The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-14
Little Grace Closes n Saloon.

OlHClc was very lilllC girl, only
six years old, but beautiful and loving.
She was modest, thoughtful child,
and when her father, who loved her
very much, wanted her to come into
the saloon, that he might introduce her
to the men loungiug there and hear
them praise her beauty, she would say !:
mo, papa, no, no. Make the naughty
men go away, and then I'll Gomez
There was children's temperance
society in town, in charge of the Wo-
mans Temperance Union, and little
Oracle and her brother still younger
were invited to attend. The father
gladly consented, for he liked much to
see Oracle dressed up and have people
notice her. Everything was new and
strange to Oracle. She had never be-
fore seen any one pray, and when the
leader talked about the great God, and
asked them all to bow their heads
while he prayed, Oracle bowed, awed
into the most solemn reverence.
Is After meeting, she asked the teacher
what it meant, and if she would teach
her and her little brother how to pray.
Tho teacher took the little hands in hcr
own and told the two little children
about Jesus, and how he loved little
children and wanted them to be good
and would help them, if they asked
him.
Months passed: Oracle had learned
to pray, and often talked TO her father
about the Christ-child. and wanted him
to pray; but he only laughed, and cal
led her his little saint. One day Ora
Gle was taken i'll. The doctor was sem
for, and when he saw her he said she
was very sick.
"Will die, doctor"
81 hope not"
"YOu needn't be afraid to tell nc
cos Pm all ready; | asked Jesus tC
take me if lie wanted me-" The Gus
toners came and went. What cared
he for money, now that the light of his
life was going out? One day, on hi,
coming up out of his saloon, GraciC
opened her eyes, and turning upon hin
an imploring look; said, ooh, papa, il
the saloon open; arc the men there
drinking?"
eyes, darling
"Do close ii, papa. | know I'll fee
better if you will"
IN do it, daring-anything tC
make you feel better" The barkeepci
was ordered to clear the saloon ant
close the doors. Darling, the salool
is closed" he said, bending over her {
few minutes later.
"Thank you, papa. 1t makes mt
happy and better already, and glat
smile came into her suffering face
Every few hours, Oracle would ask
as the saloon closed nowE
eyes, darling"
care the shutters up"
eyes, dear, they are up"
The leader Of the children's temper
ance meeting had been sent for, a
Gracie's request, and had been will
her almost constantly from the first
and now sat chatting the hands tina
were growing cold in death.
ooh, papa, wish you'd never opel
The saloon again. Mamma, can't yoi
get papa to promise me never to opel
the saloon again."
con, George, do promise your dyint
child" sobbed the mother, who hat
never favored her husbands business
The strong man shook like reed. II,
could not speak for moment; thei
coming and beuding over her as sh
tossed restlcssly, he said in strange
husky voice: "My darling Oracle, pa
pa will never open the saloon again
never, never"
ooh, papa, I'm so glad. I'll tel
Jesus, when get to heaven, that yol
have closed the saloon. And, now, pa
pa, you must be good, and He'll lie
you come to that beautiful place, too
and mamma and Alice can come"
There was a glad smile on the dyin.
child's face. There was a hush in tn
room, for the gates of heaven wer
thrown open to let the pure, brigh
spirit through. Only the body of littl
Oracle was there the real Oracle hat
gone TO live with Jesus and the angels
The father never opened the saloon
but signed the pledge, and has becom
chris lian.- Christian Woman.