Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-07-24
VOL. 73.-3745. NO. fl.

"Mamie, dear, wake up" said he, gently,
shaking the sinless sleeper, who had always
greeted him with a smile.
90 Harold for Gods sake, don't Can't
you see that Mamie has gone out of the cold
and sorrow TO the tender Shepherd She's
in his bosom now, the 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 weakened brain, and
he continued
"Mamie, little Mamie putting his wet
and cold face beside the little daughters
which was scarcely colder, wake up; it is
morning, and father is sober now; wake up,
Isay.
40 Harold | beg of you to leave the child
alone. Come, and ] will lead you to your
bed" pleaded the wife; "the child is dead"
Dead-dead-de did you say2" as the
terrible thought pierced his muddled brain.
90 my God, my God, have mercy upon
me for | killed her, my lamb, my darling.
And Laura were you praying for your childs
murderer ?"
Laura shuddered, but she answered
For her father, Harold dear--her poor,
misguided father"
40 my poor wife did you ever pray for
me before 2"
"Alore times than can tell, Harold"
Your prayers shall be answered, my pa
tient, long-suffering wife. ! will never touch
the intoxicating cup again-never, If God
sustains me-"
And that very afternoon the Angel of
Hope sprang up from that little ones death
bed, as the bereaved father signed the
pledge. Tremblingly he wrote, &" Harold
Eckhart," and the deeply injured wife took
mp the pen and wrote underneath, Laura
Eckhart."
"Why, you signed it long ago." said her
husband.
eyes, know, but it will be like new
lease of life to sign it under yours, Harold"
The good man who held the paper took
the two hands of husband and wife and
joined them, saying, Welcome back to
better and more peaceful life"
"And, my friend, he continued, "you have
cause to thank God your wife is still spared
to help you in your work of reform. I once
had lovely wife, sweet and pure, faithful
and true She cung to me as yours has,
God bless her, when | sank down lower and
lower; but oh my sorrow and remorse are
greater than yours, for not only killed my
little one with unkindness and neglect, but
although saw my wife's eyes grow dim with
the terrible sorrow which washed out every
particle of brightness, | still continued my
carousing, wringing every fiber of her loving
heart, until one night reeed home to find
her cold and still. Her sad, pleading, luing
face and streaming eyes had often maddened
me; her beautiful smiling, dead face,
though torturing me with indescribabe
agony, brought me to my senses"
The tender melancholy of his tones
charmed his listeners. Strange, the power
Of the human voice when breathing forth
sorrow The golden beams of the setting
sun came pouring in the little window. 1t
seemed to the now hopeful mother that it
was the golden pathway up which her darling
had gone. 1t seemed as if she could almost
see the little one smiling back upon her
The little one found resting-pace under
the cold snow, and over her low bed the kind
old man who had brought the pledge erected
a plain, small stone. on which these words
were carved "Mamie gone to the Shep
herds bosom-father and mother follow me-"
The good wife smiles now, although the
thin cheeks will never grow full again, upon
the husband who is treading the way slowly
toward reputation of respectability and
purity. She misses and mourns for her dar-
ling, but never wishes her back, for was
it not the entrance of her white-robed form
which left heavens gate aiar for poor father?
Often during a sorrowful, wakeful night,
Harold thinks his angel child is lowering
about him; he seems TO feel her little hand
touching his hollow cheeks, and the hot
tears course down his face, thinking if he
had not touched the stinging cup his child
might have been with him still. at might
have been-it might have been!"
Harold Eckhart is costly situated now /;
| gradually oomforto hare CONF, fUt nV haId-
earned cash goes into the saloon.keeper's till
now--no, but brings happiness and light into
his wife's eyes. No one can tell her Joy save
one who has seen her hearts brightest hopes
hourly crumbling away, until suddenly, like
miracle of perfect bliss, she has the indie
scribable happiness of seeing her prayers an
swered, her dear one snatched as a brand
from the burning. The fearful, hideous spec
tire was driven from their home when the
father learned to lean upon God.
1t is some years since the demon Drink
went strding away from Harold Eckhart's
cottage, and he would never recognize it now
or its occupants. Harolds sad face is noble
now; his clothes are whole and neat, and as
he enters the door now to his warm evening
meal his wife's sweet face greets him with a
kiss and smile, for
THE step came firm and steady, and his eye was
clear and true,
And on his ragged coat he wore little bow of
blue.
National Temperance Aduocdte.