Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-14

not.
"Now," cried the happy little fell
low, as the turkey-a very small tur-
key-was ne next day placed in the
oven, ii VIII run over for Poor Joe,
old drunken Joe, the bad boys say.
Mayn't |. Mammal"
eyes" said his smiling mother,
"but you must not speak of him in
that way. dear. He was once a great
gentleman. and you must not hurt
his feeling People say he is not near
so poor as he looks, but l am sure,
half the time, he has not sufficient
food or the comforts of life about
him. Tell kim we desire his company
at dinner and don't stay long"
An hour passed, yet Harry came
not back.
The mother grew uneasy at last and
decided TO ascertain the cause of his
delay.
In a few minutes she stood at the
door of Joe's den. All was silent
within, and tremblingly she opened
the door and entered the one cheer
less room which he called home.
Upon the bed lay a man on whose
once fine face was craven the name
''inebriate"
Long and heavily had he slept, but,
alas! for many weeks and months
had he found no sleep long enough
to uncloud that once noble mind, to
sweep from it the cobwebs which
shadowed MS faculties and blurred
all the good in his nature.
He had but just awakened, and his
wondering eyes were fixed upon the
figure of q little child which knelt
beside him.
The sun had risen bright ana
cheering this Christmas morning,
and peepire through the curtainless
window fell in gentle benediction up
on the golden head of the lneeling
boy, whose eyes and hands were
raised toward heaven in earnest
supplication.
The man. scarcely breathed, and
great drops of perspiration stood up
on his brow.
81 thought at first it was an angel"
he muttcged. "but it's little Harry
White. and 7 do believe he is praying
for" som thing arose in his throat,
choking further utterance.
Neither OF them noticed the open
door, and the mother stood rooted to
the spot.
"Amen," aoftly breathed the boy as
he rose to his feet. amen"
"Were you-you--" stammered Joe
once the Hon. Joseph Willard
"were you praying for me?"
eyes," said the child, sOlemnly,
'my heart was talkin' to God. Mamma
calls it 'tilent prayer"
"For me, for me-" sobbed Joe.
'Precious little one. Truly, of such is
the kingdom of heaven"
81 heard the angels, Joe, when
was praying" earnestly said the
child, "they come down on 'trismas
day, YOU know, come down to help
poor folks Ike you and mamma and
me-"
"Aye, close indeed, my little one,
close indcoI," reverently said Joe,
"for in trut; a saving one has come to
me this day. Kiss me Harry. Thu
touch Of those lips will purify mine
mayhop."
Sweetly we're the fresh lips raiscc
to the feyerish ones, smilingly tn
earnest eyes looked into his.
"You are not-not--"
The boy hesitated.
''Not what?" asked the man.
"Not drunk now, Joe, and you vii
come to dinner with mother and me,
simply said Harry. "She sent me
and told ne to be very perlite T.
you, Joe, Tor you was once a gentle
man."
A scarlet line shot athwart tn
mans forehead. Then hiding hi
face from me gaze of those innocen
ewes. sob after sob broke from tn
penitent man.
In contrition the little fellow hsse
the tear-bedewed fingers.
"You VIII be good" he pleaded
"and not let the boys call you 'ol
drunken Joe,' any more. 1 love yot
Joe, deed ] do"
Silently the mother stole away, an
with song on her lip and dee
thankfuIness in her heart made PREF
araGons for the coming guest.
Could this be Joe, who, from tn
window She saw advancing with tn
little ones hand lovingly clasped /
his, Joe, who walked so erect, who's
attire showed such effort at neal
ness; Joe. upon whose countenanc
a grave resolve sat, whose eyes, whe
they greeted each other, looked int
hers with no shifting, uncertain e1
preston as Of yore?
J THANK you, madam" he sait
with his old-time, courtly grace, "fo
/ thinking Of me upon such an occ'
sion. l have entertained an angel III
awares to-day" he added, with
quNerlng Up. May the future prov
, you have done likewise"
The widow was busting about, an
the full significance of the remar
: was lost upon her.
: The next morning found Harr
again gazing from the window-nc
upon therfalling flakes of snow, br
watching this time the removal
sundry packages from WACO
I which stood before their door.
r For me-" exclaimed the bewildere
: widow, "for mel" as package aftt
, package was piled upon the table.
r "Yes'm," said the man. 81 was
give 'em to you, with Mr.. Joseph Wi
r lard's compliments"
With her boy clasped tightly
, her arms. the widow. a while late