The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-05-17

She talked oft almost daily, TO her moth
er, her brother, and her schoomates.-
OF how happy she was TO be when her
papa came home from the war and brought
her that beautiful ring.
WE'LL he was home from the war, but
she had no beautiful ring, and she was
not happy. Poor little life shadowed
before 1t was fairly begun.
The day after Lconard's return, when
he had, after much enreaty from his
wife, bathed and changed his garments,
he seemed rather more like himself lie
talked pleasantly, and played with the
children He assisted his wife about Ter
work, hut not yet had he mentioned II
word about any money. He took out
his watch and hung it in its old place
near the window, saving:
ct is almost dinner iimc, wife,
What are YOU going 10 give US to eat p
"We never have dinners, pa said
Mary, who had not gon' to school that
forenoon. She had tried bravely to keep
back the icais when her father told her
he had lost her ring, with his carpet sack
ON his way home, and had almost Tor
gotten 1t IN her rnlovment OF her fathers
stories Of his adventures.
"Why don't you have dinners p he
asked
"bccause ma Is 50 rolr she can't buy
any, was the reply AT this Leonard
rose, took his watch, and went ont
Mary and her mother hoped it was to
buy some food i}ut the day wore ON
and hc did not return night cHme; but
no husband, no tither With a heavy.
heavy heart the mother prepared what
she had in the house ior supper, and she
and the children ate.
1--WE have to stop eating before we
are done. o'c2u-e there l. np more fool. '
remarked Mary, when the last bit ol
bread iH1 vanished from tine table, ihi-
wa- rs near 10 a complaint aS either o'
the children had eyer got. hey under
stood too well and -rmpuhizel TOO deep
ly with their mothers feelings 10 COM
PLAN They knew that She did for them
all she could.
The mother. too nervous 10 sit alone
kept the children both up with her 10
wait tor her husbands return Harry
conld not Keep awake but Mary. feeling
that things were very wrong, scarce took
her eyes irom her mothers pale face
AboM eight O'Clock there came "a
pounding and stamping. and Shuillng at
the cottage door, and presently Leonard
came %taUUpriup and li,nnino IN Iis L,; >.
all dust and sticks. AMI his face rel and
swollen. lie tumhled through the sit
ling-room INTO the bed-ropm, kicked and
flung oil his clothes and role into bed.
And the poor wife sat yet in her chair,
trying to die; but she could not. All !!
no, one cannot die when one would
Death Is coy; 1t ever flies from those
VINO seek 1t, 1t delights only to take away
those VINO love and cling to life.
Mamma sad htlle Mary, 81 want
to see my papa; May 90 and see what
alls h!m
Hush child said the mother, harsh
III her bitter anguish, ''you have no pa
pa.
Inc poor ll'ile one, stricken into 81
lence, sat grave us hopeless woman, 10y
her mothers side
There was no weeping; the trouble
was too deep for tears. The wife sat
motionIess till the midnight hour was
struck, and the Child, overcome at last by
sleep, slid softly TO the floor.
As /! drew near 10 one o'clock groans
from the bedroom called Mrs. James in.
Leonard was choking, and in great pain
with his foot. lie had sprained it badly.
Lifting his coat and vest his wife found
that the watch was gone.
"1ou have pawned it; but not for
food Tor your wife and children" she said.
lie answered with curses.
What need to tell more of this story
For this is no fancy sketch II ;s ono
of the many over trne tales Of woe onJ
ANGUISH that 90 IN max, nm tho .nn,,ls ~
uar Ioor,rJ !, b,. IL