Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-20
tAuantic Monthly.1

ATLANTIC MONTHLY
THESE TWO were distantly related to each
sort. While still babies they became orphans
and We're adopted by the Brants. a childleSs
couple, who quickly grew very fond OF them.
honest. SOBER Industrious, and considerate OF
Others, and success In life is assured" The
children heard this repeated some thousands Of
peat 1t themselves long before they could say
the Lords Prayer; 1t was painted over the nurse
~ door. and was about the first thing they
answering rule of Edward Mills's life, Some
times the Brants changed the wording little.
and said, BE pure, honest, sober. industrious,
Baby Mills was comfort to everybody about
rim. When he wanted candy and could not
nave it, ne listened to reason, and contented
candy, he cried for 1t until he got 1t. Baby Mills
took care OF his toys; Baby Benton always de-
s'royed his In very brief time, and then made
der to have peace In the house. little Edward
was persuaded to yield up his playthings to
When the children were little Older. George
became heavy expense in one respect: he took
no care OF his clothes; consequently he shone
IT, quently In new ones which was not the case
an increasing comfort, George an Increasing
solicitude. It was always sufficient TO saw. in
answer to Eddie's petitions, ~ would rather you
would not do it meaning swimming. skating
pcnicking, herryfng, circussing, and all sorts Of
things which boys delight In. But 10 no, answer
was sufficient for George; he had to be humored
high hand. Naturally no boy got more swim
ming. skating, berrytng, and SO forth than he.
no Toy ever had better time. The good
nine In summer evenings; they were sent to
bed al that hour. Eddie honorably remained.
put George usually slipped out OF the window
Il seemed impossible to break George of this
bad habit, but the Brants managed 1t at last by
hiring him, with apples and marbles, TO stay
attention to vain endeavors to regulate George:
they said, with grateful tears in their eyes, that
Eddie needed no efforts OF theirs, he was so
BY and by the boys were Dig enough to work,
SO they were apprenticed to trade. Edward
vent voluntarily; George was coaxed and
br1bed. Edward worked hard and faithfully.
anu ceased TO be an expense to the good
Brants: they praised him. so did his master;
but George ran away, and 1t cost Mr.. Brant both
money and trouble to hunt him up and get him
back BY and by he ran away again-rnore
money and more trouble. He ran away third
time, and stole few little things to carry with
him. Trouble and expense Tor Mr.. Brant once
Guilty that he succeeded in perSuading the mas
ter to let the youth go unpr0secuted for the theft
Edward worked steadily along. and In time
became full partner In his masters business
George did not improve; he kept the loving
hearts OF his aged oenefactors full OF trouble,
and their hands fun OF inventive activities to
Interested himself in Sunday schools, debating
socleties penny missionary affairs, anti-to-
bacco organizations, ant1-profanity aSsocia-
CONS, ana all such things; as a man, he was
quiet but steady and reliable helper In the
church, the temperance societies. and In all
movements looking to the aiding and uplifting
OF men. This excited no remark, attracted no
attention, for 1t was his 'natural BENT
Finally the old people died. The will testified
their loving pride In Edward and left their little
property to George-because he ..needed IT."
n mi Drot- -,
such was not the case with Edward The prop
erty was left to George conditfonally; he must
buy out Edwards partner with it, else it must
go to benevolent organization called the PrIs-
ober's Friend Society. The Old people left let
teri which they begged their dear son Edward
help and shield him as they had done.
Edward dutifully acquiesced. and George be-
came his partner in the business. He was not
valuable partner; he had been meddlng with
drink before; he soon developed into constant
tippler. now, and his flesh and eyes showed the
fact unpleasantly. Edward had been counting
a a., sweet and kndly-spirited girl for some time.
1hey loved each other dearly, and. But
about this period George began to haunt her
tearfully and lnploringly. and at last she went
crying 10 Edward, and said her high and holy
duty was plain before her-She must not let
her-she must not let her own selfish desires
INTEL ere with it: she must marry poor George
and reform him." 1t would break her heart,
duty. SO she married George, and Edwards
heart came very near breaking. as Well as her
own. However, Edward recovered. and mar
Iied another g1rl-a very excellent one she was,
too.
Children came to both families. Mary did
her honest best to reform her husband, but the
contract was 100 large. George went on drink
Ing, and by and by he fell to misuslng her and
me little ones sadly. A great many good people
slroVe with GeoTge-they were always at 1t, In
lact-Dut ne calmly took such efforts as his due
and their duty, and did not mend his WAYS He
added vice, presently-thatO of secret gambling.
ne got deeply In debt; he borrowed money on
the firms credit aSquietly as he could, and car
r1ed THIS system so far and SO successfully that
one morning the sheriff took possession OF the
establishment, and The two cousins found them
selves pennleSS.
EDWARD moved his family into a garnet, and
walked the streets day and night, seeking work.
ha e e w lor It, Out IL was really not to be
face became unwelcomed; he was astonished
and hurt n to see how quickly the ancient inter-
disappeared. Still, he must get work; so he
swallowed his chagrip, and toiled on In search
OF II. At last he got job of carrying bricks up
consequence; but after that nobody knew him
or cared anything about him. He was not able
to- keep up his dyes In the various moral organ
izations to which he belonged, and had TO en-
dure the sharp pain Of seeing himself brought
under the disgrace OF suspension
But the faster Edward died out OF public
knowledge and interest. the faster George rose
In them. He was found lying, ragged and
drunk, In the gutter one morning. member
of the Ladies' Temperance Refuge f1shed him
OUT, TOOK him in hand got up a subscription for
him, kept him sober whole week then got a
situation for him. An account OF 1t was pub
lished.
General attention was thus drawn to the DOOR
fellow and great many people came forward
and helped him toward reform with their coun-
! tenance and encouragement. He did not drink
drop for two months, and meantime was the
pet OF the good. Then he fell-in the gutter;
and there was general sorrow and lamentation.
But the noble ssterhood rescued him again.
They cleaned him up, they fed him, they list
ened to the mOurnful music OF his repentances
they got him his situation again. An account
OF this also, was published, and the town
was drowned in happy tears over the resto-
ration Of the poor beSet and struggling vic
tim Of the fatal bowl. A grand temperance
revival was got up, and after some rous1ng
speeches had been made the chairman said, I'm
press1vely: 1--WE are now about to call for
Sgners; and / think there Is spectacle In
store for you which not many In this house
will be able to view with dry eyes, There
was an eloquent pause, and then George Ben
ton, escorted by red-saShed detachment of
the ladies of the refuge, stepped forward upon
the platform and signed the pledge The air
was rent with applause, and everybody cried
for Joy. Everybody Wrung the hand Of the new
convert when the meeting was over, his salary
was enlarged next day; he was the talk of the
town, and its hero. An account OF it was pub
nShed
George Benton fell, regularly, every three
yprouuhI with every time ond erood ottuo%sna-