The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
GOOD AND FRUITFUL SEED.
The Temperance Work of an "OId-Fash
iOned," Thoughtful Little Girl, and tn

| Reformation That Followed.
Gladys Hayden was little English
| girl whom every body called very told--
fashioned" which was queer, because
she was quite meW, being only nine
years old. Perhaps living and talk
ing with her grandfather, the village
curate, she had caught cold" fash
ions from him. One day they were
| sowing seed together in little field by
the pretty river, and he had preached
her a nice sermon about great re-
suits from little deeds, like harvest
from tiny seeds. 1t was not a dull
sermon, for birds sang hymns before
and after, and no church was ever SO
beautifully frescoed as was the spring
sky with glorious clouds. Gladys re-
membered the talk, and used after that
to think much of what was to grow out
of little acts. Near her home was one
of those magnificent great castles built
hundreds of years ago, and which are.
now the wonder and pride of visitors.
and villagers. A noble family had
lived there for centuries, its members
once fierce warriors, but now peaceful,
kindly people, interested in helping
their neighbors and respected by them
Nothing delighted Gladys like visit.
to the castle. The curate's house,
keeper was a sister of a maid in the,
grand mansion, and several times.
when the "family' were in London,
the little girl had been all over the
great dining-hall, hung with old ban,
ners over portraits of men in armOr.
Yes, and in corners were whole
suits Of armor that once were worn by
fighters in historic battles. Then there
were galleries full of wonderful Curl
osities, a chapel with dark oak cary
ings of queer beasts and birds and half
angelic, half-demoniac creatures, bed
rooms with silk embroidery, and fur
niture that had been once in Queens
chambers. Outside were endless gar
dens with fountains, and parks where
deer rested unmolested under huge,
old trees. Oh! it was all, as Gladys,
thought, most beautiful. ..,'.
The present owner of the castle was;
an ear who had fine young son, not
quite come of age, a great favorite.
with all the common people. Gladys.
knew the old earl by sight, but never
had seen the young man, who was at
Oxford studying. One day the house.
keeper took her to the castle, and the
two friends, the maid and Mrs. Phil
lips, gossiped and drank tea, and told
their various aches and ails until
Gladys grew pretty tired.
"You are such quiet child, you.
may go look about the dining-hall,
DEAR" said the maid at last; "only
run right back to us if the earl should
bring friends there. l fancy he is far
away though.
Gladys gladly went to the great room
and stood long at the window looking
down at the river and into the tops of
old cedar trees planted by Crusader
from slips brought from the Holy Land.
All at once she saw what looked like q.
homely brass kettle, and going near,
wondered what such an ugly thing was.
kept there for"
could you eat all the porridge that,
could hold, little one?" asked a very
pleasant "boy," as she innocently
thought him when she glanced up.
Il might in a year, perhaps, eat as,
much"
The young man, smiling, lifted her
lightly into the huge vessel, where She
nestled like a queer bird in a queerer-
nest.
"What is it here for?" she asked,
when he took her out
1T has stood here hundreds Of
years. They say the old earls were so
much like giants they emptied it of
beer at one draught. We don't believe,
that, do we? But every time an heir
comes of age this pot is filled with wine
and mptied-many times over, if there
are many guests.
"And out on the lawn, and in the
parks, casks and casks of BEER" added
Gladys, thoughtfully. "Grandpapa
told me all about it, l remember"
Then she gazed fxedly into the vast
bowl, with her little hand on the rim,
and the young man asked at last:
"What are you thinking about?"l
"That | would not do it if l were,
the neat heir" .. g,
"Did you ever see himP"
"No; but he is very fine, brave,
handsome young gen tleman."
Indeed! Well, what would you doP''
"I would scour it out, and she gave.
funny little frown, "then [ would fill
it with sweets for all the children"
then she laughed, land out on the lawn
l would have tea, and coffee, and gifts
flannel petticoats for old women"
Here her auditor gave shout; but She
calmly went on. FLANNEL is far warm
err to last than beer, and Mrs. Phillips.
says, when men drink beer, babies and
grandmothers lack the flannel. l
would be Temperance heir, and try to-
lessen drunkenness among M, people,
not make them drink more"
Greatly amused, the future earl put
little Gladys through long history Of
the village poor, the suffering, the sick
and the care the curate took of his