The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-11-21
For The GAZETTE.
RACHEL MASON.
a rrae story.
ny PATAGONIA.

her refuse heap, anu pity slNtN |
the brightest mind and the truest,
tendtrest heart in her possession.
But Rachel v $ true; rue 70 Goh,
whom she tried 10 .r q ia h,r
hamble home am oog the gieai
trees in the country, ahd true to
Joe Mason, to whom she had gIyeI
her warm, unseliish heart IN hap.
py girlhood, and though her heart
VAS crushed by the one great sor-
row OF her life, h-r husbands in
tenn erancr, she greeted every ont
with cheerful smile, aud her
voice, Ike that Of her wildbirl
friends, gushed forth in stirring,
unframed mel tiy, as she sang al
her homely duties, or lnlled her
babes TO aleep in the old wooden
rocker. She btliev d. with many
others, that true love has power TO
reclaim the erring, 50 she sought
by the strength of her pure love
to lead Joe Mason back to the path
OF virtue and sohriety, which he
had forsaIlen long before she knew
him; never thinking of the fact
demons tratrd By all human ex-
Iciipn ., that lie love that re-
claims 4 man must spring from bis
own heart. Never thinking Of til
fact that the powerfullove ofthe AL.
mighty Trinity converts sinners hy
awakening iii The heart recipro-
city Of feeling.
Rarh,l loved and lahored on,
with M hope ia her heart save the
hope Of heaven and the vain hope
that Joe would quit drinking and
live as Il Christian, which he
claimed 10 be-, should. For Joe
loved nothing truly, but his liquor
and his ease.
When The sai0 ny were closed ~
the neighbor ng twn, Rachel wepl
for joy, feeling that her troubles
wrre over, a. Joe sould no long, !
tempted hy tiie Sc satanic dens be
But Joe was not 10 lie left tha
way, and every time H.. got money
enough, he would orirr a gallon
Of his liquid god an get cn a .'glor'
ous Spree" filing his home wit
drunken men, sp.Inii e many 7
Saturday night aid Suunay il
earousal. Rachel, who bad beeI
taught TO reslmci the Sabbath
must listen TO their b o0d-curdlini
profanity, cook their meals, keel
fuel for their fires mix their drinks
clean after them ard treat then
with patient kindness, or Joe'i
feelings would be hurt, fer the!
w.re his friends and kinsmen, an'
she would be dubbed shrew b.
the whoe community if any on
found fault with her hospitality.
Joe was always good humore'
when sob.r, and if his famil.
wouli greet him with a smile, kis
and pet him, he was merry enougl
wi Ell drinking. Bnt no one mus
say anythil & against whisky. H
regarded getting drunk as tn
most precious privilege Of his life
and resented word against drink
ing as he would personal insult.
1t was sadly amusing an
enough to inspire disgust to watc
his countenance when just off I
spree. He looked like a man VII
had been caught at very graf
flying piece of meanness, and Will
lie is le gningrepeniance, is sil n
IL awaiting chal &c 70 repeat tn
trick. He sits with his head hun
down and answers Rachel's lovin
efforts to rally hIm with pityin
half smile, which seems to say; Z
can't help it, and you ought not
care; as it is no harm much att
all, only that you think it WRONG
Joe used 10 say that he fe
hum lie after sp'ee; that !
could pray then with contrii
heart. But he must have prayt
for forgiveness while planning Il
repetilion OF the same sin, +,
many days rr elapsed in wi
ter, spring and Antumn bni win;
Joe Mason Was TN a cruuk.
VIII. N h. wen. 10 town, Rach
would lock toe h,uee, luck the Il
tie ones away. .nd eating heise
before the FIR, llsie vita sirain'
eas and Trembling "a art u eve
pnusual OuuG, lmagi lag t-oL