Year: 1867

While he looked, the face and form
grew more distinct. He saw the
sweet lips move, and heard them say,
as clearly as if the words had been
spoken in his outward ears:


"Ble88 dear papa, and make him
good and happy"


The glass of wine did not touch his
lips.


''Not drink to that p exclaimed his
tempter, in surprise, as he saw the un-
tasted wine.


Thank you for the toast" answer
ed the young man, rising. II must
look to my birdie in the home-nest."


And bOwing to the company he has
tily retired. One laughed, another
sneered, and another made a coarse
jest; while fourth said, with gravi-
ty Of manner that was felt by the rest
as rebuke:


"Our young friend is right His
place is at home with his wife and
child, and not here. And there are
some Of US who, in my opinion, might
take a lesson from his example,


A dead silence followed. One look
ed at another; and crimson spots
burned on cheeks that had on them no
signs Of shame little while before.


mo more wine for me" said the
! last speaker, replying to an invitation
to fill his glass.


I've no patience with this kind Of
stuff, spoke out one of the company,
almost angrily. What has wine been
ordered for, if not to drink ?"


He who said this was a gambler in
the disguise Of a friend. He wished
to steal away the reason and consci-
ence Of his young companions with
wine, that he might rob them of their
money at cards.


As he spoke, he filled one glass to
the brim, and then pushed the bottle
towards his neighbor, who filled his
glass in turn. But when it came to
the third in the circle sitting around
the table, he passed it on, leaving his
own glass empty. The fourth and
fifth filled their glasses. Said the one
who first passed the bottle, lifting his
glass as he spoke:


Here's to good fellowship" And
all but one repeated his toast, and
drank as he drank. Then the third
in the circle filled his glass with water,
and rising, said in a clear ringing
voice;


Here's to birdie in the home-nestw


Frowns darkened on his compan-
ions faces. Raising the water to his
lips, he drank it slowly. As he set
down the empty glass, he looked at
the angry face of the gambler, whose
real character he more than half sus-
|pected, and bowing slightly, said:


a also thank you for that toast :;
and | also will look to my birdie in
the home-nest."


Then bowling low to all the COM
pany, he left the room, the sound OF
curses in his ears as he shut the door.


The young man whose refusal to
drink any more had first broken in
that company the charmed circle of
danger, walked hurriedly away, turn
ing his steps hOmeward He was, as
we have said, miles distant, and at the
Iopposite extremity of a great CITY,
| IHurriedly he walked at first; then
his steps grew slower, and his head
was bent down, for painful and self
condemning thoughts were in his mind.
A street car passed; it would have
taken him in less than hour, within a
few blocks of home. Why did he let
it 90 by unheeded? Was thought so
busy that he had forgotten he could
ride?


No, that was not the reason. He
had drank too freely at the supper
cable, and he knew that his breath was
tainted with liquor; and now that a
new light had come into his mind and
he saw, as in a mirror, a true image
of himself, he was shocked to discov-
er that he was less a true mao than
in days past, and less worthy to bear
the name of husband and father. This
was the reason why his steps were
slow and his head bowed down; and
the reason why he did not take the
car, and pass quickly homeward. He
shrank from the thought of laying his
> tainted lips upon the pure brow and
!, lips of his wife and child, and so re-
vealing to them that weak and sensual
side Of his character which was hold.
ing him back from a nobler and pureI
! life than the one he was living.
Slowly he continued to walk, still
t with bowed head and busy thoughts
= and memories. Suddenly there came
+ before him, even more clearly, If pos
sible, than when he saw it in the am
;. Der wine, the image Of his kneeling
Y child; and again the voice, so full of
Q sweet music for his ears, was heard
with strange distinctness saying:
e BLESS dear papa, and make hin
e good and happy"


Could God have answered the peti
e ton of that loving child for her father
in any better or more effectual way
|, then by sending the words of her pray
n er to his inward ears by the voice o
an angel? He could not make hin
l, good and happy, except through re
r pentance and a better life; but HI
o could make the prayer a means OF
is conviction and repentance. So th,
II good Lord is ever using US, whethe
st we are children or grown-up men ant
IS women, and using us by thousands ol
e different ways, in the work of leading
o others from evil courses into paths 0