The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-26
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A o7uNKARD's DAUGHTER.
How Child's Love Was the Means Of
Her Father's COnYersIon.


Her Fathers Conversion.
Her name was Phoebe Gray and she
was only five years old. She did not
live in handsome house, nor wear
nice clothes, nor have plenty of good
food to eat, for her father was drunk
ard, and did not take proper care of his
family.
Now, Phoebe had always been .
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
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, father! don't,
please, talk SO to mother"
Before Phoebe was born. Mr.. Gray,
when his drunken fits were on him,
was very cross at home, and stormed
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 few months
old, just for the pleasure of carrying
her about or rocking her to sleep in the
cradle, instead of going off to public
house. 1t was wonderful to see what
power this little tender thing had over
a strong man who had become the
slave of maddening vice.
So it had gone on until she was Ave
years old. But for her sweet influence
all would have been lost. Mrs. Gray
had no power over her husband. If
she said 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 thateven 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 of
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
that 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 deep and unselfish love as to
make her both wise and strong.
One night 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 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 where she had
been lying with her head on an old
piece of carpet, 81 wish father was al
home"
And then she sat and listened to the
dreary wind and rain.
Hell get so wet, and the wind will
blow him about" The poor child knew
how weak he was after he had beer
drinking and she felt sure he would
never be able to stand up against the
fierce wind that was blowing. Wher
this thought came to her mind, feal
crept into her heart; and fear began tc
make pictures of dreadful things. Nov
she saw, in imagination, her father fal
headlong upon the pavement with NJ
one 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, "hc'l
get drowned, he will! I must go TO
him."
you 60 for himl" Mrs. Gray nigh
wen look astonished.
Somebody must go for him. Hell
be drownedw said Phoebe, in distress.
"Oh, no, dear; there's no danger o
that" answered Mrs. Gray, trying t,
pacify her child. Don't be afraid
He'll not go into the street while i
rains so hard"
Are you sure of it, mother?" aske,
Phoebe.
"Ies, very sure"
But Phebe's heart would not rest.
I'll look out just for little min
ute" said the child, lifting the latch
AS she did SO, a gust of wind and rail-
swept into her face and almost blinde,
her.
"Oh! how it rains," she cried, shut
ting the door quickly. But she held i
close only for a moment or two. TIL
thought of father out in such a storm
made her open it again. And this tim
she bravely faced the wind and tn
rain and looked along the pavement a
far as the next cerner. where stree
lamp threw it's circle of light.
''Oh! there he isl" she exclaimed, an,
then, shutting the door behind her
ran toward the gas lamp, agains
which she thought she saw mai
standing. But it was only the SHADOW
of the lamp that she had seen; and he
heart sank in painful disappointment
Down upon her bare head the heav
rain fell, and the wind blew agains
her so hard that she could scarcel
hor faat