Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-12-04
A ToucHINe INCIDENT.


said he ,-ould give me the facts that led
to his reform and the circumstances
that arrested him in his career of sin.
Two maiden ladies' VINO lived in a
village often noticed scantily-clad girl
passing their house with tin pail On
one occasion one ofthese ladies accosted
her:
Little girl, what have you got in
that pailo'
WHISKY, ma'am."
where do you live?"
'Down in the hollow
'I'll go home with you.
They soon came to a wretched bowel
in the hollow, just outside the village
A pale, faded, worn-out woman met them
at the door. Inside was a man, dirty,
maudlin and offensive. The lady, ad-
dressing the woman, said:
is this your little girl?'
"Yes, +"
Does she go to schoolg'
mo- she has no other clothes than
what you see.
Does she go to Sunday-school?'
"Sunday-school in these ragsl oh,
nor
IF furnish her with suitable clothes
can she go?'
1T is OF no use giving her clothes
He would steal them and sell them for
whisky Better let the girl alone.
There is no hope for her or for US
But she ought to 90 to school,"
An arrangement was entered into
whereby the child should call at the
lady's house Sunday morning, be clothed
for the school, and after the school
dismissed call again, and change
garments for home
The little creature was very teach
able and soon became fayorite with
her teacher, who gave her little
Testament, probably the first present
the child had ever received. She was
very proud of her Testament exhibit
ing it on all occasions, with the de-
lighted exclamation:
That's my little Testament-my
own.
She would take it with her at night,
clasping it in her hands till she fell
asleep on the wretched rags called a
bed. The child was taken ill., The
doctor, provided by her benefactors, dc
clared she would die Her friends
furnished her with what comforts the
could and watched the father lest he
should steal them and sell them for
whisky.
The gentleman then continued the
narrative in the first person:
zone day | went to her bedside. I
was mad tor a drink. had taken every
thing could lay my hands on
II looked round the room. There
was nothing left, nothing TO dispose of.
Yet | must have drink | would have
sold my child: would have sold myself
for whisky The little creature lay on
the bed, with the Testament clasped in
her hand partly doing, As | sat there,
she fell asleep, and the book slipped
from her fingers and Law on the
coverlet Of the bed. Stealthily
looking round the room, stretched
out my shaking hand, seized the Testa-
ment and hastily thrust it into my
bosom soon sneaked out like a guilty
thing. to the grog-sho All could get
for il was half a 5 81 whisky. II was
a poor little boo drank the DEVILS
drink almost at a draught and soon fel
relieved from the burning thirst The
stagnant blood in the diseased vessels
Of my stomach was stimulated by the
fiery fluid and | felt better. What took
me back to my child ! can not tell, but
sat again by her side. She still seemed
to be sleeping, and ! sat there with the
horrible craving stayed for a time by
the whisky ] had drunk, when she
opened her eyes slowly and saw me.
Reaching out her hand to touch mine,
she said: Papa. listen. | am going to
die, and when | die | shall go to Jesus,
for lie told little children to come to
Him. And / shall 30 Heaven, for He
said that little children were of the
kingdom of Heaven. Learned that out
Of my Testament Papa when 1 60 to
Heaven. if Jesus should ask me what you
did with my little Testament o, papa. O,
papa. what shall : tell Him?' 1t struck
me like lightning. l sat few moments,
and then fell down on my knees by the
bedside of my child, crying: God be
merciful to me a sinner That half
pint OF whisky was the last drop OF in
LOAlcdllNH ny uDt bildt pdsSFA lh1 ups
''She died in few days " it'll her hand
in mine. and her last words to me were:
Papa. we shall both go to Jesus now
Prom John b. Coughs Sunlight and
Shadow.
1t is said there has never been a fight
or a suarrel, and that there are no pun
ishments in the Soldiers Home at Chel-
sea. Mass. The reason given for
this is that no liquors are allowed on
the premises. and if man gets drunk
when off on leave for day he does not
easily get permission to go again. il
he gets drunk for third time he is dis
charged from the home.
ALTHOUGH there are many who would
have us believe that the results of the
use of alcoholics are not so serious in 1
European countries as in our own, the I
last census shows that in Germany only /