Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-10-02

ly on his shoulder, said,ln a peremptory
manner:
See here my friend! If you are
about making a Temperance lecture you
can adjourn to the Town Hall or the
Methodist Chapel:
The stranger moved aside a pace or
two, so that the hand Of jerks might
fall from his person, and then said mild
ly:
There must be something wrong here,
if man may not speak in praise oil wa
ter withodt giving offence
4 said you can adjourn your lecturer!
The landlords face was now iirery red'
and he spoke with insolence and pass
ion.
%, well, as you are the president Of
the meeting, l suppose we must let you
exercise an arbitrary power of adjourn
ment,' said the stranger, good humor-
edly. Il didn't think any one had so
strong a dislike for water as to consider
an insult.
At this moment a child stepped into
the bar-room. Her little face was flush
ed, and great beads ofpcrspiration were
slowly moving down her crimso
cheeks. Her step was elastic, her man'
ner earnest, and her large, dark eyes
bright with an eager purpose. She
glanced neither 10 the right nor the left,
but walked up to the landlord, lifted to
him herswcet, young face, and said, in
tones that thrilled every heart but
his:
please, Mr.. jerks, don't sell papa
any more liquorn
of home with you, this instant! eX-
claimed jerks, the crimson Of his face
deepening to a dark purple. As he
spoke, he advanced toward the child,
with his Landed lifted in threatning at
titudc.
please don't. Mr.. jerks, persisted
the child, not moving from where she
stood nor taking her eyes from the land
lords countenance. Mother says if
you wouldn't sell him liquor tbere'd be
no trouble. He's kind and good to us
all when he doesn't drink.
OF, l sayn shouted jerks, now
maddcned beyond sell-contrcl; and his
hand was about descending upon tie
little one, when the stranger cought her
in his arms, exclaiming, as he did so,
with deep emotion:
God bles the child! No, no, pre-.
cious one = he added; don't fear him.
Plead for your home. Your petition
must prevail. He cannot saynay to one
Of the little ones, whose angels do al
ways behold the face Of their Father in
Heaven. God bless the Child added
the stranger, in choking voice. %,
that the father from whom she has come
on this touching errand, were present
now. If there were anything Of man.
hood left in his nature, this would AVA
ken it from its palsed Sleep
Papa, O, papa, now cried the child,
stretching forth her hands. In the next
moment she was clinging to the breast
of her father, who, with his arms clasped
tightly around her, stood weeping ard
mingling his tears with those now rain
ing from the little ones eyes.
What an oppressive stiffness peryad-
ed the room jerks stood subdued and
bewildcred, his state of mental coniu-
sion scarcely enabled him 10 comprc-
hcnd the full import OF the scene the
stranger looked on wonderingly, yet
deeply affected. Quietly, and with
moist eyes, the two or three drinking
customers, who had been lounGng in
the bar went stealthily out; and the
landlord, the stranger, and the father
and his child, were left the only inmates
OF the room.
Come. Lizzie dear! This is no place
for us, said Leslie, breaking the deep
silence. Wen 90 home.'
And the unhappy inebriatc took his
child by the hand and led her toward
the door. But the little one held back.
wait, papa, waltz she said. lie
hasn't promised yet. O,I wish he would
promise.
Promise her, in Heavens name, said
the stranger.
'Promiss = said Lhslie, in stern,
vet solemn voice, as he turned and fix
cd his eyes upon the landlord.
III do promise, III keep it" re-
turned jerks, IN threatening tone, as
he returned the gaze Of Leslie.
Then, for Gods sake PromiseS' ex-
claimed Leslic,in hall.despairing voice
Promise and PU be Sared.'
BE it so! May be cursed. if ever
l sell you drop of drink at this bar
while l am the landlord o. tie Stag and
Hounds!'
jerks spoke with an angry empha-
sis.
God be lhanked!' murmurcd the
poor drunkard, as he led his child away.
God be thanked. There is hope 10
me yet
Hardly had the mother ofLizzie MISS
ed her child, ere she entered. leading
her father by the hand.
%, mother!, she exclaimck, with a
ioy-lit countenance, and in voice of
exullalion, Mr.. jerks has promised! !
Promised what! Hope sprung up in
her heart on wild hultering wings, her
face flushed, and then grew deadly pale.
CT oot ,,o,, finc, for n rpnlV