The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-03

George Forest came to his nome nlleu
with rum and with the spirit Of the devil.
He called aloud for his wife, but getting
no reply, he went from one room to an
other, overturning everything in his way.
The cat looked up at him, as she lay in a
corner of the fireplace. But while cat
may look upon king, as the old adage
is, yet it is not always safe for cat to
look upon drunken man. He seized the
cat and dashed her through the window.
Still raging like q demon let loose, he
stumbled up the stairway, and entered
Mabels room. His wife was with Mabel.
With horrid curses on his lips he seized
his wife by the hair and dragged her to
the stairway, and attempted to cast her
down, but when she found herself going,
she managed to clutch hold of the railing,
and thus escaped with only broken arm.
But the rum.fend in George Forest was
was not satisfied yet. He returned to
Msbels room, when glare of evil lit up
his eyes, roar of curses belched from his
mouth, as he seized hold of the frail form
of little Mabel, and flung her down stairs
with great violence.
Dark and mysterious are some OF Gods
providences. Mabel's prayer to her Savior
that she might soon 60 to heaven, was
now answered. The child was instantly
killed. We may we'll believe that Jesus
sent his good angels to take her immortal
soul to himself and the dwellings of
the holy.
How all those dreadful events could
transpire at Elsmore cottage, and still be
regarded as accidents, perhaps no one will
ever know. Mrs. Forest had reason
enough to try and avoid the anger of her
husband. She feared for her own life.
But why she did not leave her unworthy
husband, institute legal proceedings, and
have him arraigned as a murderer, we
shall not pretend to explain in this nara
tive. There are many dark passages in
human lives, and this is one of them.
The neighbors procured ccffin for
little Mabel. Mrs. Deacon Strout fur
nished suit of clothes for the child, and
also brought some beautiful flowers to
place in her hand as she lay in the coffin.
The child was indeed beautiful in death
as she lay arrayed for the grave by kind
friends.
The day of the funeral was cold and
cheerless. Gray clouds fitted across the
sky, ever and anon sending down drops of
rain. A minister came to the house to
make remarks from passage of Scrip
ture and to offer prayer. But this minis
ter was of that sort that never really
knew much of the spirit of true Chris
tianity. He acted as if he was demeaning
himself by conducting funeral at q
drunkard's house. His whole department.,
and his cold and unsympathetic remarks,
we're really a disgrace to himself and his
profession. The best part of his perform
ance was when he said Amen and left
the house.
Deacon Strout, his wife and two Of
their children, went to the grave. All
the other people found it more convenient
to return home. George Forest was in a
bedroom, half-drunk, and his wife, owing
to her broken arm and nervous pros
tration, was unable to 60 to Mabel's grave.
The cold winds sang requiem over the
coffin of little Mabel, as they lowered it
into the grave and the old sexton began
to cover it with earth. Mrs. Strout could
but repeat these words, as she stood by
the grave.
Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep!
!, From which none ever wakes to weep!
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unbroken by the last OF foes!"
Those were gloomy days that succeeded
, the burial of Mabel. Nature itself was
, gloomy, fer cloudy days, with mists and
| fog, continued for nearly two weeks. The
occupants of Esmore cottage were gloomy
in their feelings. Mrs. Forest had great
trials and deep grief. She had broken
arm that was painful, and George, hel
! husband, drank more and more. She
| mourned the less of her dear, dear child
Mabel. The tragic death of her child
and deep feeling, impressed upon hel
soul, that she must keep the secret Of thu
. child's death to herself, preyed upon her
spirits. She looked around for comfort
3 but found none. She had not then learned
t that God is the God of all comfort, ant
8 that his grace is sufficient for every COZ
9 dition of our lives. At that time she hao
not committed all things unto him as unit
r a Benefcent Father. Hence her day
8 were dark, and her trials and griefs grea
g beyond expression.
}. Never did her husband drink intoxicat
Q ing liquors as now. All that he coult
!, sell went for strong liquors. And meaI
& men were found, who would eagerly tax
a goods from George Forests home, givin!
}. him less than their value. 1t is hard stay
d ing one who has far advanced in the down
9 ward course of evil. The tears, the ex
|. postulations, and the prayers of his wifi
=, ayailed little with her husband, He be