Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-10-24

toying gently with the little Lily, the
wee, delicate babe, and then playing gay
FRANKS with Harry, the pride Of the
household. boy OF four summers; now
dreaming in the pleasant chamber where
be first awoke again to manhood, and
then lolling in an arm chair in the par
lor, tears and smiles chasing each other
over his wrinkled cheeks as the lovely
lady Of the mansion sang, a guy ditty
and then a solemn hymn. But he 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 this calm is SO very
sweet. If it could only last" And then
he would Sigh, and sometimes weep and
sob like a child.
* X 4 * x r. *
"There is to be grand rally OF the
friends of temperance to- night--the rev
and splendid hall is to be inaugurated.
ladies smile! Shall I invite you, my
wife, to accompany me p said the mas
ter Of the house.
"Of course, after such a programme, ~
she said, gaiIy, "and you may depend
upon my going, too. How soon must ]
be ready?
"In an hours time" he replied. 81
will send carriage for you, aud meet
you myself at the door of the hall. Be
sure that.you are ready, for there will
| be tremendous crowd"
II will be in time trust me for
that" said she, and FASTENED to perform
| her duties to the little ones; but what
was her establishment when she returned
to the parlor, all bonneted and cloaked,
to find their stranger guest awaiting her.
81 cannot surely be tempted there,
said he, IN low, sad voice; but if you
will suffer me to ride with you, 7 will
gladly go. It may be that I shall com.
plete there the salvation here CON-
menced."
Gladly did the lady acquiesoe in the
request, and they were soon at the door
of the thronged hall. Not her husband,
but an intimate friend OF his joined
them there, and led them to some re-
served seats near to the platform.
There had been stirring music by the
band, fervent prayers by the clergy and
thrilling speeches from orators from dis
tant parts Of the country, and the hearts
OF that vast multitude were aroused as
they had never been before to the dan
gers of the cup. Then, while yet they
were all riveted to the subject, the pres
| ident announced ga voice from our
home" There was breathless silence
for moment, and then long and loud
acclamations greeted the good Samari-
tan of our sketch as he bowed to the
%1ror~ nod 10 %IoS~
as the last speaker hushed his voice,
that the theme, worldwide as it is, was
quite exhausted, but SO imprisoned was
the eloquence that now mastered it, that
they hung upon every word as if he had
spoken Of something fresh from heaven.
Where others had generalized, he indi-
vidualized. he did not take the mass
of drunkards, but only one out of them
all, and he portrayed his course in such
vivid colo,s that the audience seemed
gazing upon dissolving views rather
than listening to chosen words; and so
wrought up we're they that when he pic
tured that horrible scene in the tragedy
Of drink, where the husband levels to
the floor the wife who once slept so
sweetly upon his bosom, the wife that is
also the mother of his children. they
seemed to hear the gentle and wronged
one fall, and sobs and signs broke fort h
from the assembly. The speaker paus-
ed till they we're quiet, wiping, mean
while, the tears from his own cheeks.
"Do you ask, said he, when he again
resumed his theme, "do you ask why 1
stand here tonight and speak these
things? Look at this, "he said, lifting
the glossy locks from his left temple.
Do you see that scar on my forehead 2"
In the brilliant gasight it was perfect
ly visible to many a watchful eye; it was
a CHASTITY, frightful-looking scar, MARI
ing the beauty of a brow that ight
otherwise have been a painters model.
Slowl y and solemnly did the speaker
inter each word, then, as he stood push
ing back the raven hair, he continued:
CATER the drunkard had felled his wife
to the floor he would have kicked her
PROSTATE form but that her young son
rushed between the two. What did the
drunkard do then ?" he exclaimed in a
voice of thunder. Another pause and a
breathless hush. More slowly, more
solemnIy did he speak. "He seized a
knife, " he continued; "aye, and the one,
too, his gentle wife herself had laid be-
side his plate for him to carve the dish
her worn and weary fingers had earned
to sustain his life; he seized it and-did
this!" and he pointed to his forehead.
g To my grave shall I carry this scar,
and not till I rest in my grave shall I
cease to plead for the drunka1d's chill
dren."
With these words fresh on his lips he
withdrew. There was no applauding,
but silence as of death rested on the
vast hall. Ere it was broken by prayer
or hymn an aged man, older, though, it
seemed with grief than years, tottered
upon the platform. trembling in every
nerve and muscle, he leaned against the
desk, and finally grasped it for support.
Many times did his lips move ere he
could utter an audible sound, and when
he did speak his words were rather felt
than heard.
''The son has spoken" said he; "now
let the father. With the scar on his
forehead yet bleeding, my Ernest, my
firstborn, my noble boy, went from his
home to seek among strangers the peace
his father would not give him on his
own hearthstone. Ten~years from that
time, one week ago tonight, that son
picked up his father from q gutter, and
instead of spurning him as sinner he
took him to his home as though he had
been the angel instead of the demon of
his youth. Deep is the scar on his
forehead, but deeper are the scars on my
heart. Ye have heard him-ye see me.
Let the story and the sight be your sal
walton, as it is even now my own"
The old man was exhausted and fell
back into his sons arms.
ONE Of the most interesting characters
in India just now is Ramabia, a gifted
ana highly educated young Brahimn
widow who has undertaken the difficult
task of creating public sentiment
against the social customs which bind
down Indian women. She has already
achieved great deal. Her lectures in
Bombay have created wide interest, not
only from the novelty eta woman ASSUME