The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-08-07

I couch, put her shawl over her head
and started out to find me. And she
found me in condition most deplor-
able, indeed. At first she thought l
was dead, or that | had been brutal
iy treated by a highwayman. But
when she stopped down to look at
me, and saw, by the moonlight, my
face, she knew that her only child
was drunk. She tried to waken me;
she tried to get me into the house,
but she had not the strength. She
went to the house and got a pillow
and placed it under my head. She
covered me with blankets; she pro-
tected my face from the dew by
| placing an open umbrella over me.
She drew her shawl tightly round
her shoulders and sat down by my
side. In the morning l awoke just
as the sun was rising. l found her
there. Great tears were chasing
each other down her cheeks. | saw
at once that my mother had cared
for me all night. She had faithfully
kept her lonely vigil watching her
drunken son, weeping and praying.
Il am awfully thirsty said. My
voice sounded strange, weak and un-
natural. | got up; my mother rose,
went to the well and brought me
cup of water. As she handed the
cup to me she bowed her head that
| might not see her grief; but l saw
tear come down her pale cheek and
drop into that cup. | took the cup
from her hand and drank its con-
tents, tear and all. Yes, boys, |
drank my mothers tear, and | made
solemn VOW that | never again
would drink her tears.
81 led my mother into the house;
[ led her to the armchair, and as
soon as she was seated L got down
upon my knees.
Mother said I, this is the first;
it shall be the last
"'Charles," said she, running her
fingers through my hair, 4 hope so.
God bless you!'
81 looked up, and my mother had
tainted. | took her in my arms,
as one might take a child, and placed
her upon a bed. 1t was the begin
ming of what came near being her
death. Days and nights and weeks
| was by that sick bed. l heard her.
as her mind wandered, praying for
me, and pleading cor my reforma-
ton. And at times she would mag
inc that she was talking to my ia
Their. She would tell him of the
plans which she had for her son,
and that she hoped that he would be
a sober man. Every word she said
was like a knife cutting me; and
many a time l wished that 1 had
died before 1 ever tasted liquor.
But, thank God, my mother got well.
1t was a long time before she was
able to leave her room. l was her
constant companion. Somehow it
seemed to me that her life depended
upon my care.
"When the war broke out, | made
up my mind that 1 ought to enlist.
l told my mother about it and asked
her advice.
Charlie she said, Il am afraid to
let you go.'
Afraid of what, mother? Are
you afraid that l will be shot?'
"'Worse than that
Mother, what can you possibly
mean? | inquired.
''She blushed as she looked me in
the face. But her reply was one
never to be forgotten.
Charlie, l am afraid that you will
be overpowered by strong drink.
Mother said 1, 4 solemnIy VOW
by the sacred memory of my dear
father, that | will never drink an
other drop of Intoxicating liquor
without your consent
"'Then you may go to the war,
Charlie That was her reply, boys.
And [ tell you what-when l drink
an intoXicant, it will be when my
mothers own hand brings it to me
and she asks me to drink it,
"Amen!" said several of the SOL
diers who were listening to the SER
geant's story.
Il say, boys" said Ned. "here goes
the whisky" Turning the canteen
upside down, he emptied its contents
on the ground. AS the liquor went
gurgling out, he said: I've got a
mother, too, and I'm done with
liquor"
''And 7, tool"
"And T."
Every one took the pledge. and it
was afterwards said that the men
who were gathered around the camp
fire that night were the strongest
temperance men in the whole bril-
gade.-Clark D. Knapp, in National
Advocate.
TEMPERANCE ITEMS.