Randolph County Journal

THE DAUGHTERS STRATAGEM
FACT
Judge Rose lived in Belleville, on
the banks of a great river in the
West. Every year he went to Wash-
ington. and his voice was often heard
in the halls of Congress. Yet though
he was called great. he was not good.
because he was fond of drinking
wine, brandy, &c, and frequented
the gambling rooms so numerous in
that city. These habits gained upon
him daily, until they conquered all
his moral strength. His townsmen
refused to send him as a delegate
any longer.
Judge Rose had an amiable wife,
and three pretty daughters. Mary,
the eldest, was his especial pet. He
thought more of her than of himself.
and no wish of hers went ungratified.
She was of a sweet disposition, and
so obedient and respectful to her
parents, and kind to every one about
her, that she was beloved by every
body. And though her father's
dwelling was the most elegant, (and
they had beautiful grounds, and ser-
vants, and horses, and carriages, and
fine clothes,) she never put on airs
as many do, but was modest and re-
tiring.
Mr. Rose and his wife and daugh-
ters were all members of a Christian
church. He was often suspended
from its fellowship, and on promises
of repentance received again.—
His influential position in society,
and the pious conduct of his
wife and daughters, caused much
pity for them, and enlisted much
patience. They hoped by love and
forbearance to restore him wholly
But all the love of his family and of
the church could not stop this erring
man in his downward course.
At last so low did he fall as to lose
all self-respect, and frequent the low-
est whiskey shops in the town. Daily
he went unshaven, unwashed, ragged
and almost naked, and when drunk
would sing some low song, which
would draw around him a crowd of
boys to jeer, and laugh, and scorn
the once dignified and respected
Judge. In personal appearance he
was now the lowest of the low.
It is not to be supposed that Chris-
tians and temperance men allowed
such a man to ruin himself without
efforts to save him. Earnest and
persevering endeavors were put forth,
prayers were offered up, and his
family left no avenue to his heart
unentered. But all were alike use-
less and hopeless. His wife and
daughters wept and prayed, but
despaircd entirely.
Mary, his pet, often labored to
save her father from open disgrace,
if not from private sin. She became
very sad, and refused to attend
church, or go into society. When
her father was sober, he had sense
enough to perceive the sorrowful
change in his once happy Mary, and
seemed to regret his course more for
her sake than his own.
One morning he started as usual
for the drinking shop. He was a
horrible object, indecent to look at,
as well as filthy. His wife tried to
hold him back, and get him, at least,
to put on some decent clothing, but
he would not yield. Mary made her
appearance by his side, clothed in
rags, low at the neck, bare armed
and bonnetless, with an old whiskey
bottle in her hand. Taking her
father's arm she said, "Come, father
I'm going too."
"Going where" said he, staring
at her as if horror struck.
"To the dram shop. What is good
for you is good for me."
Then she began to flourish her
bottle, and to sing one of the low
songs she had heard him sing in the
streets.
"Go back, girl. you are crazy.—
Mother, take her in."
"But I am going, father, with you.
to ruin my soul and body. It is no
use for me to be good, while you are
going off to the bad place. You'll
be lonely there without your Mary."
"Go away, girl. you'll drive me
mad."
"But you have been mad for a long
time, and I am going mad too—
What do I care? my father is only a
poor old despised drunkard, his
daughter may as well drink and lie
in the gutter too"
So Mary pulled away at her father's
arm, and went on to open the gate
He drew back, still she dragged on
and sung louder A few boys began
to run toward them, and then her
father broke from her hold, and went
into the house. There he sat down.
and putting his face in his hands—
wept and sobbed aloud Still Mary
stood out.
"What is the matter said Mrs.
Rose
Mary is crazy. and I have made
her so. I wish I was dead Do go.
and get her in. I won't go out to-
day."
Mrs. Rose went out and told Mary
what her father had said. and then
she went in. She sat down with her
bottle in her hand. and all day she
kept on the old rags. Mr. Rose was
in a terrible state for want of his
accustomed stimulus, and frequently
would go to the door, but Mary was
ready at his side, on every occasion
Mrs. Rose prepared her meals with
extra care, and gave her husband
cups of good strong coffee, and the
latter part of the day he laid down
to sleep. When he woke up Mary
was still there in her rags, and her
bottle by her side.
With much trembling and shaking
he put on a good suit of clothes, and
asked his wife to send for a barber
Then after tea, he said, "I am going
out."
"Where?"
"To the Temperance Hall. Go
with me, and see if I do not go
there."
So Mrs. Rose went with him to the
door of the hall, Mary still saying,
"I must follow, for I'm afraid he'll
go to the whiskey shop without me."
But his wife saw him go up stairs
and enter the meeting room, and the
door closed upon him, Then she
and Mary went home to rejoice with
trembling at the success of the strat-
agem.
Surprise—joy and some distrust
pervaded the minds of the assembly
of temperance brothers when Mr.
Rose walked in. He was invited
forward, and asked to speak what-
ever he wished.
He rose and told the tale of the
day, and added. "then I saw how
my angel-daughter was transformed
into a low, filthy creature—when I
knew how much lower she would
have to descend if she went with me
—I abhorred myself. She vowed to
go everywhere I went, and do every-
thing I did. Could I see her do that?
Her loveliness stained, her character
ruined—she, pure as an angel! No.
God save! if it kills me. I will leave off
and never touch, taste, or handle
more, from this night henceforward
and forever. And now, gentlemen,
help me to be a man again."
The building vibrated with the
cheering, stamping and clapping, and
a gush of song rose from those man-
ly hearts which might have been
heard for miles. O, "there is joy in
heaven over one sinner that repent-
eth," and should there not be joy
on earth?
We hope God converted the soul
of Mr. Rose, for he became a good
man, and his family were very hap-
py. But we hope no other daughter
will have to resort to so painful a
remedy to save a father.—Congrega-
tionalist