The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-09-28
Temperance Storp.
"a Little Child Shall Lead Them"

ing at the head of the stairs, holding her
little Bible in her hand
"I'm all ready, Lily; Pm coming
right now" and chubby-faced boy of
five years came running from the bed
room, putting cap on his head as he
spoke.
"Good.bye, mamma" called both the
children, as, hand in hand, they went
down stairs and tapped at the door that
separated their home from the saloon
which their father owned.
In response to their knock, John
Malcolm looked through the glass slide,
and, seeing who it was, came out.
"Well, Chickens" he said good ma
turedly, 81 suppose you've come to get
some pennies for church." and, putting
his hand in his pocket, their father
drew out some small change. "Now,
that's for church, and this is for your
SELF" he continued, giving them each
two bright nickels.
kiss me goodbye, pets, and run
off, business is brisk this morning, so
l can't stay away. The more nickels
take in, the more you'll have for
church."
Don't you want to hear me say the
golden text, papa? You always do, and
don't you remember, at Christmas, you
said if l knew it every Sunday, you
would put ten cents in my missionary
box" and Lily rubbed her soft cheek
against her fathers hand.
"Well, so l did; let me hear it," said
John Malcolm, gazing with pride at the
tiny figure before him.
"Wine is mocker, strong drink is
raging, and whatsoever is deceived
thereby is not wise," repeated Lily, rev.
erently.
"Quite true" murmured her father
shaking his head, )" but fortunately, Lily,
they are not all wise, or you wouldn't
have this fine dress"
"Nor me neither, papa" piped Wal
ter's baby treble.
"No, nor you either, young man;
it's the drink that brings us the money
and gives you all your pretty things"
Everybody said that John Malcolm
was model husband and father. His
home, which was above his saloon, was
furnished with every comfort and con-
venience, and he himself used to say
"That no child in Fifth avenue had
finer clothes than his little Lily" John
Malcolm loved his wife and boy, but
Lily was his idol. She was a rarely
beautiful child with deep, earnest, blue
eyes and face so spiritual, it seemed
to reflect the purity of her soul. He
stood at the window watching the chill
dren as they went down the street, and
his heart swelled within him. 1t was
more than fathers love he had for Lily
In infancy, when pain racked her tiny
form, she would turn from her mother
to him, stretching out her baby hands,
and in his strong arms she would be
soothed and fall into a gentle sleep.
Lily reached church just few min
utes late, and after seeing Walter safely
settled in the infant class, she slipped
quietly into her own place. Miss ALI
son, her teacher, gave her loving
smile of welcome, and then Lily bowed
her head for the opening prayer. All
the week good Miss Allison had been in
sore distress in preparing the Sabbath
lesson; she saw that the subject was
Temperance" and not only was
Lily in her class, but owing to the
child's peculiar surroundings, Miss AL
lison had always taken a deep interest
in her, and she felt that sooner than
wound the shy, sensitive spirit, it
would be better to change the lesson
and have review. But each time she
felt impelled to return to it, and at last,
ALMOST in despair, she fell on her knees
asking for guidance, and straightway
the answer seemed to come from
heaven: mot thy will, but mine"
Still, as the children rose from their
knees, Miss Allison glanced at Lily,
and drawing her to seat next to her
self, she held the little hand in hers
while she spoke. Somehow the words
of that lesson worried Lily, and the
low, tender tones of Miss Allison as she
dwelt on the evils of intemperance
seemed to echo and re-echo in hel
heart, and as she started homeward
she repeated the words of the text over
and over.
She had almost reached home wher
she saw a miserably- dressed girl stand
ing at the corner of the street. Lily
went over to her, and, handing her one
of her new nickels, said: Here il
something for you, Sally, and yor
ought to mend your dress. Why does
not your mamma get you new one
and send you to Sunday-school?"
"And it's you that asks me tina
question: Well, then, I'll answer it
since you want to know. It's because
your father keeps a gin mill, and al
the money my father makes is spent
there, and we freeze and starve, Will,
you go to church in your fine sill
dresses. Shame on you, shame on you
but that money won't bring you n,
luck. My mother says as how God'l
curse your father for wrecking SO man.
homes with his old gin mill"
Like a stone, the girls words fell OF
Lily's heart. She looked at her for
moment, hut could say nothing.
seemed as though a veil had been tori
from her eyes and she saw and under
stood. All the light and gladness wen
out of her life, and shadow fell upoi
that face, that only Gods hand coult
remove.
Lily almost flew home, and taking of
the dainty silk dress that had given he
80 much pleasure in the morning, sh
hung it in the darkest corner of he
closet. Her father could not under
stand why. When he came in to din
.