The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-09-14
AIinnje'S Secret.

Mrs. Lawton and her only child,
Minnie, were waiting for the arrival
of Gne whom they both loved.
"Will father come soon % Minnie
asked.
al hope so, darlIng," replied her
mother; "but-"
There was a world of meaning in
that little word "but," yet the tired
watcher tried to hide it.
"What were you going to say, moth
er? questioned the child after a
pause.
"Oh, nothing -nOthing;n and the
anxious wife forced back the tears
that pushed to her eyes.
Though only seven years old, Min
ME LaWtOn was q thoughtful, tender
hearted maiden, and seeing that her
mother did not wish TO talk, she ask
ed no further 0nRstinns
no was the first time Mrs. LaWtOn
had allowed her daughter to stay out
of bed, that she might keep her COM
pany while she sat waiting for him
who was absent.
The clock struck eleven, but the
footsteps so eagerly listened for did
not come. Another half hour slipped
quietly away without bringing Mr..
IsawtOn to his home, and every min
ute his wife became more nervOusly
anxious. At length the clock struck
twelve.
Minnie and her mother had listened
to its low, mOnOtOnOus tickings until
they fancied the sounds were louder
than in the early evening; but when
it began to tell them that midnight
had come, Mrs. LawtOn started and
looked wistfully around the room. He
was not there. What sad and lone
ly place it seemed to be without him
Weary with waiting, Minnie's
mother tried to relieve her mind by
talking of the past, and revealing her
fears OF the future; but every now and
then a sob would compel the speaker
To stop, and then a sigh would come
up from the ehild's heart to tell her
parent that her sorrow was being felt
and shared, At last heavy footsteps
were heard in the passage below, and
Mrs. LawtOn rose from her chair
The truant husband and father had
indeed come; but hOw2 Not sober
and good tempered, as usual; but cross
very cross, and-yes! we must tell
it-tipsy. Staggering into the room,
he glared for a moment at his trem-
bling wife, and then uttered a loud,
hOarse laugh.
"Why have you stayed so late, Will
liam ?' she ventured timidly.
"pve been having a social glass or
two with an old friend, Polly. Bring
some beer" and he threw himself
heavily on the sofa. In little while
he fell asleep, and neither Minnie nor
her mother could rouse him, so they
went to rest.
Several hours elapsed before VIII
liam LawtOn aWOke from his stupOr.
He got to bed as well as he could,
where, his brain being still clOuded
with the fumes of the liquor he had
taken, he soon fell into another deep
sleep. At length mornings glorious
summer mOrning-brOught the suns
rays into the room where he lay.
Opening his eyes, he pressed his hands
TO his head and sighed heavily. "Pve
been fOOlish-mad," he muttered to
himself. Putting on his clothes, and
going toward the window, "What a
magnificent sky! And TO think that
l should have no more sense than
to-
Hearing Minnie's voice he paused
and listened.
"Minnien
The singing ceased. ayes, father"
"COme here, want you"
When sober, Mr.. LawtOn was do
tingly fond of his only child.
"What is your mother dOing?" he
asked when she made her appearance.
,e r
breakfast
'Did you see me last night, Min
nie?n
ayes father"
"Ah, Pm sorry for that"
"But you're not so sorry as mother
is"
"HOw do you know"
because she cries when you stay
out so late"
ThecOnscience-stricken parent turn
ed his face another way.
"Oh, father, you would be sorry if
YOU knew what l know, "said Minnie.
Then she came and took hold of his
hand in her Old-fashiOned, cOaxing
way, and added, "YOu're not tipsy
now, are you, father ?''
"NO-nO, Minnie; don't talk of that.
Tell me, what is it that you know ,"
'Ah, but it's a secret"
ga what pa secret 81
Eyes, and you would be angry with
me, If were 10 tell it."
"NO l wouldn't, not now, Minnie.
Tell it to me and you shall have some
sweets when l come hOme.n
Thus urged, the thoughtful little
maiden began to tell her secret. LAST
night, when mother and me had been
waiting for you a long, long time,
fell asleep and thought that I was in a
grand house playing with lot of 9TH
er little girls. Then somebody shook
me and 1 wakened. 1t was mother
that wakened me, and she was crying
and looking like IA ghost, and trem-
bling as if robbers had got into the
house to kill us. Then she kneeled
down and prayed that you might come
home, and told me how good aud kind
YOU used to be to her when ! was a
baby; and"
"But the secret Minnie, the secret" "
"And she told me how you come
home tipsy when Pm in BED, and then
scOld her and break things"
''Never mind that. Tell me the se-
ere" I" again interrupted her father.
And she hoped our dear Saviour
would forgive her becauses she couldn't t
help it, and she said ! wasn't 10 tell
you"
''Tell me what ~
"Ihdt she IUOlfII rIfber see UOlE dead