New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-25

-. ,,ostod n svllable moro upon them than if they
vvaro machines Firth sat down and looked visit
fullv across the stove at his wife. She was growing
thin and haggard with hard, unceasing work. 1t
was all for MIN and the boy. She cared nothing Tor
her own comfort. And yet he would have gwen all
the money she would make, just then, to have had
her throw down her work to welcome him, and race
an hour away as she used to do. She had habit
once of stroking his forehead when it acbed' and
fussing with his halr. and thinking his scooped'
sandy face handsome as ApOllO's, poor grl! but
that was long time ago.
Ann brought in the boiled mackerel and pot of rye
coffee. She was an old woman, a mulatto with a
patient quiet face, like o COW. When she had rung
the bell she bobbed courtesy.
IF YOU please. Miss Mary, kin l hev tomorrow
cvenin ? De chillen they've made it up to hev BIT
of Christmas supper"
81 should think you were too old woman to want
merry-makings. Ann. l cerainly cannot neglect my
own work to indulge YOU She put the tin lamp on
the table and sat down.
Where is Rob, mother ?" asked John, crumbling
his bread nervousy.
Il had to discipline Robert. He is shamefully
idle with his lessons that gave him the Cateclism
to study, and sent him to bed without his supper"
Firth said nothing but he left his supper untasted
and went out in minute or two. Mary heard him
going softly mp stairs The bread choked her. She
leaned her elbows on the table, staring at the lamp
She knew what her husband and child thought of
her She was a black cloud blotting out all their
sunshine Because she knew her duty. Did she
take her own pleasure They thought she did not
love them. Oh God what had she on earth but
John and Rob Some daY they would do her justice
when they knew how she had toiled and saw the
money they would have frittered away.
She rose hastily, and going to another ROOM took
out box and unlocked it, 1t was full of coin. She
dipped her hand in There was the means to provide
for their old age and to make man of Rob. She
would coin her hearts blood into money to give Rob
a chance among men.
She went up the stairs. The touch of the money
had strengthened her. John had taken Rob from tho
window, where he sat in his night-gOwD, crying and
shivering Watching the boys outside and was rub
bling his bare feet and whispering story. Now, Rob
was the worst material out of which to make the
premature little saint which his mother purposed.
He was a brOad-built quck-blOOded little six-year
old with an ugly, honest face, bold, frank eyes and
O cleft chin like his fathers, that quivered easily.
Firth could not stop his shvering OF sobs.
1T was so dark and cold, papa" he cried. Il don't
care if Pm q coward don't care for anything. l
wish was dead"
"Are you hungry, Robert ~ she asked
He would not speak to her at first, at all; then he
suddenly rushed over to her, climbed into her lap,
and laid his head on her breast almost strangling
her with his silent, passionate embrace Robs atfec
ton always frightened his mother much as his
rage She felt as if she had SOME untamed, danger
Gus animal in her yoke
Control yourself my son. she said, trying to put
him from her; but he chung the closer. minute
after his head sank heavier, and he was asleep still
sObbing dry, fearless sObs.
Firth laid him in bed and then stood there silent.
The threw white light the pillow and the
unhappy little face there L fear you hardly I'M
derstand the boy, Mary" he said gently.
Sometimes think do nOt;" her lip trembed
for a minute. Then she added, The child is more
open with even Ann than me. No mother ever
worked harder for her children; but have no time
to humOr or play with them"
Now this is all a homely little matter. 1t mighl
happen in any house any day. But John Firth knew
by it that the decisive "ur in his boys life and his
own would strike that night. For himself the end
was probably not far of; but it the beginning of
all things with Rob. The lives of both. Their lives
lay in the hands of the woman who stood quiet and
firm in the Winter moonlight. He turned Robs
pillow, smoOthed down his night-gOwn; he could
not keep his trembling fingers away from him.
Gould God mean life TO be hard and bare for his
boyi He would have dealt differently with any
little child.
10 his wife he SAID not wofd. Nnen she spoke
he would know how it would be.
Il will do my duty in the sight of jealous God"
she said at last. Il will try and mold my son into
the manner Of man he should be- If fail, his blood
will be on his own head, not mine"
There was no answer. John Firth held the child's
chapped little hand in his. patting 1t softly. In
little while, perhaps, he would go out of that door
never to return; and it seemed to him if his boy
would be driven then into cold. and dark and 81.
lenco where no help could follow him. He sat there
a long while, and then stopped and kissed him. and
went out to his nights work. He tried to say
"GOod-by, Rob-" but could not