Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-11-28

stopped suddenly, whether it was that
steady, scornfuI glance, or the quick
brealhed defiant motion she made. can.
not be told, but he shrank back under the
look she gave him like whipped hound
-rclrea,ed To the door, passed out and
slouched into the street u fluid some
place where he could satisfy his depraved
appetite on trust
will show you II picture, while Flor
cnce, sinking into seat, gives way To
the bitterest emotions; apicture in which
is framed lovely Italian home.
The father of the household is hunorcd
aS representative from the land of free.
dom. and is the American Minister. He
sits with wife and child, ,ac latter an en-
bodimcn, OF grace and beauty. in the
room ol palace
On every side are masterpieces OF the
worlds great painters; the drawing.
room i. depository of art. Not atable,
not foot stool but bears the fruits of la
horious study in every detail, and the
painS-taking touch of the hand of genius.
Far aud wide from the stately windows
cau he seen the golden tinted fruits of
that wonderful cline hills where dreamy
outlines melt into clouds of amber and
crimson; fields of olive and almond
trees; the very air that steals in seems
loa'rd with aromatic fragrance
Orc alter another, callers rome; mrn
high in station ollirc,> cot The realm; wn-
men distinguished tor .".aul ,nd culture,
and I'll are received with tlrJ gracious
ugiug OF ease aud d. il,, TOR which
'ar "ri.in.l 81 that unframed p;c,ur'' wa>
npc,. a,n,or> in ol his di,lnnrric :cls.
Iirn>
What u beautiful woman vou liulc
Florence will make" said Ugh born
dame one day, as The l,vcly child passed
by
Yes, il she is not spoiled" replied tho
gentle mother, who saw already the tri.
umphS of the future
and that ,cGS only ten Short gears ago! !!
Cast off by friends aud family. neglect
ed l'y every dependent. save the wife.
whose love was all that shielded linn
from nucr ruin q. body and soul th,
WIS the man aud the future Tor which
the .lolica,c mother anil beautiful child
were not prepared: mean. squalid
house in The suburbs OF great city.
shrnned. despiScd, deserted. the beauty
Of the woman marred BY long suffering :;
that OF the girl injured by poor living
and insufficient clothing. and both often
sorrowful witnesses to the brutal sport OF
the low neIghborhood when the man who
should have been their glory, made him
self their shame.
Great God is there no help for thy
suffering children? Are women to die,
and innocent babes TO starve? Are mur-
derS. debaucherieS. deaths by torture, aud
the ruin OF souls To pass 10y urheedcd
Shall men forever sit at their bounlilul
boards, and read, totally unmoved, how
such wretch WAS sent unprepared into
eternity that rum was the cause; how a
poor dclenceleSs child was beaten to
dealh-rum the cause how this and that
crime, >ickeuing in detail, fills the city
with shudderiDg horror, and rum was the
cause ? Must we abandon all hope of n
good time To come when sober rulers
shall guard sober people?
Florence raised her white. wet face,
glanced once about the dcsolate room,
and hurried up stairs. Her mother had
caught at some sewing, and WAS sitting
near the window, trembling from head To
foot u. the thought OF meeting with her
child
Don't sew mother; put down your
needle, it makes me hall crazy To see ven
work 50, cried Florence. standing with
net ustih tHc SMUT 'pp'.
Dear child. what else can we do ?"
There was that WEAKNESS in the voice
and detection in the attitude that makes
the heart ache both 10 hear and to vii.
ness.
DO" the girl raised her clcnchel
hand and then let it fall "Wc'll run
away she added with short, sharp
laugh.
"Where should we go?"
There is 4 river. very swift and deep,
opposite the foundry" said florence with
a recklessness in her tones that was more
dreadful than anger. Il don't want 10
suffer, can't suffer this way any longer;
I'm tired Of it; I'm dying! I'm dying !"
She walked hurriedly back and forth,
sobbing, yet fearless, wringing her hands
with convulsive emotions.
FLORENCE. my darling Florence you
irighteu me-" exclaimed her mother ris-
ing all in tremor This is sadder 10
bear than all the rest "
Mother, mother. it makes me so hard
and wickedm moaned the girl, sinking
at her mothers feet; ''there, sit down
don't cry; won: worry you; | do want
TO be brave and bear all this misery as
YOU do; want to be good, and strong.
and hopeiul--only-that blow mother" p"
she cried, catching at the woman's faded
dress, her voice growing hoarser, 'there
will be murder here, some day, | know
there will"