Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-02-17

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is lost 10 all sense Of honor and manhood, -
Paul was not this yet; he was orly poor,
unfortunate man, who only gets cot of tho
way once in while. -
| did not send the childrcn To srnool again.
| did nohdare. Paul grew thin ana pa'e, re.
morse was gnaying at bis hoars, and vet ho
lacked strength enough to save Ms. felt at
times profound pity for him; again | al.
most hated him.
The shadows gathered darker and da rkcr
around my home. There came time when
the word 'drunksrd' could be written against
Panfs name in all its horrible signiiicancs.-
OItoncr now the words of mother and I.ettie
would ring in my ear "Coms home, Marsh.
and leave Paul to his fate"
And at times was almost tempted 10 90.
Once Paul spokc words to me that | cou,a
not forget; and decided to take my chill.
drcn and 60 home. Willie always read n
chapter aloud before going to bed. was
putting Eddie TO bad (ior he was a little fe.
verisa from heavy cold,) aad listening 10
Willie read the precious words ] was re
minded of my duty by hearing the sweet
clear voice read, unconsciously: For the
woman is bound to her husband as long as
they shall live
The words saved me; my tempted soul
grew strong in the knowledge that this great
momcnious question was not for me to de-
eide; that my" Father is at the helm" His
| laws were written in an older book than
| Blackstone.
That very night he passed with party of
his comrades, recling TO and fro, and singing
a bacchanslisn song. sat on the old gray
boulder that served us for door step, with
| the darkness aaa silence folding around.
when Willie came up and slipped his hands
| in min-. .... 's.#
You have Eldi, and me, mother, don't
cry" ....
folded my precious boy to my hesrt,and
wept blttor tears over his dear curly head.
and then cast about in my mind how I
should clear myself in his sight from the i'm
putasion OF lying, | know mus. tell him
all. that he knew part Of his fathers deg
radiation.
Willie, you once asked mo if your "a.
thcr was drnnkard. | told you he was
not, for so | thought. A few times he had
forgotten himself; but not enough to call
him that fearful word"
| Then did not know where TO find Inn
suago to soften the tals to his young ears, as
| only said ......
Willie, We viii not call him drunkarJ
new"
My boy only held my hand closer, and
moved himself nearer to me, but it seemed
as II II look Of age settled upon his patient
| little face. Aitor that confidence | never
wanted comforter, for Willie was always
near me with his carcsscs and tender, loving
| words. never sat alone evenings, for al.
] hat nala ,v;p E,J. 4,
my side. The winter set in early and was
intensely cold. Poverty, pnching and drear
sat shivcriag over our hcarihstonc, and drift.
ed itself ever every article in the house tho
bare, lily clad children, and the meagro Ia.
bic. Mother was crippled sll winter with
rheumatism, and Lcttio, poor Lettie could
not spara time to come over, and see The ex
tent OF our wrctcheanass.
For weeks the snow lay piled up against
the cottage, and the cold was 40 intense, |
iehred, some night in his wandering, Paul
would be brought home frozen to death. -
Night after night Willie lighted little lamp
ana hung It on II nail in the window, so that
his father might have little light to guide
him home.
Often " hen the winds wore roting rcros4
ths hills, and tho night pitchy black, he
would baton OH his old faded o-ercoat and
go down to the foot cf tho hill, aud cry "h
thegl iather!" 10 his sweet clear voice,
but never answer came. Paul was listening
! to mad songs. that drowned the soft voice o.
| his child. Always the bravo boy would re,
turn from his fruitless errand with some
comforting words for me.
| He isn't ont in the cold, mother, anyway,
or he would hava heard me-" or Don't
worry, mother, he must be sitting by Tom
Lucan's good warm stove yet; he will soon
he home"
Then | would relapse into thought again,
and Willie would doze by the ire I'LL his ia
ther came, and our watch was over.
| Ny fears were verified. 0ne bitter cod
morning Paul was brought home frozen TO
death. lie was found just at the foot Of the
hill, whore litt!e Willis had made so many
piIgrimagcs. brushed bis glossy black hair
az he used to wear il, and put on his best
shirt. which had hidden away, for just such
sad needtime as this. Then made n lit
tie c.aynt out Of my old black silk apron,
and tied it under the white collar, then eros.
scd his poor hands over his quiet heart Ny
life work for him was over.
Lettie came and helped me bury my dead
and seeing me look SO palo and wan, sho
said ..-
Marah, you might as well have left Paul
years ago; you soc you could not reclaim
him.
4" No, Lettie; but have done my duty
! have no reproaches, no regret. have
done what could
My boys are growing rapidly 10 manhood;
steady, honest and upright, with no taint OF
their fathers in their veins. AS for me,
am patiently bearing Gods will, at peace
with myself aud all mankind.