The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-08-26


"There's no sense in your being so
savage, Mr.. Hart, said his wife, amongst
her other speeches; 'that man will be
back in a few nights at furthest, as sure
as my name is Sarah Hart"
But the laudlady's prophecy was des-
tined to be unfulflled.
Sam Hobson took his way to the DESC
late, barely furnished room he called
his home. His wife looked up in sur
prise as she saw him enter. With dry
humor, that she hardly appreciated, he
sat the broken tumber on the table and
said,-
"There, Fan, what do you think of
that as bare ain for fourpence?'
"Fourpence, Saul?" she answered in
grave earnest, "it would be dear at
ha'penny. What on earth did you buy
broken tumbler for? Surely we have
broken things enough about u.s." and
she glanced around at the contents of
the room, of which certainly quite
large proportion was unsound. Saul
followed his wife's glance, with a bit.
ter smile upon his lips.
eyes, Fanny; so the tumbler will
match"
Wondering alike at the comparative
sobriety and the strangeness of tone, the
discreet wife ventured no furtherremark.
"Have you got no supper for your
husband, Fan ?" he next asked.
give a bit of bread, Saul, there's
nothing else in the house."
He laughed bitterly.
"And you didn't expect me?"
"No, 1 didn't"
"Well, don't blame you for that.
Is it too late to buy pound of bacon
There is fire enough to fry it, more's the
wonder. There's a shilling, Fanny
perhaps you wouldn't dislike a cup of
tea."
ooh, thank you, Saul %
Fanny Hobson was hungry and tired,
and the prospect was inviting. She
slipped out readily, wondering and
excited. She soon returned with the
bacon and an ounce of tea. 1t was quite
wonderful, the alacrity with which, thus
encouraged, she hustled about to make
the place comfortable. The warm, savoy
smell, and the noise of the frying bacon
as it fixed and hissed in the pan, reached
the children in their bed on the floor in
little recess of the room, and they
called out
"What is it, mother; who's frying?"
"Mother is," answered Saul Hobson
"and if you are good and quiet you shall
have TASTE"
Awestruck at their fathers voice, the
children were like mice for the next few
minutes, save a whispered comment or
two on the prospect before them.
It was sight to behold that family
half an hour later-the poor little wan,
half fed, scantily-attired children gather
ed around their parents knees, and eat
ing ravenously of bread and bacon, with
an occasional sip of warm tea from tho
basin which their father used, or the
cracked teacup of their mother. When
they had gone back to their bed, warm
and contented, there was q whisper
among them, and then uprose in tremu-
lous tones-a little out of tune, perhaps,
and yet surely somehow in tune with
the angels music-the simple words of
thanks
eve thank Thee, Lord for this our food,
Butmoro because of jesus blood
Let mama to our souls be given,
The bread of life sent down from Heaven"
Saul Hobson's eyes grew moist with
blessed tears, and he was silent for some
time. Then he raised the broken glass
in his hand aud flung it on the fireplace,
where it fell in dozen pieces.
"There, Fanny" said he, "thore's my
last glass at the Three Fawns'-thats
the last glass of liquorI shall ever drink"
"Thank Godp
**** xE&* *K** *s#
Eight years have passed away-eight
happy years for Saul and Fanny Hobson.
Slowly but surely the work of reforma-
tion has been carried on in that once
miserable family. Almost the first act
Of its head, when he had recovered all
his articles from the pawnshop, was to
remove into tidier quarter of the town,
and to engage two rooms.
Being an able workman he soon re-
ceived an advance in his wages, when
his master discovered he could depend
on his punctual attendance and Saul
began to save. He had ideas Of better
ing his condition formed in his sober
brain, which in his drink-loving days
could not find room there. And now,
with small capital carefully and pru-
IDENTIFY accumulated year by year, he has
just gone into business as q master
tradesman, with light heart, clear
conscience, and a happy homo.
Best of all, he and his wife have
become members Of. a Christian church,
and are endeavoring to bring up their