Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-05-10

| more fearful in its effects was to visit her
heart. when. as night after night passed on,
her husband came home in situation
which betrayed to her startled eyes that
the wine cups red cleaning passion was
fast making him victim. He had flown
to it to find oblivion from his many harras-
sing cares, and too we'll for his future peace
OF mind, TO the total humiliation of the hap
piness which might have been his. had he
succeeded. Need We relate how from that
time his course had been rapidly, f-ightful-
ly downward. or OF the moments when rea-
son would assume her sway and the voices
OF reproof and remorse whisper to him in
words of fire, and then the promises given
10 reform but to be again broken in the
tempting bowl. Alas! that it should have
been so-that one so richly endowed with
every quality that God bestows upon his
creatures. possessing gifts of mind whose
displaying might have gained for him a
place among the great Of the earth, should
have fallen SO low. Blu. Harry Clayton's
is not the only case. Many, many thous-
andS have buried in drunkard's unhonor-
ed grave. talents, that would have brought
them both wealth and honor, dashed from
their lips the cup raised to them trimming
with love and happiness, to turn to what?
In the homes where misery and woe go
hand in hand. where want and desoation
brand all too darkly, where the light Of
peace and hope have died outforever, where
hollow despsirins faces and fearful eyes tell
a tale all TO touching, we pause for an an
swer. A clock in q neighboring church
tower Ginning the hour Of three reused Mrs.
Clayton from her reverie, at the same time
causing her to utter an exclamation OF sur
prise.
Three o'clock and he no. here! Oh,
my Heavenly Father, by the memory OF
the long nights l have sat watching and
weeping for him, let Thy holy presence be
near to sustain my dropping spirits in this
silent hour
Tkeprayer acted upon her excited nerves
like soothing calm, and closing the win
dow, without disrobing she threw herself up
on. the humble couch where Eva lay sleep
ing SO calmly, and in moment after, had
fallen into deep sleep, not even disturbed
by the stumbling steps of her recrcant huS-
band returning from his drunken carousal.
The morning sun shining full into her face
awakened her from her dreamless slumbers,
aud she Enclosed her heavy eyes to meet
the anxious gaze of Eva who was standing
beside the bed and earnestly entrsaling her
to rise.
why, what is the matter now? she cried.
sprinsing up hastily. Eva, my dear child,
you are actually pale and trembling; tell,
me, darling, what has happenod?'
Il am SO afraid of papa was the hurried
reply, while those soft arms clung tightly
around her neck; he has been talking such
wicked words to me because wouldn't go
and get some liquor for him. You know
| an, SO afraid of the black dog on The COR
ner; and then he took hold of me and shook
me until | could scarcely breathe, and |
didn't dare to cry out. because you looked
SO pale and sick and now he has gone odt
for it himself. But, o, mamma, how |
want to go away from this bad place, and
never core back again'
Would to God we couldn was the des-
pcrate prayer that rose to her hearers lips,
although she did not utter it aloud. but
strove, by cheerful words. to reassure the
trembling. fragil creature, whose young
life she felt had been Swallowed so darby
by the acts Of one who should have been
the first to protect and shield her from the
rude blasts of life. Alas it is a bite, hour
when the father learns his own child 10
tremblc in his presence; and tears, in spite
Of her efforts at composure, thronged to her
eyes, as she remembered that beautiful,
happy long ago.
A clumsy step sounding upon the stairs,
ard The tighter clasp of Eva's arms about
her neck, warned her of her husbands re-
turn. A moment more, and he had flung
the door noisily open and staggered into
the apartment.
'Ah, you are there, are you, you disobe
dent youngster? See, if | don't pay you
for it, that's all!' he said huskly, and fix
ing his eyes menacingly upon the shrinking
form of Eva.
But his attention was drawn from her
for the time being, as his glance fell upon
the gold piece which Mrs. Clayton had
placed upon the mantle the night previous,
and unfortunately forgotten to remove.
With low chuckle of delight he stag
gered towards 1t, and grasping 1t eagerly,
turned again to the door But his steps
were arrested by Eva, who forgetting all
her previous fears in the thought that that
was their all to keep them from starvation,
sprang forward and laid her hand lightly
upon his arm.
Please, Papa, don take that" she plead
ed and those eyes, pure AS an angels. look
ed up into his face with An expression which
might have softencd heart OF stone.
Curses on the meddling bratl' he ex
claimed ansrily, and the hand was raised
and descended IN cruel blow
upon the upturned brow of the child, The
next instant he was gone, the noise Of the
shut door drowning the low cry
Of pain Eva gave AS she fell back almost
lifeless in her mothers arms.
@ my God he has killed her cried Mrs. !
Clayton, bending over her with an anguish
deeper than she had ever vet known as she
gazed upon the deathly pale face and lids
dropping SO heavily. And then almost like
a wall came the words
o Harry, my husband, why did you do
ths?' The voice of her mother recalled