The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-09-20
drunken father would not give j1im in

pdlngs from Ernest, save that after thr
hrSt one, and each quarter brought the
mother remittance, and each success.
slvc quarter one Of higher figure.
Welcome, too, were they all for but
Tor such generous aid the worihousc had
claimed her and her children ; for down.
ward, still downward, went her husband
his absence no longer counted by hours
but weeks and months.
In q bustling city, many miles from
his native town, stranger one n;ph,
found him in q gutter, half rozcn,
starved, weary and sick. Like good
Samaritan, he picked him up, anI rs he.
WAS too weak tn walk, placed hin in
conveyance and had him taken to his
owH home. A warm bath, Glen gar.
mcnts, wholesome food and sft bed
were freely offered him, and passie as n
child when worn a. anguid, e suf,
fcrcd them to deal with him a they
chose and soon sank into deo, re.
freshing sIumber.
1t was hours ere he awoke, nnt thcn
he seemed rs in dream. ThtGlthN
gutter in which he had lost hi con
seriousness was now exchanged for alownJ
bed, with pillows white and soft assnow,
with white counterpano and dmask
hangmgs. His rags had DISAPPEARED.
and in their stead he saw hir $ol r9bed
in fine linen. The dirt v,No washd from
his face and hands, his hair was conhed,
and his tangled beard neatly sh%n.
Ho put back the curtains. Glad, gc1 III
! s,nbcams were stealing thrOuehVh Vhr
crimson drnpery of an allowed win6w.
! and their brilliant light showed lSty
chamber, with frcscoed walls, n cnrnt
from Oriental looms, and furniture tia
prince might covet. "It is q dream, "
brcathed he, and he closed his ewes.
Light footsteps aroused him soon. and
unclosing them again he saw bending
over him noble looking man in life:s
early prime, and beside him n lovely
woman, and i'll the eyes of both large
tears were standing.
"Trll me-" aaid he, eagerly, edo ]
ircam, or am I the poor drunkard Sc
greatly cared for?"
You are sick and We must minister tc
YOU" replied the lady.
Sick ay, sin sick" he said. "But
yCU do not know how vile L am, or yo,,
would cast mo out at once. Listen I
have broken the heart of my wife. hay {
driven my only son from home: ay. a,!G
haif killed him FIRST; and have i'll treat,:c
my other children TIL they fear me
moro than the evil one. Will you care
for mc now?"
lie almost skrickcd out the question,
and it seemed as though life and dcat}
nung on the answer.
1--WE must forgive even rs we woul,
he forgiven" said the master of tho
house. "While you ca1 be happy, STAY
with u.s."
A week passed away, 9nd still the Old
man tarried in that beau,Hnl home, now
toying gently with Lily, tae wee, deli
cate babe, and then playj 6 gay pranks
with Harry, the pride of he household,
boy of four summers now dreaming
Ill the pleasant chamber where he first
awoke again to manhood, and then lolhng
Ill an armchair in the prlor, tears and
smiles chasing each Fther over his
wrinkled checks as the pvely lady of the
mansion sang, now n gay dltty ana then
solemn hymn. But ne never offered
to cross the threshold
81 dare not" he would say, when
asked to ride or walk "there is danger
in the street. and thT calm IS SO very
sweet. If it could ory last. Ard then
he would sigh, and s'metimes weep and
sob like a child.
X
"Thcrc is to be grand rally of the
friends of tcmperm ce to-night-thc new
an0 splendid h.iiis to be inauguratcd.
Banners will ware, music ring, and
ladies smile Slall | invite you, my
wife, to accompany me? said tho mas
ter of the house.
"Of course, af'er such programme, "
said she, gayly, card you may depend
upon my going, 100. How soon must
be ready? ?"
"In an hours time," ho replied. 81
will send q carriage for You, and meet
you myself at the door of the hall. BE
sure that you are ready, for there will be
tremendous crowd.
81 will be in time trust me for that.
said she, md FASTENED to perform her
| duties to the littlo ones; but what was
| her astonishmcnt when sln returned to
| the parlor, all bonnctcd aEd cloaked, to
find her stangcr guest awaiting her.
"I cannot surely be tempted there" "
said he, in low sad voice; "but if you
will suffer me to ride wi h you / will
gladly go. 1t may be thatI shall COM
| pleto there the salvation hero CON-
mcncCd.
; Gladly did the lady acWicsce in the
7 request, end they were SO IN at the door
of The thronged' hall. Nd her husband,
but an intimate friend of lis joined them
there, and led them to pmo reserved
seats near the platform.
There had been stirrin music by the
band. fcrvcnt prayers blythe clergy and
thrilling speeches from fators from dis
tant parts of the countA tho hearts O!
that vast multitude wcrc} reused us they
had never been before t(the dangers Of
The cup. Then, while rt they were a.
lVctcd to the subject, tlo president an
Homced ga voice froA our home .
There was brcathlHsI silence for 4
moment, and then long hd loud acclaim.
nations greeted the gOll Samaritan OF
our sketch as lie bowe9to the waiting
throng. 1t had seemc@ ito them as the
last speaker hushcd hijvoice, that the
theme, world wide rs it's, was quite cx.
hausted, but so impaI iOncd was the
aloquenco that now fstered it, thai
thoy hung upon every prd as if he ha(
spoken of something fr}h from heaven
Where others had getralized, he in
iividualized. He did 1t take the mass
Df drunkards, but onlybne out of then