New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1860-04-13

e"'en away. 1he large blue eyes
were growing dim, bleared and blood
shot, the once fair cheeks were becom-
ing swollen and bloatel, anil the lips
loolea dry and cracked. No wonder she
knelt down By her bedside and prayed.
1t was now S.turlay evening, and
M'lcoha was going out. He was to
meet some of his friends, and Alice
knew that he was to meet them at the
tavern. He bad worked only three days
Turing the past week, and had the pay
for those three days work in his p ,ckct.
That money was nee lei at home, but
| where would it be on the morrow?
"Malcolm, O, do not wholly forget
your fond, loving Alice, while YOU are
5onc!'
But Mllcolm dill not answer. He
kissed kis wife, however kissed her
not as he use, to do, but kissed her
merely because she had asked him to
ard then left the cottage. After he
had gone Alice sat down and wcpt.-
She could not help it. Her darling
boy crept to her side. and placed his
arms about her be .del neck. lie ask
ed no questions, but he asked her not
to cry. Ills little mind seemed to have
some idea Of the c,ming calamity. 1t
must have been vague; but it was
clear enough to prevent him from for
cling the dread thoughts upon his moth
cr. Once m)re he askel her not to
cry and then his own little heart burst,
an the mother AMI her chill wept to
gether. This was another drop in the
poor wife's cup Of affliction. O, how
palpable now must be her husbands
course when even the pra.tling child
saw the danger! But she CO Id only
clasp her boy more tightly to her pain
stricken bosom and pray more fervent-
| ly. And the little by when his moth
er had done praying, said, Amen
1t was clear, cool evening, and as
Malcolm Warren stepped int the street
he seemed to shake himself as though
he woull shake off the influence of the
dear place he was leaving. But he
could not wholly ID it. He could not
drive from his mind the fearful counte-
nance of his fond and faithful wife, nor
could he fo"got the look of earnest
simple anguish that he hal noticed
upon the face of his child. Yet he
tried to crush the thoughts that were
springing into life. "P,oh!" he said,
as the image Of his entreating wife
forced itself upon him. sIss only a lit
tie fun and frolic. Whose business is
it? Get out with your nonsense
Anl thus speaking the young hus-
band anil father closel his hands as
though he would hollon upon the feel
ing he hal tried t, express AMI then he
hastened on. At length he reached
the tavern, and here foanl his compan-
ions. The lau ,h AMI jake commenced
and ere long Male I'm forgot all about
his home. He sat in the bar r-roo om, anl
his sharp wit made food for much mer-
riment.
"Who says there's danger in the
bowl" cried a young man as he raised
the glass to his lips.
'.It's the ravens croak," SAID anoth-
er Of his companions. "Here's confu-
sion to the idea. ~s#s.
"Good!" exclaimed Malcolm Warren,
posing his glass. "Poison in the1bowl?
Nonsense! Look at old Alan, now
He's used it all his lifetime, and here
he is the Oldest man in town. Come
here's to Uncle A lam."
The person to whom Malcolm had
thus alluded was an old, whi:e'haired
man, who stool at the bar with a glass
Of rum in his hand. His name was
ADAM Stamford, and almost 80 years
had rolled over his frosty
head. His form was bent, and his
limbs tremblcd, but still he lived, anil
his mind was vet clear. He heard the
remark which the young c,rpeAter had