The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-07-01
The morning the neighbors had their

the dishes, and made the little sitting
room as tidy as he could, and then asked
his mothers permission to go to the
stream to get some trout for dinner.
About the time Jimmie started for the
stream his father left for the village
While Mrs. Watson was alone she
thought of the many friends she had in
the past; but oh! what a change now. As
soon as she began to feel the cold blasts
of adversely her friends began to drop
off. Among the number was one she had
passed many happy hours with. Although
that friend was professed follower of
the Master, she was not slow in saying
''she should not go where that drunken
Bill Watson was.'' She did not realize
that that would be just where the Master
would go to comfort the sorrowing, if he
was here on earth. As it was, Mrs Wat
son found the Saviour, a present help in
trouble.
l often think of the great preachers
saying just before he passed away. He
said, after hard autumnal frost the
leaves of tree never fall faster than
mans friends leave him after he is hit
by adversity.''
Jimmie was not gone long before he came
home with a string of nice trout. Some
how his bait had an attraction for the
little fishes. After he got them ready to
cook he sat down to have a little talk
with his mother" When l came home,
| met MI. Spaulding and Nh. Morse,
mother; they both spoke to me- 1t al
ways pleased Jimmie to be noticed by the
neighbors.
Mother, l have thought this forenoon
about going to school next week | want
to 90 the first day and not miss day in
the term. The last term | thought /
should never want to enter the school
room again The boys named me little
Patches, and said father ought to draw
out his bank deposits and Get me suit
OF Clothes
Mother, if you are willing. will ask
Mr.. Morse if he will get me a suit of
clothes and let me work for him after this
term of school closes. l want to 90 to the
week day school and to the Sunday
school so much. | am twelve years old and
| want to know something and be some
body. Mother, will never NEEDLE with
strong drink. See what it has done for
poor father. How good he used to be and
buy lots Of things for you and l. When
he came home from the village he always
had something for us.
After dinner Mrs Watson told Jimmie
would befriend him; she knew of no one
who would be so likely to lend helping
hand. Jimmie was not gone long. He
said Mr. Morse told him to come again in
two days and he should 60 to the village
with him. After the two days were out
Mr.. Morse took him to the village and
bought him whole e'out-fit," and told
him after the school closed he should have
some work for him.
A more thankful boy could not be
found than Jimmie He could hardly
wait for sunday to come. He helped his
mother all he could about the house and
was yer, handy.
The following Sunday morning Mrs.
Watson noticed great change in Mr..
Watson's appearance. Soon after jim
ME started for the village Mr.. Watson
remarked to his wife: ''Malia, it seems to
me that l am coming to myself, and when
/ think of what | have been for the last
four or five years it makes my heart ache.
The thought of what you have endured is
almost enough to unbalance my mind;
but by Gods help l am going to lead a
different life. | want you to forgive me
and pray for me- Mrs Watson asked her
husband if he would pray for himself and
he replied: Il will with all my heart
The scripture lesson which Mrs. Wat
son read was those beautiful words where
the Saviour said, ''Come unto me, all We
that labor and are heavy laden, and will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn of Inc; for | am meek and lowly
in heart and We shall find rest to your
souls For my yoke is easy and my bur-
den light
Mrs. Watson knelt down with her hus-
band and a fervent prayer from her lips
assembled to heaven in his behalf.
In the anguish of his soul Mr.. Watson
prayed to God to forgive his sins and to
keep him from that awful habit that had
fastened its chains around him After
they arose; it seemed to Mr.. Watson that
old things had passed away and behold
all things had become new A calm Joy
full feeling came over him that lie had
never felt before.
When Jimmie came home from Sunday
school, he was brimfull of JOY He SEEM
ed to think that the Sunday school was
the next place to heaven. He felt the
change in the little sitting room, where
his parents seemed so happy.
That night the family altar was erected
in their humble home, and Mrs. Watson
felt if there were angels here on earth,
they would rejoice with her.
The next morning the first thing Mr.
Watson did, was to go to neighbor,
and make an humble acknowledgment to