The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-06-18

so brought my knitting over an5 though
would slt spell.
It's all about Paul and Nellie My boy Wit
had gone nstray,
Who has been In fair land feeding on husk
this many day.
Twas an awful blew at my heart-strings. fo
be was my only son,
Aud put him IN Gods own keeping wher
his life was fret begun.
| Twas little had 10 give him, 90 ! gave HIN
noble name,
Aud prayed the dear Lords blessing. that b,
might keep IL from shame.
worried about my duty In training my boy
Alright
And couldn't bear TO have him minute ouI
OF my sight;
And he felt that didn't trust him, though
meant Il all for the best,
Then he left me 10 seek his fortune and q
home In the distant West.
Aud u silence came down between ne, bat
never forgot to pray,
And softly as snow In the night-watch, the
hair on my temple grew gray.
| One day when my heart was heavy with
thinking my sorrow DER,
\ The door swung wide on Its hinges aad he
stood by my side once more
Ihen sweet girl called me mother. with
/ bushes all over her face,
And Paul took ne mp together in tender and
| loving embrace;
And they made the house like the sunshine
that comes after rain,
| Aud IN and ont of the windows lOys chanted
his sweetest refrain
But they went TO the home that was waiting,
aud / vas again alone;
| They went as the birds leave the home nests
10 make them nest Of their own.
And the tidlngs that came were so blessed--so
full Of the promise OF cheer,
| That scarce knew that time had been pass
iug, the day had grown iuto year
Then stranger and longer silence than ever
had been before.
| Was broken at last by a Tumor that troubled
me more aud more
How Paul had forgotten his manhood and
turned 10 the maddening bowl.
And the truth came at last that but deepened
the sorrow within my soul
said as the dear Lord liveih IN pray III the
day shall come,
When the Father shall see him coming aud
welcome the wander home;
Ard to-day came the blessedest letter that
ever mother could get
Aud knew better then that our Father will
never 10 more forget.
u mother. tAit ThNl, lf ufchuIuistu tuiuh
Of the life | have led.
And To save such a sinner % was ls almost
like life from the dead
But Nellie has clung 20 me. mother, as only =
woman would cling
And made myself demon when ought 10
have stood Ike king
And she 1. au angel II ever an angel has lived
upon earth.
And married her for her beauty. but little
knew OF her worth
But though the casket 4. lovely, q lovelioi
soul Ia enshrined-
So tender aud true aud patient, a queen
among womankind
And wa. 40 base and cruel. but ne'er could
drag her down;
Her soul wa. as pure as seraph'., she walk
ed a. on holy ground.
And never . word OF censure she suffered her
lips 10 speak.
But her eyes had look that foretelleth the
heart IL ready 70 break
And my passion for drink grew stronger TIL
that and the rnmseller'. greed
Had taken our all and brought US 70 bitter
craving and need;
And my Nellie toiled on accomplishing %
TIL her face vas a. f9if1fs tnv IIiiy s4u 80. y.
the roses had fed
knew that sh. sat for me ever the stronges,
and best OF her store:
| That che hoped thus 10 .tife the craving that
came 20 me more and more.
| But cold her last loaf for the poison that
served hut 10 madden NV brain,
| When she pleaded with me. fainIlng with hun
ger, but oil Of her pleadings were vain.
Their. was one thing that made me 40 angry,
| for knew that from day 10 day
/ she went with a band of woman 20 place
where they went 20 pray.
| Ana | raved and raved like madman. and
| threatened 10 crush her quite,
/ n ever 1 saw her wearing the temperance
badge Of white
| One day heard her praying and listened to
catch the vorda-
| Her voice had pleading pathos, twas sweet
| er than songs Of birds.
| Our father che cried. i am hungry and dy
Give me back my husband. or take me away
20 thy mansions above
Thy love 4. 90 precions, but Father, the poo
woman heart does 90 crave
The strong hand 10 come with its blessing
| the strong hearth that's steadiast anS
| link between the ard thy glory, 20 teach nj
| the deep things II God,
And help me to bear all the sOrrows that com
| from thy chAstenlng roo
| Then take H.. cried. in my fury. and ,lruel
her fearful blow.
| And left her lying helpless, aud pale a. ID
drifting snow;
! And went where the wine va. flowing an,
drank till nv brain was dead,
And awoke like the beast ia the gutter, VII
the sunshine over NY head
Awoks with Afaoe above me and harsh volc
In my ear,
Get up. YOU beast, aud be going, for nobod
60 home 70 your wife. ,he |, dying; 81, Aplt
II isn't you,
! Yon wouldn't be here 7 reckon. II the la
should give you your due.
; Dying, nv Nellie dying The words can
; with q blow,
, Aud they brought me back " reason and
horrid sense of woe
\ staggered home 90 hnd her With face tn
looked like the dead,
! | And the doctor whispered warning, IA
. life just hangs by thread.
Then I fell on my knees and wreslled lor
hours in AgoniKed prayer;
And said, o my God. II thou spare her. 81
shall never know n care;
: | And III make Il oil up to my darling. lwill
And II ever a man loved = woman. I'll To-
and Ill cherish nv wife
can never forget II. mother, the mornii
she opened her eyes,
J, | Aud she smiled like a saint as she saw m
then came glad look Of surprise;
And she said In rapturous Nhtper,
= though ~ the babe on her breast.
/ lie - saved. he Is saved for he's wearing I
4 scarlet sign on his vest
= Twas Nellie who saved ne, mother, thoul
u strong helpful hands bad been given,
a. And a pledcc which never viii break. a.
~ hope for a mansion In heaven.
pr But the faith Of my Nellie, mother could o,
- er no never be told,
| For che took mp my tarnishcd manhood a
she loved Il into gold
r And nov az We kneel together 10 offer q
a. grateful prayer.
II almost seems that the angels are hovcri
In the airi
And know II ever thc angels do carry &c
~ tidings above,
We They will not forget the prayer that cor
from O mothers love
n, Aud We pray for our darling. our baby.
~ daintiest bit 81 girl,
en-. / And said II I only could name her ! sur
dy would call her Pearl,
nj But Nellie said no. while she gave NC The
,uf derest biz 81 gla'ce.
lef We will tie on the badge of The Union
.ns christen her Temperance
i