The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-05-17

banjo and his flute beside it. And as we
looked on hisbrown enrls thrown up from
the cold, white brow, on his skilled hands
folded ON his breast, on his sealed lips, Of
which wit aud melody had been the very
breathiags, the silence was an awe, a
weight upon us, yet our voiceless thanks
rose up to God that he was dead.
Always courteous in manner, kind in
word, obliging in act, everybody liked
Ned, . the handsome, brilliant Ned.
Three generations o. aacestors, honorable
gentlemen all, had taken tie social glass
as gentlemen may. but never lowered
themselves TO drunkenness-never, no, not
one; but their combined appetite they had
given as an heirloom to Ned, and from his
infancy he saw wine offered to guests in
the dinner parties, and, when he had been
"a perfect little gentleman" was given by
his father one little sip.
lie grew and the taste grew, and when
his father was taken all restraint but a
mothers love was taken.
As the only child of q praying mother,
now the church would hold him up, now
the saloon would drag him down; nov his
rich voice would join his mothers to swell
the anthems of the church, now make her
night hideous with his ribald songs. So
all along the years he was her idol and her
woe.
When her last sickness was upon her the
mother said to . friend;
"They tell me when | am gone Eddie
will go down unchecked. that in some wild
spree or mad delirium he will die. But lie
Will not. His fathers created the appetite
they gave my hoy. His disgrace is their
sin, and my sin too. He saw it on our
table, tasted it in II ice-ereams, ieliies and
sauces. For this my punishment is great
er than ] could bear but for the sure faith
that God has forgiven me and viii answer
my daily, nightly prayers. aud Eddie will
die an humble penitent. It is Just that 1
be forbidden to enjoy here the promised
land, but know Whom believe. and my
boy will be carried safely over"
As death drew nigh every breath was a
prayer for Eddie" and, as he chafed her
death-eold hands, the pallia lips formed
the words 10 ear could catch, "Meet-me-
in-heayen." And his voice, rich and full,
responded, 4 will, mother, l will"
And as from her mountain height of faith
and love she caught a glimpse of that
promised land" with a seraph's smile
she whispered, Decentralization
Father, and was gone.
And his uncomfortable grief made one
say to another, ellis mothers death will
be his salvation"
He covered the new-made grave with
flowers, and when others had left the ceme-
terry he went back and sat beside it until
~nightfall, and then went to his lone home,
and the oppressive silence drove him u
to walk. He passed a saloon; some Of his
old associates came II and said kind
words of sympathy. His soul was dark
and sad, and from the open door came
light and cheerful voices, and he went in.
Before the long spree was over he babe
a erony '.take that old book out OF my
sight"
That old book the Bible he had seen
his sainted mother read morning, night
and often midday, aud from which he lad
read TO her those suffering, dying days.
Then a friend of his mother took him 20
her home and brought him back to sober
ness, remorse, and a horror of himself.
For months he did nobly and became active
in Christian work, and refused all the
urging so just step in and see yoar old
friends, . and We felt there was a JOY in
heaven.
Then lie was asked to bring his banjo
and sing at an oyster-supper at the most
respectable saloon in town, where mo one
is ever asked to drink
\ wild spree was the result, and his robe
was SO mired We doubted if it ever had
beer white. And lie doubted, too, lost
hope, lost faith in himself, and, worse, lost
faith in God.
Kind arms were thrown around him,
aud again he was placed upon his feet.
Very humble, very weak, he tried once
more to walk the heavenward path.
Il am very glad TO see you 50 WELT |
said one day when | met him.
Il don't know how long it will last, he
said sadly.
For ever | hope I said cheerily.
Il shall try hard TO have 1t, but there
viii com an ~unguarded moment-but you
know nothing about it,
Some two weeks after l met a physician.
Il have a case for yeu ladies. Ned is
very sick.
Has liquor anything to do with it2n
'sNo, not at all. He has pneumonia but
his old drinking has so ruined his stomach
it viii go hard with him.
His nurse told rs he thought he should
die, and constantly exclaimed, my wasted
life, my wasted lifel God cannot forgive
it, lie would fear to die, and pray to liyeto
redeem his past. then he would fear to live
aud pray to be taken from temptation. SO
wore on a week, aud then he gave up self
and grew calm in Christ,
On Sunday he said his mother was in tine
room and wondered We could not see her,
and with . smile on his face and mother
on his lips he passed beyond.
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