The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-05-08

Strong in his resolves Simon Tanner
turned his back upon THE Sorce1er.'
leaving behind him in the bar a lit
tie knot of perturbed, astonished men.
Only his wife was at home in their
miserable room, busy with some rough
sewing she obtained from shop in
the town. by means of which she got.
the children the little food that fell
to their lot, and she started I'D. hearing
the noise he made, fearing from his
haste heewas coming home, as he oft.
en- did, in violent temper. She was
thankful all the children were out
playing about the street with other
little sufferers. >She was always an
xious to spare them the misery of
seeing their father at his worst.
But he was changed, and the change
was startling. He rushed at her. it Is
true; but instead of the blow and the
curse, he took her in his arms. and
holding her tightly, sobbed like
child pray God to help us, Polly"
he said; I'm going to try to be bet
ter man." She heard him, and fell
a-sobbing too.
Simon had been kind to her once.
When first they married he promised
well, and was gentle to her; but be-
fore their first child was born he had
become follower of Mr.. Bouncer.
From that time there was no peace or
happiness; naught but quarreling.
want and rapid ruin. None of the
children had hitherto seen their father
at his best. They had no notion he ev-
er was, or could be, anything but
what he had been to them since they
were born. There were four of them,
and the eldest, a girl, was just nine
years Of age. Coming in at this mo-
ment, she did not know whether to
scream or be glad when her father
caught her in his arms and kissed
her.
While Simon Tanner was holding
his child to his heart, the two next,
boy and girl, came in, and as soon
as they could fairly comprehend what
had passed, lent their gladness to the
general Joy.
The last to arrive was little Jim.
who, with the summing born of the
street life he led, left the shoes he
had borrowed for awhile on the land
ing outside. He had not seen his father
at the public house because the paper
hid him from view, and he had no
suspicion of his little peccadillo hav-
ing been discovered, or of the good
it had effected. He was. greatly as
tonished and frightened at first when
his father raised him in his arms,
and with a glad smile asked him fer
his shoes.
A few hours before and he might
have denied having seen them, for
for the dread Of being cruelty treated
will often lead a child to lie; but the
smile disarmed him, and he told where
they were Simon Turner went out
and fetched them, and babe his wife
put them away.
1--WE will keep these he said, 'and
trust in God to led me Alright, so
that when jim is a man he may be
thankful for the day he put them on
A few minutes afterwards Simon
was out seeking work, and by night
he had found a little job to do. On his
return home he found Robert Brown,
the painter who gave Jim the biscuit,
waiting to see him.
Il thought would find you out and
have a talk with you," he said, "for it
is pity such good resolutions as
you and I made to-day should ever
grow cold. The lesson / had-and you
taught it, though you didn't think so
II never can forget. l have wife and
children, too, and don't think need
say more than that l shuddered as
thought Of what drink might bring
to them. | am going to sign the pledge.
VIII you come with me?
A ready affirmation was given, and
with Simon Tanner carrying little Jim
in his arms, as proud of him as if
he had been a prince of royal blood,
they went to well-known temperance
worker in the district and put down
their names. On their way home Rob
ert Brown unburdened his mind Of
something he had had upon it all day.
Here's boot-shop," he said, pull
ing up, 'and | want you to let me buy
Jim a pair that will fit him. It's poor
little gift for what he has done for
me this day"
1t was a generous offer not to be
refused on any account, and they went
into the shop where little Jim, in a
dream Of delight-he could hardly be-
lieye it was real-was fitted UP with
a pair Of sound boots. with sufficient