The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-06-11

already gone, for he had been lay
ing Off this afternoon, to have .
little fun with the boys. And he
had it-but at what a cost! Only
q few dollars-five and q half. But
that was taken from the wants of
his home ones. And she told us
it was often thus now. Once it
was never so. But now quite Oft
en-. And all the time she loved
him, for she knew he was the faith
er of her children. And often she
wept when he came thus. Every
time less and less the good, loving
= man he once was. There was not
. book or picture in the room he
occupied. Only the Book Of Life
we were reading from the scene
before US!
She helped him to a miserable
apology Tor bed. He slept and
she wept. He had enjoyed his
spree with the boys-but o! God!
Eis wife and babies! His manhood!
J. His love of home! His respect
/, for himself And this was what he
/ had to show-this was his success
A wife-in tears, rags. and penu-
ry. Two little children-and he.
their father, warning against their
innocent helplessness! Two little
children being robbed of their life,
their light, their love by him who
once was strong, and brave. and
good as we all can be if we but
strive with the strength each Of US
who are men pc ssesses.
And his home! Two small scanti-
ly furnished rooms. Not as many
rooms as he and his would one
day require coffins! And all he
had would not purchase the -four
other rooms,' should they be CALI
ed for on the morrow. And he
had still more to chow than that
his life was a success! His weak
ening powers and wasted strength
The respect of his fellow workmen
was gone. His confidence in him.
self was going. The love for his
home ones was dying out, and yet
they loved him, if he was only a
drunkard.'
We talked with his wife and lit
tie boy-we talked kindly with the
poor man. and while she wept and
sobbed over the desoIateness Of
her heart and home. the tears came
from his eyes-rOlled down the
cheeks kind hands had bathcd,
and he turned his face to the wall
and sank to sleep.
And then his weeping wife went
about her work She carefully
put away his clothes, for they told
her OF need for care, and work yet
to night for the work OF woman
is never done. The little boy
came to our knee and told US that
he had no playthings. for his pa
pa was too poor to buy them
And the little one who did no: un-
derstand matters at all. looked
and stared at us as if It's life was
blank as at of the one who was
sleeping just there.
Then we left the home of this
our fellow workingman and broth
er, though a stranger, and while
his tired, over-worked wife is
with aching body and grief-laden
heart working Cor him she loves
and fears, we are writing Of this
little incident in busy life, that
when he wakes and some day reads,
he may know that not all of man
kind has turned against him, if he
Is only drunkard.'
We wish he had q nice little
home, as SO many could have if
they would. Each year the work.
ing men squander enough which,
if properly expended, would make
their homes to less or greater
degree beautiful, only to weaken
them selves.
If they would but understand
and act upon this, there would be
more love, more rest, more kindly
home welcome, and more to shield
and protect the ones who work
hard all the week, and who need
not excitement, but res. when the
labor Ct the hour be ended.
And then the wives, the heart
stricken ones who love their hus-
bands, no matter if they be drunk
srds-the dear little children the
good Jesus loved, even if parents
will not, would be happier and
grow to years Of usefulness, prof.
iting by good examples rather than
growing weak from being taught
the weakness of those who ought
to love them the best of all on
earth, as He who is good will love
all who are true and deserving.
Only a drunkard! AS if that
was not enough! Who can tell
what a terrible prize that is for
loving woman to hold to her heart
for innocent children to twine
their trusting love around!
And yet he can be more. He
can be a man. He can rise out Of
the mire and the gutter if he will.
We believe him; and have called
earnestly on that help which is aid
to him. And he will he aided.
We believe he will keep his prom
lse. for he said he would, and he
meact it. And then we will help
him All who are good will help
him. His comrades who have wives
and children of their owE should
help him to keep away from temp
tatton. Those who do not care for
him may ask him to steep himself
still longer in the waters of bitter
ness but he will not He will vet