Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-24

sister, all there he was tho brother, Cath
arino was the sister. They were both chill
dron then.
Another ure-Thanksgiving evening.
Father and mother, and the brother return
ed from college.
"where is CatharineP"
.."No answer. Only does the brother
know that his sister is as one dead in the
| family. She had fed from her home with
a man her parents despised, not because of
his poverty but his vices, and yet that sis
ter loved him, notwithstanding all.
Another picture-father and mother dead
the son holding high position before the
world, the sister drunkard's wife, sur
rounded with half-starved children. This
was the picture that brought tears to Doc
tor Metcalfs eyes; he remembered that
| the miserable, broken-hearted woman was
the little sister Cathic, who used TO be all
| in all to him. 4
Doctor Motcalf called for his horse and
cutter, and wrapped himself in furs and
shawls--for the day was sevore-he set out
for his sisters miserable home, and
arrived there after an hours hard driving.
L III 80 gnu you We cOIle, fraHk.
Doctor Metcalf looked around-misery,
| poverty, perfect wretchedness was written
upon everything.
"Catharine," he said, "have you conclud-
cd TO accept my offer?"
| "And what is that?"
"Don't you remember? / told You as
soon rs you would leave that miserable"
"Oh, Frankr'
81 say he Is n miserable wretchw vocif-
Grated the doctor, bringing his clonched
| fist down upon the bare pine table with a
| force like iron-"I say he is miserable
wretch, off on spree now 1 dare say,
leaving these brats-"
"Oh, Frank p
"Well, 1 won't, if it hurts you the chill
dren look likely enough-they take after
you, Cathie."
"They're good children, Frank, and he's
good when he's sober. There never was a
better husband than George Morris until
he went to drinking. Father and mother
didn't like him; 1 knew it was because
he would tipple, but 1 never saw him
drink, and l didn't believe he drank
enough to hurt him."
The poor woman put her thin hands to
her eyes and cried quietly. Doctor Met
calf looked this way and then that in a
troubled, half impatient manner.
"And why don't you leave him ?" he
questioned at length. "I told you when
saw you before, that any time when you'd
leave George Morris, and give me your sa-
cred word you never would live with him
again, would take care of you and your
children. But no, you want to reform
him, when you couldn't do it any moro
than you could turn the Mississippi bottom
side up"
The poor woman made no reply.
"Say, Gather" he questioned, "consent,
let George Morris take his own course-let
me take care of you"
"An1 give him up?''
ayes, let Satan take his own. George
Morris is one of his surely, for nothing but
fiend could have the heart to do as he has
done, and bring his family to such wretch
edness."
"But when he's sober"
"Oh, yes, when he's sober, but"
"He is sometimes Frank, and there new
er was q kinder, better man, but can't
leave him, whatever might come, nothing
but death should divide u.s."
Doctor Metcalf rose impatienty.
"Then take your own course, Catharne.
Never will l help you to one cent while you
live with George Morris p
After her brother was gone the poor wo-
man called her little daughter Kate to her
bedside, and said:
"There's only one who can help us now,
Katie, ask God to help usr
'But he don't hear us, mother; we've
asked him so many times, but He don't
answer us"
"But he will if it is his pleasure, Katie"
The child obeyed, and the blue, pinched
lips murmured, while the little purple,
half frozen hands were folded reverently,
"Give us this day our daily Bread
Harry Lane finished his business in
town and started for home about sundown.
Doctor Metcalf met and called out to him:
Remember that offer made you Lane"
Harry Lane nodded and passed the doc
tors cutter with a bound. Night set in be-
fore he reached home, and when he arriv-
ed at the gate, his wife, a pretty little wo-
man, met him with lantern.
"I'm so glad you've come Harry" she
said in a relieved, overjoyed tone.
"And why, my little puss,"
"Ive been afraid all the afternoon"
"Afraid ?"
"Yes, but do come in and have supper
before you unharness, Harry"
"And of what were you afraid, Emp"
"Well, I'll tell you. George Morris came
here just little while after you left. He
came and sat down before the fire, and act
ed dreadful strange. Pretty soon 1 found
out that he was about half drunk"
"And what did he do2''
Nothing only drink and talk and drink,
but l was so afraid Of him. I've heard so
much of being killed by drunken men,
and he got so dreadfully drunk, Harry.
Well, he staid until near dark, and then he
emptied the jug that he had with him, and
fell over dead drunk
"In the housc?"
"Yes."
And is he there now?"
"Yes."
Perfectly insensible?"
"Yes, as insensible as log"
Harry Lane gave sudden leap into the
air and wild hurrah that quite startled his
quiet little wife. He had nearly unhar-
messed his team, but he replaced the har-
ness as quickly as possible.
"What are you going to do, IIarryY"
Glitch Bonny and Fleet to the sled
again."