Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-08-11

dead, and happy perhaps. LII was Detter al
it was. Another glass--one morei Hur
rahl 1t was q merry life while it lasted
and he would make the most of it.
Time went on; the three little childre,
who were left to him grew up, and wer
children no longer. The father rename,
the same poorer, shabbier, and more dis
solute-looking, but the same confirmed an,
irreclaimable drunkard. The boys had
long ago, run wild in the streets, and lef
him; the girl alone remained, but she work
ed hard, ana words or blows could alway
procure him something for the tavern. S,
he went on in the old course, and merr,
life he led
One night, as early as ten o'clock-fo
the girl had been sick for many days, ant
there was, consequently, little to spend a
the public-house-he bent his steps home
ward, bethinking himself that if he woult
nave her able to earn money, it would b,
as well to apply to the parish surgeon, or
at all events, to take the trouble of inquir
ing what allied her, which he had not We
thought it worth while to do. 1t was {
wet December night; the wind blew pierc
ing cole, and therain poured heavily down
He begged few half-pence from passer
by. and having bought a small loaf (for i
was his interest to keep the girl alive if b,
could he shuffled onward as fast as tn,
wind and rain would let him.
At the back of Fleet street, and lying be
| tween 1t and the wgter-side are severa
mean and narrow courts, which form por
ton of Wuitefriars; it was to one of those
that he directed his steps.
The alley into which he turned might fol
filth and misery have competed with tn,
darkest corner of this ancient sanctuary in
its dirtiest and most lawless time. The
houses, varying from two stories in height
10 four, were stained with every indescrib.
able hue that long exposure to the weather
damp, and rottenness can impart to tepe-
nlents composed originally of the roughesi
and coarsest materials. The windows were
patched with paper, and stuffed with the
foulest rags; the doors were falling from
their hinges; poles, with lines on which to
dry clothes. projected from every case
ment, and sounds of quarreling or drunk
enness issued from every room.
hesolitary oil lamp in the center of the
court had been blown out, either by vio-
lence of the wind or the act of some inhab-
liant who had excellent reasons for object
ing to his residence being rendered too
conspicuous; and the only light which fell
upon the broken and uneven pavement was
derived from candles tnat here and there
twinkled In the rooms of such of the more
fortunate residents as could afford to in
dulge in so expensive luxury. A gutter
ran down the center of the alley-all the
sluggish odors of which had been called
forth by the rain; and as the wind whistled
through the old houses, the doors and shut
tirs creaked upon their hinges, and the
windows shook In their frames, with vio-
lence which every moment seemed to
threaten the destruction of the whole
place.
The man whom we have followed into
this den walked on in the darkness, some
times stumbling into the gutter, and at
others into some branch repositories ofthe
garbage which had been formed by the rain,
until he reached the last house in the court.
The door. or rather what was left of it, stood
ajar, for the convenience of the numerous
dodgers; and he proceeded to grope his way
up the old and broken stairs. to the attic
story.
He was within step or two of his room
door, when it opened, and a girl, whose
miserable and emaciated appearance was
only to be equaled by that of the candle
which she shaded with her hand, peeped
anxiousiy out
"Is that you, iather?" said the girl.
''Who else should it be?" replied the man
gruffiy. What are you trembling at? It's
little enough that I've had to drink to-day,
for there's no drink without money, and no
money without work. What the DEVILS
the matter with the girl?'
81 am not well, father-not at all well, ="
said the girl, bursting into tears.
"Ah!" replied the man, in a tone of a
person who is compelled to admit q very
unpleasant fact, to which he would rather
remain blind, if he could. ''You must get
better somehow, for We must have money.
You must go to the parish doctor, and
make him give you some medicine
They're paid for it, damn 'em. What are
you standing before the door for? Let me
come in, can't your"
Father" whispered the girl, shutting
the door behind her, and placing herself
before it, "William has come back"
"Who?' said the man with start
''Hush." replied the girl, "William
brother William"
I ''And what does he want?" said the man,
with an effort at composure money?
meat? drink? He's come to the wrong shop
for that, if he does. Give me the candle
give me the candle, fool amt going to
hurt him." He snatehed the candle from
her hand, and walked into the room
Sitting on an old box, with his head rest
ing on his hand, and his eyes fixed on a
wretched cinder fire that was smoldering
on the hearth, was young man of about
two-and-twenty, miserably clad in an old
coarse jacket and trowerss He started up
when his father entered. IL
q 70 Al
man hastily ''fasten the door. You look
as If you didn't know me, father. It'slong
enough since you drove me from home you
"And what do you want here, now2" said
the father, seating himself on a stood, on
the other side of the fireplace. "What do
you want here, now?"
''Shelter, replied the son, sI'm in trou-
BILE; that's enough. If I'm caught shall
swing; that's certain. Caught shall be
unless stop here; that's as certain. And
there an end of it,
''You mean to say you've been robbing
or numbering. then?" said the father.
'Yes, Ido," replied the son. 'Does it
surprise you, father?" He looked steadily
in the mans face, but he withdrew his
eyes, and bent them on the ground.
"Wheres your brothers?" he said, after
long pause. .-t---- t.
"Where they'll never trouble you," re-
piled his son; Johns gone to America,
and Henry's dead
Dead said the father, with q shudder,
which even he could not repress.
''Deadl'' replied the young man. 'Ht
died in my arms-shot like dog, by q
gamekeeper. He staggered back, caught
him, and his blood trinkled down my
hands. 1t poured out from his side like
water. He was weak and it blinded him, but
he threw himself down on his knees, or
the grass, and prayed to God, that if hil
mother was in heaven, he would hear hel
prayers for pardon for her youngest son. =
was her favorite boy, Will. ne said, and
am glad to think, now, that when she wa
dying, though was very young chil6
then, and my little heart was almost burst
ing. / knelt down at the foot of the bed
and thanked God for having made me Sc
fond OF her as to have never once dopa any
/ thing to bring the tears INTO her eyes.
/ Will, why was she taken away, and father
leftr There's his dying words, father, sale
the young man; make the best you car
of 'em. You struck him across the face, in
drunken fit, the morning he ran away
and here's the end of iti''
4 rxs~ 4 al he f,fI fIo- - L