The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-05
From tho Friend Of Youth.
WHY THE FATHER BEGAN TO DRINK, AND
WHY HE LEFT OFF DRINKING.
BY MARY IRVING
PART /.

who came crying into the paSlor, where she sat
sewing, holding his two chubby hands against
his head What is the matter There, be
a little man! Don't cry So Hush up and
tell sister what hurt Charley"
Charley fall down-bump head sobbed
the little fellow, leaning the bumped head T"
on his sisters lap.
"Oh, Charley mustn't mind that See,
Charley is sister Margaret's brave boy, and
brave boys don't cry when they hurt their
heads! There, let sister kiss it, and make it
we'll Now. isn't it better -
She wiped his tear-sprnkled face with her
handkerchief, after she had given the healing
kiss, and shaking her finger roguishly at Char
ley, surprised him into laugh He slid down.
and ran of to his play. But he did not play
long. He grew tired of his marbles, and rolled
them away from him into the farthest corner
Of the nursery. Then he lay down on the floor
and shut his eyes. His nurse, seeing that he
was very sleepy, took him up, and laid him on
his crib-bed.
Margaret sat in the parlor, sewing, very
happily. She was thinking what a sweet little
brother she had-what "wel-spring of
pleasure" in the great house, the dear laugh
ing boy was Her mother had died when
Charley was very little baby, and Margaret
had ever since taken mothers care of him.
She did not, however, love him so uery much as
his father did He coull scarcely bear to have
Charley out of his sight for moment, when he
was in the house The boy seemed to be the
only thing that had comforted him after the
loss of his dearly-oved wife. He had three
affectionate girls but he did not love them, all
together, 80 much as he loved his idol Charleys
&c thar
brother; for they, too, loved him. Who does
not pet pretty baby-especially mOtherleSS
baby
The alabaster clock on the marble mantel-
piece rung for twelve, just as two girls came
skipping in. fresh from school They peeped
in upon their sister, and ran away to hang up
their white un-bOnnets.
Where's hubby sister! said the Oldest
one, who was about nine years old.
I" Hush you mustn't make noise, or you'll
wake him up. He has just gone to sleep
A quick, impatient ring at the door an
bounced their father who always came home
from his store to an early dinner with his chill
dren
"Where's Charley7" was his first question,
too, when he came into the parlor.
"He is taking little nap. Father" said Mar
garet, cDecrtuiiy.
"Whew what did you let him 90 to SLEEP
lust now for You know always want him
TO frolc with. when | come in from my bust
ness Is he sick y he added with suddenly
changed tone.
ooh no, father he was only sleepy little
earlier than usual, and thought ! wouldn't
try to keep him awake
~ don't like it at ALL said the father,
\ Il. l. IL
girls. who had drawn as near him as they
dared, and were looking lovingly into his face.
$50 and get ready for dinner, children" he
said, noticing that their curly heads were tum-
bled
When he sat down at the dinner table, the
sight of the little plate at his right hand with
a spoon in it, mug before it, and n high chair
behind it, seemed to take away all his appetite
margaret, Pm going to wake up that boy"
he said, rising from his seat.
"Oh, why father? | wouldn't!n
at is nonsense to have him going to sleep
this hour-the only one, between morning and
night. in which can see him Besides | am
afraid he is sick"
SO the father went into the nursery, and
Margaret followed him, half amused half pro-
voked, at what she thought his needless anx-
iety.
The blinds had been shut, so that the large
room was almost dark. The father lifted up n
lace ny-net which fell in graceful folds around
the crib, and looked at the child silently for Il
moment He had not the roses on his cheeks
that had been in bloom there an hour before
he lay, with one round arm over his head still
and pale, with heavy dark purple circles
around his half-shut eyes.
"This child is sick, Margaret ~ said her
father, TREMENDOUSLY.
'He was well half an hour ago" whispered
Margaret, doubtfully.
Charley, my darling wake up said his
father, gently kissing his hot forehead
Charley did not move nor open his eyes. He
breathed quickly and strangely.
Charley my boy! Charley" cried the
father, shaking him, to arouse him
The child Just moved his eyelids with
murmur of pain, and then settled back into
that strange stupor Of sleep.
Send for DR.. H, Margaret " exclaimed
the father, huskLy, catching up the child in
his arms.
Rose and Abby the two little sisters, ran all
the way TO the Office Of DR. H, and told
him, as well AS their crying would let them, to
make haste, and come that minute, for sweet
Little brother was very sick
DR.. H came Immediately, and shook his
head with sad surprise when he saw the little
sleeper.
Ale has had some fall , he said.
He has never had hard fall !" answered
Margaret. "This morning he just tripped bis
foot, and fell over on the floor that could not
have hurt him, could it. doctor !"
"That is the cause y said the doctor, serl-
ously.
But, doctor, he was at his play again in
five minutes"
"The fall has produced congestion of the
BRAIN fear" said the physician, in low tone,
as he turned, with a sigh, TO the almost useless
task of writing a prescription. de had known
the dear child from his birth, and saw very well
how the happiness of the family was bound up
in his life
Medicines were brought and tried, TO no
purpose Other doctors were called but none
Of them could waken the boy from that leth-
argy, although they did all that human skill
could do Sweet Charley never woke in this
world again. He lay several days in this stu
por, never reviving 20 far as To know his
fathers face, which bent over him every hour,
haggard and wild with agony. Then he fell
into q deeper sleep--a sleep from which no
physician ever tries 10 waken any one--a calm
err, paler, colder sleep than the other had been.
Charley, my dear children, wa, dead.
His dear little body was strewn with roses,
as it Law in its small rosewood coffin, and sprin-
killed. with the saddest tears Of Margaret and
the other sisters. The father did not shed any
tears over Il. He was too much agonized to
weep. He would not look on his dead boys
e .L..s L..u~~lf -. hta aho m bar and