The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-10-06
MisrelIaneons Selections.
MINNIE'S SECRET.

MlNNlES SEGkE /.
Mrs. Lawton and her only child
Minnie, were waiting for the arrival
of one whom they both loved.
"Will father come soon2" Minnie
asked.
u hope SO, darling" replied her
mother; ".but-"
There was a world of meaning in
that little word "bnt," yet the tired
watcher tried to hide it.
"What were you going to say,
mother!" questioned the child after
a pause.
"Oh, nothing-nothing;;" and the
anxious wife forced back the tears
that pushed to her eyes.
Though only seven years old,
Minnie Lawton was a thoughtful,
tender hearted maiden, and seeing
that her mother did not wish to talk,
she asked no further questions.
| 1t was the first time Mrs. Lawton
had allowed her daughter to stay
out of bed, that she might keep her
company while she sat waiting for
him who was absent.
The clock struck eleven, but the
steps so eagerly listened for did not
come. Another half hour slipped
quietly away without bringing Mr..
Lawton to his home, and every min
ute his wife became more nervously
anxious. At length the clock struck
twelve.
Minnie and her mother had listen
ed 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
a sad and lonely 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 sigh
would come up from the child's
heart to tell her parent that her sor-
row was being felt and shared. At
last heavy footsteps were heard in
the pass below, and Mrs, Lawton
rose from her chair. The truant
husband and father had indeed come,
but howP Not sober and good-tem-
pered, as usual; but cross-very
cross, and-yes! we must tell it
tipsy. Staggering into the room, ne
glared for moment at his trembling
wife, and then uttered a loud hoarse
laugh.
"Why have you stayed so late,
William ra she ventured timidly.
"Tve 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 Will
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 morning. glori-
GUS 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. "I've been foolish-mad"
he muttered to himself. Putting on
his clothes, and going toward the
window, 'What magnificent sky!
And to think that l should have no
more sense than to"
Hearing Minnie's voice he paused
and listened.
"Minnie."
The singing ceased. eyes, father"
"Cope here, l want you"
When sober, Mr.. Lawton was dot
ingly fond of his only child.
"What is your mother doing" he
asked when she made her appear
ance.
"Cooking bit of bacon for your
breakfast"
"Did you see me last night, Min
nie?'
"Yes, 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"
The conscience-sticken parent
turned his face another way.
"Oh, father, you would be sorry
if you knew what I know said Min
ME. Then she came and took hold
of his hand IN her old-fashioned,
lcoaxing way, and added. "You're
not tipsy now, are you father"
1No-no, Minnie; don't talk Of
that. Tell me, what is it that you
know?"
"Ah, but it's a secret"
eyes, and you would be angry
with me if 1 were to tell it."
mo I wouldn't, Minnie. Tell it to
me and then you shall have some
sweets when come home"
Thus urged, the thoughtful little
maiden began to tell her secret.
"Last night when mother and me
were waiting for you long, long
time, fell asleep and thought that 1