The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-08-27

mother would always sit up for his return.
1t was not long before his steps were un-
steady when be came home at late hour
Mr.. Hamlin and Johnnie associates SEEM
ed to have power over him for evil.
We will 60 back to the time when Mrs.
Alden was seated alone in her sitting
room thinking of the past. She was
awaiting her sons return from dance.
Some time after midnight she heard his
unsteady step going up to his room. Be-
| fore retiring Mrs. Alden knelt down and
prayed to that One who has promised to
be Father to the fatherless and the
widows God. The next morning there
was nothing said at the breakfast table
until Johnnie broke the silence. ''Mother,
| heard you praying for me after came
home. and I am beginning to see what
awful danger | am in. The scales are
falling from my eyes, and | can see that
liquor has destroyed my finer feelings and
l am selfish and inconsiderate to one of
the best of mothers. How | loved you
before this awful habit fastened it's chains
around me. 1t is no use for ne to think
of overcoming this habit while remaining
ing away; going out west where uncle
Robert and uncle James are, and | am
never coming back until | am such son
! as you deserve. Mrs. Alden's heart was
filled with joy to hear her son talk as he
did; she felt God was answering her pray
ers. She knew it would be very hard for
her to part with him, but nothing to
what it would be to have him remain at
home and be slave to strong drink. AS
soon as his things were in readiness
Johnnie with his mother went to bid his
grandparents good bye. They thought
favorably of Johnnie's going west to be
with his uneles.
After making visit with her parents,
and promising to return after johnnie
her son returned home. Two days later
Johnnie babe his mother good bye and
started for the West. He was past twenty
years of age. Mrs. Alden was brave and
cheerful when she parted with her son ;
she did not want him to think of her in
tears. After making arrangements in her
home she went to reside with her parents.
They were beginning to feel the infrmi-
ties of age aud needed her company. At
the expiration of two weeks Mrs. Alden
received a letter from her son, saying that
he arrived safely in the town where his
uncles resided and gave them a pleasant
surprise. They had business for him and
were delighted to assist their widowed
sisters son. They were men who did not
live for self alone. Often they dried the
orphans tears and made the widow
heart sing for JOY. Mrs. Alden's heart
was tillel with gratitude to God. The
words of the psalmist came to her mind,
''They that SOW in tears shall reap in joy"
Mrs Alden was a great comfort to her
parents and it was a consolation to her to
| be with them. She visited the sick and
helped the needy and carried sunshine to
the Borrowing. In doing good she found
the time did not seem long, it passed rap
idly away. She heard from her son once
ing letters as often from his mother. Mrs.
Alden often received pleasing letters from
her brothers concerning her son: they
were much interested in him. They had
families OF their own, but they all took t.
Johnnie. He was getting along finely.
The years came and went, as years al
ways come and 90, and before Mrs. Alden
was hardly aware of it her son had been
away five years. He had never written
how long he thought of remaining out
west. AS it had been longer than usual
since his mother had heard from him she
was feeling quite anxious, fearing he
might be sick. A few days later a young
man rode up to the door and inquired of
Mrs. Alden if Mr.. Alden lived there Mrs.
Alden knew the voice 1t was joyful
meeting between mother and son, and
grandfather and grandmother rejoiced
with them. Johnnie came home fine
man.
He had prospered beyond his mother S
expectations. He soon bought nice
home near his grandfather's and brought
a youthful bride to share it with him and
his mother. Mr.. Alden bids fair to be a
prominent man in the place where he re-
sides, and faithful worker in the cause
of temperance. His mother came out of
the furnace pure gold. j. G. NJ.
Stockton Springs.
The Wage-Earner and Free Silver.