Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-10-26

dawn until far into the late night hours.
The time which our Heavenly Father
ordained should be devoted by his chill
dren to blessed slumber, was spent by
her in cheerless toll; until the auburn
tresses were turning gray, and the
bright blue eyes, that once sparkled
with health and happiness, had now
grown dim with long use by faint can
die light The once blooming cheeks
were turned pale and sunkcn, and the
erect and elastic form was now becom-
ing bowed by long bending over the
perpetual sewing.
AS all thesy paemofies chased each
other rapidly thsoughA her disturbed
brain, she field daa though she had moth
ing to live for. Butin few moments
her better feelings got the mastery, and
she wiped the tears from her eyes, say
ng,-"O how ungrateful, how unthank-
full have been! Has not God still left
me my children, and my health? And
|, have l ever thought to thank him?
No! 1 have murmured againat my lot !:
working to support my children, it is
true, but never once asking the assist
ance of the allwise and allseeing God,
who doeth all things we'll"
"Iet me now seek Him. she said ;
and falling upon her knees, in deep re-
pentence she begged for forgiveness,
and then for help.
Margret had scarcely arisen, with the
great load removed from her heart,
when she heard voices outside the door;
and peering through one of the two
window panes, she beheld her husband
staggering home between two men,
| themselves half drunk.
Hold him up John; the fellow Is so
drunk he can't help himself ut all.'
And, giving him push, he sent him
reeling against his other companion.
BY this time they had reached the
door; and, giving ii n kick with his
foot, he cried out in brutal voice
"Open the door, old woman; here Is
your old man drunk again; open the
door say"
Margrct, being used to such Interrupt
tions, opened the door; and bringing
him in, they gave him a push which
deposited him upon the bundle of straw
in the corner. Then turning round to
Margret, one of them said: "There,
he won't be likely TO bother you any
more until morning; guess we'll go
now come John, you know we prom
ised TO be back in half an hour to the
race; we only brought him home to
get him out of the way" And, with
this parting address, they took their
leave.
All this time Margret had not spoken
a word; her heart was too full for ut
terance. After they were gone, she
stood and looked at her fallen, degrad-
ed husband, until the tears were again
standing in her eyes.
But remembering herself she said,
mo, no, will not murmYr. 1t is all
doubtless for the best only it is hard
to submit" Then lighting Il candle,
she again took up her sewing, and
worked until the nearly completed
garment was finished.
She arose, put the last stick OF wood
in the stove, and, telling the children
to stay by the fire, and not awake their
father, until her return, she threw an
old thin shawl around her, and putting
a hood on her head, she started to take
home her work. The place was at the
further end Of town; but it being n
clear moonlight night, she had no diff
ficulty in finding her way.
After receiving the paltry pay, she
started home again. But upon turn
ing street corner, q suddenly flying
team sprang past her, and so near
as to overthrow her. Before she could
arise, another team just behind the
former sprang over her, one horse
trampiDg on her wrist, and the wagon
wheel going over her aam.
The teams were those that had start
ed from the saloon on the race before
alluded to; consequently the drivers
were too much intoxicated to notice
the disaster, much less to prevent it.
But the passers by saw 1t, and sprang
to the assistance of Margret, who was
by this time wholly insensible. They
picked her up carefully, and conveyed
her to that dcsolatc home, where her
husband lay drunk, and her children
were crying with hunger and cold.
There they laid her upon the bed +;
and one of them going to the led on
the other floor, gave Walter furious
kick. Then taking him by the coat
collar, he raised Him upon his feet, and
gavehim suchasliaking as had the effect
Of thoroughly arousing him from his
slumber, and even driving the liquor
from his head. Thore he stood q sober
ed but confused man. You vile
contemplate wretch, what do you
mean lying hero like a brute, white
your children are freezing and starv-
ing? And your wife, where do you
think she is? Dead ran over and kill
ed; trying to support her family, in
stead OF your doing it. You, who
promised to protect her, but have left
her exposed to every want and danger.
And now she Is dead; and you have
killed her by:your neglect" said he, ,ex-
aggerating little. For Margret was
not dead although there was no know
ing how long before she might be dead
I,t .yr pa,, 1,.d M ynornx, for yEaIfAr