Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-18
temperance.
Out OF the Slough.
BY ERNEST GILMORE

IOOl lutl CduOulS-
Golden, as well as the neghboring
alleys, possessed Il flooring composed
chiefly of dirty puddles, where very dirty,
very greasy children, even babes, had
played or rather rooted Ct don't think the
word is out of place hcre,) all day long
Notwithstanding the falling drops and the
clouds overhead.
Poor little miserabes, why should they
be afraid of the fresh sweet water descend
ing from the clouds, when, poor babes,
hey set there unconscious that their
immortal souls were sprnging up in a
nest hole of moral corruption?
All! would that the many who. with
hands full of gold, stand in high places
and utter the prayer, "God help the poor"
would descend from their lofty (9) heights
to realize that it is hrough man God helps
the poor; then the tide, sweeping down
ward into the whirlpool, from whi, h there
is no extrication. by force of adverse
circumstances, such as physical misery
and spiritual darkness, might be turned in
its course and flow inward again even to
the green pastures and 10 the sweet
"still waters
There were hundre Is, aye many hun.
drrds, of little ones growing up in Golden
Court-grO10jn9 M and going dOtOa at the
same time. All young faces Were not old
and vicious by any means; and yet
although here and there could be seen a
girl whose features, day by day developed
into physical beauty, contamination, like
ii horrible cancer, was eating into their
bones, befouing their blood, and bushing
conscience into II deadly quiet This
dreary night, Il gentleman, well wrapped
in comfortable ulster, had occasion TO
walk through IL portion of Coblen Court,
He had only recently become an inhab
liant OF the city, and the place of wretch
edness which now met his view was a
new experience to him He possessed
warm, full heart, which fortunately had
never passed through the hardening
process, and so the pale lurrowed faces,
the thin shriveled hands, the many dis
couraged ones with their eyes east down
despairingly, or the bold ones who looked
up defantly, each and all touched his
heart to tender pain and pity-a real
heartache and genuine pity, closely
allied to brave, helpful hands which were
always ready 10 do
10 do, What little words and yet what
an eternity of joy may be therein en-
shrined,
A ray of light from a wretched looking
saloon streamed out upon the corner,
revealing many haggard faces. Red
nosed blear eyed men and degraded
women were creeping out or creering in
through the red baize colored door, but in
the shadow of the building Il girl seemed
to be hiding.
"Perhaps she is in some great trouble"
the gentleman thought; and thought with
him was akin to deed. He stepped softly
nearer. Yes, it was young girl thlny
clad and shivering in the damp, cold
winds She was wailing softly to herself,
and bending backward and forward.
Are you waiting for some one, my
grip"
The girl answered mo" but looked up
startled to meet the kindliest eyes she had
seen for years.
at is Il cold place on this corner for
Young girl clad so insulliciently," he said
pityingly.
NO colder than other places to me,
sir" She spoke plaintively, still there
was slight bitterness IN her tone.
"Poor child, poor child! Where is your
home?" His tone was tender, as if IN
eClO OF MS DtNIOI , III lllc IOl3 WIZ
he said, go and sin no more"
She felt its tenderness, but answered
defiantly: "Home! home. Don't mock
me, sir; have no home"
"Mock k YOU. God forbid!' His voice was
reverent "My girl, can you not speak
more kindly to iriend?'
The girl turned with II cry, and, seizng
his hand, she kissed it. "a friend! 0 sir!
if you could only be my friend, l would
take courage and live.
Take the courage then he answered,
'and come show me where you live"
They walked halt block, then entered
a long, dark passage and ascended a
flight of creakv stairs. Mr.. Downing did
not pant until he had climed the second
FLIGHT and was informed that there were
still three more to ascend.
TOO much for you, sir?" the girl said
kindly.
It surely did look formidable, but he
would not give up now that he had started.
At last they reached the top floor. and the
oir turned the handle and entered.
stop where you are moment, please,
sir, while light my lamp" she said.
As the first CLEAN stole over the apart
ment, the girl gave the gentleman stool,
the only seat the room afforded, unless
one could call the miserable canvass bed
in the center of the room seat. He
looked about him with saddened but
awakened ewes. On the bed lay some
thing, he could hardly tell what; one
thing he was sure of, there were large,
startled eyes looking at him queStionngIy
The girl noticing his wondering look s
came close up to him and whispered:
"Tis ny sister, sir: she's bed ridden"
Poor girl" he said in low, gentle
voice: "what is the troube?"
"Ah sir, it is u long story, and sad !
,ne, and prapS you wouldn't care to hear
It." :,
81 wish to hear it; tell it please, and" a
But there was no story told that night.
In another moment shuilling, stumbling {
,tep was heard, and hideous form entered
he room.
go, sir, please, and if you are my
'riend please come again tomorrow at l0i !
nv sister is always asleep at that hour
The gentleman passed out quietly, only s
waiting long enough to slip within the
rirl's thin hand some money, with the a
1dyice, "Get something nourishing for Z
you und your sister; and give him bit
90, my child. God sent his Son to die 6
or such as him."
The story told at 10 o'clock next morn Il
vas a terrible one, and the listener was
me full of pity. For the dead mother t
whose sweet life had been blasted because
If drunken husbands cruelty, he could
10 nothing; she was beyond him, even in u
he arms of loving Savior. The manly Il
ears rolled dow his cheeks as he heard OF q
Ter frozen feet, her bruises, her agony.
But for these poor living children and .
heir degraded father, the living cause OF I
Ill their trouble, he could and he would Il
10 something. =
A rather discouraging trio to hope to ?
ift on to safe, sure foothold. And yet v
,e was not discouraged; why should he
,eP Was not the Everlasting Arm around
limp =
And the trio, shall describe them b
The girl was delicate, broken hearted, and $
Utterly discouraged. Her father was almost a
| physical wreck, health shattered, SEEM
ngly moral and mental imbecil-he was :
g -. Lns,, L.. al n