Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-17
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A DRuNkARD's DAUGHTER.
How a Child's Love Wa the Means of
Her Fathers Conversion.

Her name was Phoebe Gray and She
was only five years old. She did not
live in a handsome house. o wear
nice clothes. nor have plenty of good
food to eat, for her father was a drunk
ard, and did not take proper care Of his
family.
Now. Phoebe had always been a
sweet child. and her tender. loving
ways had many times kept her father
from taverns and bad company. 1t
seemed to him, sometimes, when her
arm was about his neck, as if an angel
were guarding him. He never spoke
Grossly to Phoebe, even in his worst fits
of drunkenness; and if he got into a
rage, as he sometimes did when his
poor heart-broken wife tried to talk
with him about his bad habits, his an
ger died out when the dear child, lift
ing her fearful eyes and frightened
face, would say: ''Oh, fatherl don't,
please, talk so to mother"
Before Phoebe was born, Mr.. Gray,
when his drunken fits were on him,
about, sometimes like a mailman. But
after Phoebe was born, these fits were
less frequent, and rarely so violent as
in former times.
He loved to hold her in his arms, and
would often stay at home in the even
ing, after she grew to be a few months
old, Just for the pleasure of carrying
her about OF rocking her to sleep In the
cradle, instead of going off to "a public
Ia,.ga IL rr.a ~uAnAarfn1 70 uaa urhaf
power this little tender thing had over
a strong man who had become the
slave of a m~addening vice.
So it had gone on until she vas five
years old. But for her sweet influence
all would have been lost. Mrs. Gray
had no power over her husband. II
she said a word about his bad habits,
or tried to draw him away from them,
he would get very angry, and go off
and do worse than before. Now, long
indulgence in drinking had made his
fiery thirst SO strong that even Phoebe's
influence failed to keep him away
from the public house, where he spent
nearly all his money, and left his wife
and child to suffer at home for want oil
food and warm clothing.
Still, love did not die in the heart of
his child, though she grew thin and
pale, and the shadow of sorrow that
was very bitter lay heavily on her
young face.
Very lonely and sad were her even.
ings now. Her father rarely came in
before nine or ten o'clock, and then he
was so stupid with liquor that her only
pleasure in seeing him was to know
hat he was at home instead of at the
tavern.
Love is strong and wise. A little
girl only five years old is tender and
weak; but there may be in her heart
such a deep and unselfish love as to
make her both wise and strong.
One night a storm came up. The
wind blew, and the rain fell heavily.
A neighboring clock struck nine; and
as the sound died away the wind came
with a rushing noise along the street,
rafting the shutters and driving the
rain upon the windows.
''Oh, dear" said little Phoebe, start
ing up from the floor. whore she had
been lying with her head on an old
piece of carpet, II wish father was at
home"
And then She sat and listened to the
dreary wind and rain.
Hell get so wet. and the wind win
blow him about. The poor child knew
how weak he was after he had been
drinking and She felt sure he would
never be able TO stand up against the
4fafga xRfnI fhuf Vrua IU,rwfnm EI.al
this thought came TO her mind. fear
crept into her heart: and fear began 10
make pictures Of dreadful things. Now
she saw, in Imagination, her father fall
headlong upon the pavement with no
n near TO raise him up; now she saw
him tumbling into the swollen gutter,
and the tide Of water rushing over him.
''Oh, dear, mother," she cried, start
ing up and going to the window, hell
get drowned, he Will / must go for
him"
You go for him. Mrs. Gray might
well look astonished.
Some body must 20 for him. He'll
be drowned said Phoebe, in distress.
''Oh, no, dear; there's no danger of
that answered Mrs. Gray. trying to
pacify her child. Don't be afraid.
He'll not go into the street while it
rains so hard
Are you sure of it, Mother" asked
Phoebe.
Yes. very sure
But Ph9be's heart would not rest.
"I1l look out just for a little min
ute, said the child. lifting the latch.
As she did SO, a gust of wind and rain
swept into her face and almost blinded
her.
.'Ohl how it rainsl" she cried. shut
ting the door quickly. But she held it
only for a moment or two. The
thought Of father ont in such a storm
her open it again. And this time
She bravelY faced the wind and the
rain and looked along the pavement as
as the next cerner. where a street
threw its circle Of light. i
''Oh. there he isl. she exclaimed. and