The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-10

could not help sobbing aloud, for my
heart was full. "Dear George" said i,
turning to my husband, "you used to
pray; let us thank God for this great
deliverance from evil ~ "Dear Jenny"
said he, 81 fear God will scarcely listen
to my poor prayers after all my Of
fences; but will try" We closed the
cottage door, and he prayed with so
much humility of heart, and so much
earnestness of feeling, that felt almost
sure that Gods grace would be lighted
up in the bosom of this unhappy man,
if signs and tears and prayers could win
their way to heaven. He was very
grave, and said little or nothing that
night. The next morning when | awoke
| was surprised, as the sun had not
risen, to find that he had already gone
down. AT first | felt alarmed, as such
thing had become unusual with him
of late years; but my anxious feelings
were agreeably relieved when the chill
dren told me that their father had been
hoeing for an hour in the potato field
and was mending the garden fence.
With our scanty materials | got ready
the best breakfast l could, and he sat
down to it with a good appetite, but said
little; and now and then / saw the tears
starting into his eyes. | had many fears
that he would fall back into his former
habits whenever he should meet his old
companions, or stop in again at the dea-
cons store.
was about urging him to move into
another village. After breakfast he
took me aside and asked me if l had
not a gold ring. " George" said |,
a." that ring was my mothers; she took it
from her finger and gave it to me the
day that she died. | would not part
with that ring unless it was to save life.
Besides, if we are industrious and hon
est, we shall not be forsaken." Dear
Jenny" said he, " know how you prize
that gold ring l never loved you more
than when you wept over it, while you
first told the story of your mothers
death; it was Just month before we
were married, the last Sabbath evening
in May, Jenny, and we were walking
by the river. l wish you would bring
me that ring"
Memory hurried me back in an in
slant to the scene-the bank upon the
rivers side, where we sat together and
agreed upon our wedding day. l brought
down the ring and he asked me with
such an earnestness of manner to put
it on his little finger that l did so; not,
however, without trembling hand and
misgiving heart. " And now, Jenny"
said he, as he rose to 90 out, " pray
that God will support me-" My mind
was not in a happy state, for felt some
doubt of his intentions. From little
hill at the back of our cottage we had a
fair view of the deacon's store. / went
up to the top of it, and while watched
my husbands steps no one can tell how
fervently | prayed God to guide them
Alright. | saw two of his old COM
. panions standing at the store door with
glasses in their hands; and, as my hus-
band came in front of the shop, | saw
F them beckon him in. 1t was a sad mo-
ment for me. go George" said /,
though l knew he could not hear me,
g 90 on; remember your poor wife and
your starving children" My heart sank
within me when | saw him stop and
turn towards the door. He shook hands
with his old associates; they appeared
to offer him their glasses. l saw him
shake his head and pass on.
F "Thank God" said l, and ran down
the hill with light step, and, Selling
my baby at the cottage door, literally
: covered it with kisses and bathed it
with tears of joy. About ten O'Clock
, Richard Lane, the 'squire's Office boy,
brought in piece of meat and some
, meal, saying my husband sent word
, that he could not be home till night, as
7 he was at work on the 'squire's barn.
, Richard added that the squire had en-
gagged him for two months. He came
home early, and the children ran down
, the hill to meet him. He was grave
! but cheerful. have prayed for you
7 dear husband" said l. And mer
!. ciful God has supported me, Jenny
said he. 1t is not easy to measure the
:, degree of happiness; but, take it alto
> gether, this, think, was the happies
. evening of my life. If there is great JOY
! in heaven over sinner that repenteth
e there is no less joy in the heart of {
:, faithful wife over a husband that was
: lost and is found. In this manner the
g two months went away. In addition
= to his common labor he found time t.
;, cultivate the garden, and make anC
J mend variety of useful articles abou
!, the house. 1t was soon understood
~. that my husband had reformed, and i
:, was more generally believed because h
y was a subject for the gibes and sheer
of large number of the deacon's Gus
toners. My husband used to say, " lie
II those laugh that are wise and win." IL
e was an excellent workman, and bust
o ness came in from all quarters. II
e was soon able to repay neighbor John
= son; and our families lived in the closes
II friendship with each other.
a One evening Farmer johnson said t.
e my husband that he thought it woul'
d be well for him to sign the temperate
II pledge; that he did not advise it whel
s he first began to leave off spirits, for h
e feared his strength might fail him
'r "But now," said he, ''you have con
y tinued five months without touching
drop, and it would be well for the caus
~ that you should sign the pledge.
u 'Friend Johnson" said my husband
"A ''when year has gone safely by l vii
P, sign the pledge"
III "For five months, instead of tn
re pledge, l have in each trial and tempta
IS tion-and drinking man knows well tn
s. force and meaning of those words
le have relied upon this gold ring to re
as new my strength and remind me of m
p duty to God, to my wife, to my childre
Ie and to society. Whenever the strug