The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-12
VOL. w. NO. 4S.

and heHould make the most Of 1t. -. -
Time went on; the three little children
who were left to@him grew up, and were
children no longer. The father remained
the same poorer, shabbier, and more dis
solute-looking, but the same confirmed and
irreclaimable drunkard. The boys had,
long ago, run wild in the streets, and left
him; the girl alone remained, but she work.
ed hard, and words or blows could always
procure him something for the tavern. So
he went On in the old course, and a merry
J life he led.
One night, as early as ten o'clock-foI
the girl had been sick for many days, and
there was, consequently, little to spend al
the pubic-house- bent his steps home.
ward, bethinking himself that If he would
nave her able to earn money, it would be
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 YET
thought it worth while to do. 1t was q
wet December night; the wind blew pierc-
ing colo, and therain poured heavily down.
He begged few nalf-pence from passer-
by, and having bought small loaf (for il
was his interest to keep the girl alive if he
could, he shuffied onward as fast as the
wind and rain would let him.
At the back of Fleet street, and lying be-
tween it and the weter-side, are several
mean and marrow courts, which form a per-
ton of Whitefriars; twas to one of those
that he directed his steps.
The alley into which he turned might fol-
filth and misery have competed with the
darkest corner of this ancient sanctuary in
its dirtiest and most lawless time. The
houses, varying from two stories in height
to four, were stained with every indescrib-
able hue that long exposure to the weather,
damp, and rottenness can impart to tepe-
ments composed originally of the toughest
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.
Thesolitary 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 that here and there
twinkled in the rooms of such of the more
fortunate residents as could afford to in
dulge in so expensive a luxury. A gutter
ran down the center of the alley-all the
sluggish odors ofwhich had been called
forth-by the rain; and asthe 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 haye followed into
this den walkedion 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 whatwas left oft, stood
aiar, for the convenience of the numerous
dodgers; and he proceeded to grope his way
up the old andsbroken stairs. to the attic
story.
He was within step or two of his room
door, when it opened, and q girl, whose
miserable and emaciated appearance was
only to be equsled by that of the candle
which she shaded with her hand, peeped
anxiousiy out.
SIS that you, iather2" said the girl
"Who else should it bs?" replied the man
gruffiy. "What are you trembling at2 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 grip
81 am not well, father-noeat all well, "
said the girl, bursting into tears. : =
'Ah!" replied the man, in tone of a
person who is compelled to admit very
unpleasant fact, to which he would rather
h "a
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 for2 Let me
come in, can't your"
"Father," whispered the girl, shutting
the door behind her, and placing herself
before it, civilian has come back"
"Who?" said the man with start.
Hush, :" replied the girl, 'fWilliam;
brother william" fFs
"And what does he want2" said the man,
with an effort at composure ''moneyi
meaG drink He's come to the wrong shop
for that, if he does. Give me the candle
give me the candle, fool-I amt going to
hurt him." He snatched the candle from
her hand, and walked into the room.
Sitting on an old box, with his headrest.
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-tventy, miserably clad IN an old
coarse jacket and trowers. He started up
when his father entered.
''Fasten the door, Mary" said the young
man hastily-'fasten the door. You look
as if you didn't 'tknow me, father. It's long
enough since you drove me from home; you
may well forget me,
'tAnd what do you want here, now?" said
the father, seating himself on stood, on
the other side of the fireplace. "What dc
you want here, now9"
''Shelter, I" replied the son, 'I'm in trou-
| BILE; that's enough. If I'm caught 1 shall
swing; that's certain. Caught L shall De
unless stop here; that's as certain. And
there's an end of it"
''You mean to say you've been robbing
of numbering. then?s said the father.
eyes, Ido." replied the son. ''Does il
surprise you, father" He looked steadily
in the mans face, but he withdrew hi:
eyes, and bent them on the ground.
"Where's your brothers?" he said, after
a long pause.
'Where they'll never trouble you," re
piled his son; Johns gone to America
and Henry's dead"
"Dead!' said the father, with a shudder
which even he could not repress.
''DeadI'' replied the young man. ''H,
/ died in my arnns-shot like dog, by {
gamekeeper. He staggered back, l caugh
him, and his blood trinkled down m!
hands. 1t poured out from his side ik'
water. He was weak and it blinded him, bu
he threw himself down on his knees, OF
the grass, and prayed to God, that if hi
mother was in heaven, he would hear he
prayers for pardon for her youngest son. /.
was her favorite boy, Will he said, and
am glad to think, now, that when she wal
dying, though 1 was very young chilC
then, and my little heart was almost burst
ing, knelt down at the foot of the bed
and thanked God for having made me 6,
fond of her as to have never once done any
thing to bring the tears into her eyes.
Will, why was she taken away, and fathe
leftr There's his dying words, father, SAT-
the young man; ''make the best you ca
of 'em. You struck him across the face, Il
} drunken fit, the morning he ran away
and here's the end of itl'
4 Thegirl wept aloud; and the father, sink
ing his lead upon his knees, rocked him
self to and fro.
"If am taken, said the young man, 60
shall be carried back into the country an,
hung for that mans murder. They canno
trace me here, without your assistance, ia
7