TOM MYERS' NEW YEAR. You remember how Tom left those "jolly fellows" at the Black Lion, after he had seen the landlady's little daughter dressed out in her finery with some of the money he had spent there, while his little ones at home had scarcely clothes to wear, and poor Lucy had been sent supperless to bed. He thought, this wont do, and he went home and told his wife so. Snow had fallen during the night, and Jack Frost, with his icy fingers, had traced out mimic rocks, and woods, and castles, and forests, on thousands of window panes. After breakfast Tom buttoned up his warm jacket, and prepared to set out for a morning's walk. Right glad was he to get clear of the town without seeing any of his old companions. The fields and hedges were covered with pure white snow, and very beautiful everything looked. The bells of the various churches sounded faint and mellow in the distance, and the burden of the chimes was "Unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” Tom pursued his way indulging in reflections of a soothing character. Passing a neat-looking white house, he raised his eyes and saw the words Licensed to sell," &c., brilliantly painted on a sign-board. It roused his slumbering animosity, "Curse the places!" he muttered, "for they've been a curse to me. I wish they were all shut up; they haunt one everywhere!" 'It was half-past twelve o'clock when Tom reached the town again. Before proceeding home, however, he made his way to a clean and respectable eating-house. "Have you got a nice pudding done yet, ma'am?" said he to a woman busy at work receiving something from the hands of a girl, who was fishing it up from the bottom of a huge kettle. 66 “Yes, sir, yes," said the busy little mistress, as many as you like. Here, Jane, bring one directly." "Don't turn it out, please," said Myers, as he saw her about to slip a knife round the edge of the basin. "I'll leave sixpence on the basin till I send it back." 66 Very good, very good," responded the obliging woman. And she wrapped it over so nicely that not one of all the folks that Myers met on his way home knew that he had a Christmas pudding under that brown paper. "Hurrah for dad!" shouted TOM MYERS' NEW YEAR. little Jack, as his mother undid the parcel, and brought to view a glorious plum pudding. "O father! where did you get it?" said poor Lucy, her beaming with pleasure. eyes "Why, I saved it from the Black Lion last night, when I gev' up the drink," said he. "And an't you going to have any more drink, father?" said Lucy, anxiously. "No, child, God helping me," replied Myers. "God helping me!" The words startled him as he uttered them. Ah! he had not sought that help, although he needed it so much. He almost dreaded going to work on the morrow, and meeting that Joe Darnley. Could he "stand fire?" Many times, when he had thought of one thing and another that morning, his heart misgave him. "What if I should fall again?" he had asked himself. "How could I bear it?" he felt that he had somewhere to go for strength, even to Him who was able to " keep him from falling." And the language of his heart was, "I will arise and go unto my Father, and ask him to help me." Now There was much chattering going on at dinner time that day. The children felt happier than ever they did in their lives before. Tom now knew that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Even his wife was smiling and cheerful for once. And what was more remarkable, she forgot to send for any beer for dinner! That night, when the children were gone to bed, and Tom and his wife were alone in the kitchen, he told her all about how he had felt at the Black Lion last night, and how his heart felt ready to break when he saw the landlady's child dressed out and so joyous and happy, and thought of his poor half-fed ragged children, whom he was robbing of that which should have made them comfortable, and throwing it away for worse than nothing. "I'll tell ye what, Mary," said he, "it wasn't that I envied the poor child, for she can't help it-and she's a sweet tempered thing, I know-but it's them as sells it, sitting in their grand parlours with everything about them as they wants, whilst we poor wretches as toils, and toils, and gives 'em our hard earnings for their swipes-why they'd hardly touch one of us with a long pole! It's these little ones at home, as ain't afraid to put their arms round your neck and kiss you. And may God help me to look out for them in the time to come!" TOM MYERS' NEW YEAR. Next day Tom thought to himself, "I have a good mind to go and sign that pledge. It is just the thing for a fellow like me. I dont care how awkward it is to go before them gentlemen. I'll do it." And so that evening he went towards the hall where the Temperance meeting was held. When he was nearing the door, his walk became much slower, and at last stopped altogether. "How now?" said he to himself, "goin' to turn coward, eh?" It was a blessed thing for Tom that he knew where to find help in his "time of need." and after a minute spent in prayer as he stood there, he walked bravely in. At the close of the addresses, Tom stepped forward to sign his name. 66 Very glad to see you, Mr. Myers," said a gentleman, in a kind and respectful tone. "Mr. Myers," indeed, thought Tom. Something different from "Drunken Tom," or "Our Tom," or "Old fellow," to which he had been accustomed so long. Unconsciously Tom drew himself up as he heard this title; it raised him in his own estimation. Tom had to bear something from Joe Darnley and a few others in the workshop, but not so much as he expected. The anticipation is always worse than the reality, and he found it so this time. One evening, in the first week of the new year, Mr. Myers was cleaning his boots preparatory to going to the Lecture Hall, and his wife was ironing. "I have been thinking, Tom," said she, "a good deal about that society, and I think I'll sign." "Bravo!" said her husband, stepping up and giving her two or three approving claps on the back, so you shall, Mary, this very night!" "Oh! I don't know about that," said she; "how can I leave the place?" "I'll wait for you till Charlie comes in," said Tom. are late, it's no matter; they don't sign till the close." "If we And very proud and happy he was to escort his wife to the meeting. It was the first time they had walked out arm-in-arm since the year of their marriage. Mary felt ashamed of her old bonnet and shawl, but no one seemed to take any notice of what she had on. Tom soon found how he could spend his evenings more profitably and happily than he did at the Black Lion, by getting books from the library and so acquiring useful knowledge. Gradually, serviceable articles of furniture took the place of TOM MYERS' NEW YEAR. the rickety, worn-out things which disgraced their house when Tom was esteemed a "jolly good fellow at the Black Lion. And the children were dressed as neatly and respectably as any of those they met at the sabbath school and the house of prayer. Tom soon got to love the Book that his mother had loved years before! It was worth something to hear him read it aloud to his wife and children. A portion that he often turned to was the 103rd Psalm; and when he came to the beautiful words, "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities," or "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him," his voice grew thick and husky, and he could hardly go on. When Christmas time came round again, and the frost and snow had set in, the feathery flakes rested on a snug little outhouse in the back yard, which Myers and his son had constructed during the summer, and which was well stocked with coal and wood for the winter. Many of the neighbours round followed Mary's example, in having nicely-washed windows, and white curtains to them; and not a few of Tom's fellowworkmen were inclined to believe that his course of conduct was the wisest they could pursue. "Well, Joe Darnley was employed at the same workshop as Tom, in a large carriage manufactory. One day, as he was busily engaged in planing some wood, he said quietly, "I wish I was like you Tom." "How do you mean?" Why, to have done with that drink, and be so comfortable like.' why don't you try? Where there's a will there's a way, you know." "Yes, I know, but its so precious hard. Why, I tell ye, this morning, says I, I'll go straight to work without calling in for my drop. Well, I did pass the Lion, and I passed another place or two; but I'm bless'd if I didn't turn into one before I got to the shop. I should be all right if it wasn't for them publics; but, when I sees one, it seems as if I couldn't pass it. I can't think what we wants on 'em. sure everybody is better off as don't have anything to do with. 'em. I can tell that by seeing you." Joe passed his hand down the wood he was planing, and though he persisted in his dislike to "saints" in general, he admired and respected Tom with all his heart. I'm Tom hardly knew what to say next, but thinks he, it will be a poor tale if a sober man can't walk round one that is always getting his brains muddled with that drowsy drink. POETRY. "Joe," said he, "I know just how you feel; the first few weeks after I became sober, I had often to struggle hard, but, thank God, I got over it, and now I don't feel that hankering after it as I used to. Do try and give it up, Joe, and I'll tell you what helped me a good deal—when I felt that craving for a drop o' beer, I just went as fast as I could and got a drink of good water. That's a good cure, Joe, and I'll tell you what helped me more-you know when we were little ones we used to learn to say 'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.' Don't you remember that, Joe?" "Yes," said he, in a low voice, I remember." 66 Well, then," said Tom, anyone as says that with all his heart, won't say it in vain. I've proved that, Joe." We are not going to tell how Joe became sober too, or in what manner he got to alter his opinion about "saints." I wish that every workman would burst the bonds of drinking customs and be free! That this may prove a "happy new year to those of our working brothers who are yet slaves to this tyrant, we would affectionately urge them to follow the example of Thomas Myers. They will never regret doing so, never! Beset with temptations they may be, but for the especial comfort of the tempted it is written, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." Poetry. THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW. THE old man of sin, when he does begin, But tries night and day, the new man to slay, The new man he tries, with tears in his eyes, |