Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-03-08
" Father
He opened his eyes.

twenty dollars. can't l have the money
to take to school with me in the morn
ing?"
+" Pm afraid not" answered Mr.. Wal
colt, sadly.
NEARLY all the girls will bring their
money tomorrow, and it mortifies me to
be behind the others"
The daughter spoke fretfully. Mr..
Walcott waved her aside with his hand,
and she went off pouting.
ct is notifying" spoke up Mrs.
Walcott, little sharply; =" | don't Won
der that Helen feels unpleasantly about
it, The bill has to be paid, and I don't
see why it may not be done as well at
first as at last"
To this Mr.. Walcott made no answer.
The words but added another pressure
to the burden under which he was stag
gering alrendy After silence of some
moments, Mrs. Walcott said
1.-The coal is all gone"
Impossible" he raised his head and
looked incredulous. II laid in sixteen
tons"
81 can't help it, if there were sixty
tons, instead of sixteen-its all gone
The girls had time of it to-day scrap
ing up enough to keep the fire going"
There's been a shameful waste some
where" said Mr. Walcott, with strong
emphasis, starting up and moving about
the room in very disturbed manner
" So you always say, when anything
is out" answered Mrs. Wolcatt, rather
tartly. The barrel of -four is gone also;
but suppose you have done your part,
with the rest, in using it up"
Mr.. Wacott returned to his chair, and
again seated himself, and closed his eyes
as before. How sad, and weary, and
hopeless he felt. The burdens of the
day had seemed almost too heavy fof
him but he had borne up bravely. To
gather strength for a renewed struggle
with adverse circumstances, he had come
home. Alas that the process of exhaus-
ton should still go on-that only where
strength could be looked for no strength
was given!
"Come to supper" said Mrs. Walcott
coldly.
But he did not stir.
i" Amt you coming to supper? 2" she
asked, as she was leaving the room.
No, | don't wish any; my head aches
badly he replied.
"In the dumps again" muttcred she
to herself. I" It's as much as ones life
is worth to ask for money, or to say that
anything is wanted"
When she returned from the dining
room, she found her husband sitting
where she left him
g Shall bring you cup oftca 7" she
asked, coolly
No; I don't wish anything"
What's the matter, Mr.. Walcott?
What do you look so troubled about, as
if You had not a friend in the world ?
What have | done to your
There was no answer, for there was
not shade ofreal sympathy in the voice
that made the queries-but rather a
queralous dissatisfaction.
Mrs Walcott silently resumed her en-
plovment
The whole evening passed without the
occurrence Of single incident that gave
a healthful pulsation.to the heart of Mr..
Walcott. No thought of kindness was
manifested by any member Of the family;
but on the contrary, a narrow regard for
each self, and looking to him only to
supply the means of disqualification.
No wonder, from the pressure which
was on him, that Mr.. Walcott felt dis
couraqcd. lie retired early, and sought
to find that relief from mental Dispute
tudo in sleep, which he vainly looked for
in the bosom of his family. But the
whole night passed in broken slumber
and disturbed dreams
From the cherries morning meal, at
which he was reminded Of the qusrter
bill that must be paid, of the coal and
-four that were ont and the necessity Of
supplying his wife's empty purse, he went
forth to meet the difficulties of another
day, faint at heart, and almost hopeless
Of success. A confident spirit, sustained
by home affections, would have carried
him through but, unsupported as he was.
the burden was too heavy for him, and
he sunk under it. The day that opened
SO unproptiously, closed upon him a
ruined man!
Let us look for a few moments, upon
Mr.. Freeman, the friend and neighbor
of Walcott
lie, also, had come home weary, and
dispirited, and almost sick. The trials
ofthe day had been unusually severe !;
and when he looked anxiously forward
to scan the future, not even a CLEAN of
light was seen along the black horizon.
As he stepped across the threshold Of
his dwelling, a pang shot through his
heart, for the thought came-how SLIGHT
the hold upon all these comforts Not
for himself, but for his wife and children
came the pain.
4" Fathers come 2 cried a glad voice
on the stairs, the moment his football
sounded in the passage then quick, pat
tering feet were heanl-and then tiny
form was springing into his arms. Be
fore reaching the sitting room, Alice,
the eldest daughter, was by his side her
arm drawn fondly will . his, and her
loving eyes lifted to his face
" Are you not late dearY'
1t was the gentle voice Of Mrs. Free
man.
Mr.. Freeman could not trust himself
to answer As he was too deeply trou-
bled to assume, at tho moment, a cheer
full tone, and had no wish to sadden the