Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-30
EV ENING STAR
WHERE IS FATHER


Harry, noble boy of eight years,
leans over the little sewing-chair, where
his mother sits with heavy eyelids, pale
checks, and liStlesS fingers, bowed ever
her stitching trying to divert her mind
from some great sorrow-and exclaims.
with wistful look: Mother, what
makes you so sad and SO silent! You
have scarcely noticed me or little sister
for several days; don't you love us any
more, or are you sick o. MY child,
God only knows how precious you are to
Inc" murmured the mother TO herself,
as she arose to hide the conYulsive feel
lngS that were struggling TO relieve
themselves in tears. "You are all the
happiness have; and yet, Cheaven for
give me y | would bless the hour that
these eyes could see you both pillowed
on Mother Earth'S bosom :"
AS twilight ga hered slowly about the
little lonely band, suggestive of home
and everything sacred and beautiful
Harry, in subdued tone, persisted in
his inquiries, " Where Is father? Why
don't ne come home!" Unable to eyade
any longer, and unwilling to dissemble.
the mother replies Il don't know" and
the child is left to his conjectures, and
to revolve in his eager mind, the prob.
lem that some day, sooner or later, must
be solved for him.
Step with me into this home-paradise.
where the Serpent Of Evil has trailed
over SO many buds OF promise, and
blighted SO many flowers of peace. En-,
ter this elegant suite Of rooms. Here
are paintings, flowers, birds. books, and
every luxury needed to make home az.
tractive; but they are the fruit of AZ uD.
lawful labor, and Gods blessing rests
hot thereon
When Harry's father was a child. no,
a better, happier one could be found.
When the holy Sabbath came, he walked
by his mothers side to church; he &C
companied her to the evening PRAYER.
meetings and sang with her the sacred
hymns. With unpolluted lips, he prayed
Lead nee not into temptation no
word Of profanity or irreverence es capped
them then. But he was early sent away
from the counSels and influences OF hi
parents, to school; and here he gradu.
ally forgot to keep the promise made to
MS mother at parting, TO read his Bible
every night, and to say Our Father
Out of school-hOurs, games were thc
'resort-such as pitching cents, quoits,
&c.-Simpie enough, and harmless G!
themselves, perhaps, but betting was in
troduced TO render them more exciting,
and then, how fascinating they became
Playing at cards was the next initiation
ana sometimes for money; and thus the
hrSt iata. s1ep was taken. When he en-.
tered college, ne was fully prepared fai
the accomplishments Of bowling and bill.
llard playing, which he very soon ma.
tered. This habit, contracted SO easily
and so impercepubly, had gained such
power over him that it deadrned every
noble ambition-it had become his mas.
ter, now
successfully, for a time, he concealed
the truth from his dearest friends: bu,
developed itself in all its he ancho!v de-
ioTtnity very soon after marriage. When
the duties Of husband and father ap.
pcaled to him, TO say nothing of his ne.
9iected profession, the gaming table held
HIM with spell he seelnsd unable to re.
slst. And this 1t is shat keeps the father
SO long away-that makes the mother
grow pale, and her heart break with a
constant corroding anxiety aud sorrow
that makes the children talk in q Whis
per, as they steal alongside Of pocr, sick
mother-tbat makes the bright evening
light, and tie vacant chair, and tie un
read books, and the silent piano, drea-
~ mockery! They bring 40 father Of
ten, and when they do, The shadow of
guilt hangs over them all.
But Harry is taught by his mother TO
avoid the first step 20 any wrong: and i.
told that crust Of bread honestly earn
cd, is infinitely sweeter than the luxuries
Of an Epicure bought with the price oI
honor and integrity.-:ndependent.