The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-07-05

most Shuddered as the door closed be-
hind him. John seldom went down town
in the evening, and so we sat together
that night by the warm fire, he read
ing his paper, and l keeping my hands
busy at work, though my thoughts were
with my boy.
At ten o'clock John lighted his lamp
and went to bed, remarking, as he left
the room, that he believed was running
my eyes working so much by lamplight.
So, knowing that it fretted him to have
me sit up late, Iwearily prepared for bed,
although / felt sure / should not sleep.
The snow had fallen to such a depth
that it muffled the sound of passing
footsteps, and so lay and listened for
the sound of Harry at Ghe door. Every
noise seemed unnaturally loud, and
scores of times l lifted my head from
the pillow quite sure that he had come.
What noise the mice made in the gar
ret overhead, and how mournfully the
old tree beside my window creaked and
groaned as the heavy gusts of wind
swayed it to and fro. How slowly the
hours dragged away. / heard the clock
three. What could be the matter! Har-
ry had promised to come home early and
l had never known him to stay out so
late before.
could endure it no longer and rose,
dressed myself and went back to the
sitting-room. l lifted the curtain and
looked out; could see by the light of
the street lamp that it had stopped
showing, but what was that dark object
that lay across the walk? Could it be
human form partly covered by the
drifted sEow? l looked a moment
longer; yes, was certain that it was a
person lying there and then, Oh! the
thought came to me that it might be
Harry.
hurriedly called John, telling him
that there was a person lying out on
our sidewalk, but dared not tell him
of the awful fear that had seized me.
He was dressed in moment and when
he came he asked why had not called
Harry: he looked surprised when | re-
piled that Harry had not come home
yet. | saw him glance quickly at the
clock and an anxious look came over
his face when he saw that it was after
three.
We FASTENED out through the deep
did, and as he lifted it in his arms and
the light from the street-lamp flashed
across the face, ] heard him cry out:
''Oh, my God! it's Harry
Yes, it was indeed Harry who had
fallen and lain there, we knew not how
long. That he was intoxicated we
knew at once, for the heavy fumes of
the liquor still chung to him.
We carried the unconscious form into
the house, and I fastened to a neigh.
boris to arouse them and ask them to
srnd their boy for doctor; then l
went back, and we did what we could
for the poor boy before the doctor
came / shall never forget the look of
agony on Johns face while we waited
for the doctors arrival. Somehow, as
locked at him, / seepled to see the
bigoted man, with all hir wearisome opin-
ions sinking into the background and in
his place there stood the true
ia Their with all fathers love and
tie srible anxiety written upon his face.
When the doctor came he relieved
anxiety by telling us that the boy was
net so badly frozen as we had feared,
brit he said: Had he lain there until
been fatal"
The weeks passed in tedious recovery,
and one day when Harry remarked that
he thought he was able to walk down
town again his father told him that he
wSbld like few moments talk with
hin; they went together into Harry's
room and the few moments heightened
into an hour. l never knew what was
said during that hour, but l am sure
there were no angry words spoken, for
when they came out there was gentle,
softened expression on each face.
Well, thank God my boy was not
past redemption, and that terrible
nights experience was his salvation, for
never since then has he drank one drop
of liquor; and, as the years go by, he
grows drawer and stronger and more
manly.
And John? Well, brother John still
has his opinions, and in many respects
they differ widely from mine, but upon
the subject which is nearest to my
heart, the Temperance subject, we are
firmly united; for never since that fate
full night when our boy came so near
losing his life within the very shadow
of his home has John had aught but
condemnation for the social glass.
Oh, how many Johns there are to-day
who are carelessly giving their sanction
and approval to this death dealing
traffic that is blighting the homes of
our country, far and near? But wait,
only wait until the curse comes to their
own door, and then perchance they
too, will change their Opinions. -
Nettie II. Pelham, in Union Signal.
Congressman Stewart and Temperance.
Congressman Stewart, OF Georgia. in
a recent address in Washington, related
the following touching story which, he
said, led him to become interested in
the cause of Temperance: when a lad
living among the Georgia hills, he had
a friend, bright and promising, who
married beautiful and wealthy girl
He fell victim to drink, and coming
home once in a debauch, seized little
child who ran forward to meet him and
dashed it against the wall. Not know.