless-sleeper, who had
always greeted him with smile.
30 Harold! for Gods sake don't. Can't
you see that Mamie has gone out of the
cold and sorrow TO the tender Shephard's
care? She's in His bosom now, the little
lamb, and I'm so glad-oh so glad"
But the heavy drinking, the nights
sleep in the rain, the shock of the home
scene had completely upset the weaken
ed brain. and he Continued:
'sMamie, little Mamie" putting his wet
aud cold face beside the little daughter ;,
which was scarcely colder, wake up it
is morning. anC father is sober now /;
wake up, | say"
20 HaroldI beg of you to leave the
child alone, Come, and will lead you
TO your bed.'' pleaded the wife; 1.-THE
child is de ID"
.Dead-dead-dead. did you say ?" as
the terrible thought pierced his muddled
brain. 20 my God, my God have mercy
upon me- for L killed her. my darling
my lamb. Aud Laura ware you PRAYING
tor your child's murderer ?"
Laura shuddered, but she answered !:
"For her father, Harold dear-her poor
misguided father"
20 my poor wife? did you ever pray
for me before?r
More times than can tell. Harold"
t4YOur PRAYERS shall be answered. nv
patient. long suffering wife. | will never
touch the intoxicating cup ag uil-never
it God sustains me-"
And that very afternoon the Angel Of
Hope spraug up from the little ones
death bed. as the bereaved father signed
the pledge. Trenblingly he wrote,
Harold Eckhart,r and the deeply injur-
ed wife took the pen and wrote under
meath Laura Eckhart." II
why, you signed it long ago." said her
husband ~
Yes. know. but it will be like new
lease of life to sigu it again just under
yours, Harold"
The good man who held the paper
took the two hands of husband and wife
aud joined them, saying, -WeIcome back
to better aad more peaceful lifer
Aud, my friend" he continued, .you
have cause to thank God that your wife
rs still spared 10 help you In your work
of reform. L once had lovely wife.
sweet and pure, faithful an true. She
chung to fiae as yours has, God bless her,
when sauk down lower and lower bur
oh my sorrow and remO.se are greater
than yours. for L not only killed nav little
one with unkiud,iess and neglect but al
though L saw my wife's eyes grow dim
with the terrible sorrow which WASHED
out every particle of brightness. still
continued my carousirg, wiingi,.g every
fibre of her loving heart, until Que night
| reeled home to find her cold and still.
Her sad, pleading, uUiny face and stream
[ ing eyes had often maldened me; her
beautiful, smiling, dead face. though tor
turing me with indeScribable a@Ouy.
brought me to my senses"
| The tender melancholy of his tones
charmed his listeners. Strange the
power of the human voice when breath
| luz forth sorrow! The COLLEEN beams o.
the setting sun came pouring in the little
window. 1t seemed 10 the nos hopeful
| mother that il was the golden pathway
| up which her darling had gone. II seem
| ed as If she cOuld almost see the little
one smiling back upon her.
The little one fouud resting place
under the cold snow, aud over her low
he'd the kind old maH who had brought
| the pledge erected a plain. small stone.
on which these words wrr" carved
Mamie, gone to the Slleph,lds bosom
j-iataer and mother follow me-"
1 The good wife smiles now, although,
| the thin cheeks will never grow fuIl
again, upon the husband who is trcading
the WY Slowly toward reputation OF
responsibility and purity. She misses
and mOlriis for her darling. but never
wishes her back. for was it not the en-
trance OF her white-robed form that irf;
Heavens gate ajar for poor father? Or
ten during sOrrOwful. wakcfu! night
Harold thinks his angel child is hover
ing about him; he seems to feel her little
hand touching his hollow cheeks, and
| the hot tears course down his face, think
| lug il he had not touched the singing
cup his child might have been with him
still. lit might have been-it might have
| been.'
| Harold Eckhart is costly situated now;
gradually comforts have come, for no
iiard-earned cash goes into the saloon
keepers till nOw-no. but brings happi-
ness and light into his wife's eyes No
Ole can tell her joy save one who has
seen her hearts brightest hopes hourly
crumbiing away, until suddenly, like a
miracle Of perfect bliss. she has the i'll
describable happiness of seeing her pray
ers answered, her dear one sMatched as a
brand from the burning. The fearful,
| hideOus spectre was driven from their
home when the father learned TO lean
upon God.
| 1t is some years since the demon Drink
Went striding away from Harold Eek
hart's cottage, and he would never rec
l0gnize it now or its occupants. Harold's
sad face is noble now; bis clothes are
whole and neat, and, as he enters the
door now TO his warm evening meal his
wite's sweet face greets him with kiss
and a smile, for
s.The step came firm and steady, ard his eye was
4 clear and true,
| And on ragged coat he wore little bow Of