Hot corn: Life Scenes in New York IllustratedRobinson, Solon
General
Hot corn: Life Scenes in New York Illustrated
Robinson, Solon
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Temperance -- Fiction
"I used to write. 'Tis a long time since I did. Maggie, my hand
trembles. Help me--guide the pen. I cannot see clearly."
No wonder. There was a tear in each eye. There were other tears when
Maggie took him again by the hand, and again said:
"Come, father, let us pray;" and then all kneeled down together, and
then Mr. Nolan took him by the arm, and said, "Come, James, let us go
home."
Not yet. He had one more act to perform. He shook his wife's hand, and
said, "Good bye. I shall keep it." Then he looked wishfully at Maggie,
as though he wanted something, yet dare not ask it, for fear he should
be repulsed. Still the yearning of nature was upon him. It was a long
time since he had felt it as he now felt, but he was beginning to be a
new man. Maggie was his only child, his once loved, much caressed child.
Would she ever cling those arms around his neck again. She had shown
herself this night one of the blessed of this earth. She had done, or
induced him to do, what no other soul on earth could have done, and how
his heart did yearn to clasp her in his arms. He stopped half way to the
door, and looked upon her with tearful, loving, thankful eyes. It needs
no wires, no magnet, no human contrivance, to convey the magnetism of
the heart. She felt its power, as it sprung from the lightning flash of
loving eyes, and quick as that flash, she made one bound, one word,
"Father!" and her arms were around his neck, her lips to his, and here
let us shift the scene.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TEMPTATION.--THE FALL.
Eve was tempted of Satan, and fell.
So have been her children.
About two months after the events of the last chapter, a few of the new
friends of James Reagan joined together, procured a comfortable room in
Mulberry street, and put in the necessary articles of furniture, and his
wife, faithful to her promise, came to live with him. There was a great
contrast between this and the home where we visited him in Centre
street. Nolan and Elting stuck to him, and he stuck to the pledge.
Margaret watched him, visited him, went with him and her mother to
church and temperance meetings, and, finally, became satisfied and happy
that her father had made a complete reformation, and that he had
outlived all danger of relapse; so she accepted a good offer to go into
the country, and live in a farmer's house, where she would learn
house-work. It was her fortune, but his misfortune, thus to be
separated. She was his ever-watchful guardian angel. His wife was
affectionately kind, and they lived together, as of old, happily. And
so, as of Adam and Eve in paradise, they might have lived, if there had
been no serpents in New York. They beset him--waylaid him--tempted
him--but no art could induce him to enter their sulphurous dens. Cale
Jones swore that he would get him back; that he would have him among
his old cronies again, or die in the attempt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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