Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-05-06
SaIes 3 Sketches.
THE TRAGEDY-ACTED EVERY
NIGHT.
BY REV. JOHN HALL, d. d.

BY REV. JOHN HALL, d. d.
Scene Frst.-A dingy room, with dull
light in it on and ill-used sofa pale,
jaded woman in half-sleep. We may
study the room till she awakes.
Something of former responsibility in it.
Bookcase, for example, with glass doors
now general depository of odds and ends,
carpet 0fnice pattern, but sorely faded, and
worn into ragged holes near the windows I;
| window curtains once there, as appears by
the pole once gilt, now disclosing their ma
tive pine chairs unstable, and of several
patterns !; a small clock on the mantel-piece,
the newest-lookingt thing in the place, that
strikes with quick, wheeling sound, as if
it had caught cold and rushed through its
striking nervously, as if ashamed of itself
and glad to be done with it. But it wakes
up the woman from her dog-sleep
Twelve O'Clock, and Toms not home
yet. Well l wonder where he is. What
am l to do? Pm dead tried l wieh'I
could go to- Ringing at the door-beh
violently. and continuously, and she goes
to open the door; returns accompanied by
a youth of about fifteen.
While the poor mother, in evident fear
lays out supper, let us take survey of
him. His face is the oldest of him, two or
three years older than his body traces of
good teatures-eyes for example; lips thick
encd and swollen, and cheeks tlabby and
tallow colored. Clothes unmatched, part
shabby, part fiashy all smelling strongly
of tobacco smoke.
Where were you, Tom p timidly says
the mother.
oh, enjoying myself
Il know but where, Tom p
'Ah at Hallack's all the fellows were
there
And where then, Tom p
oh, nowhere took walk
Tom, you were somewhere else you
were drinking l know it,
oh, yes, the fellows turned in at the cor
ner aud had drink
Tom, dear, l am-you'll break my
heart 1u
Come now, stop that, mother. If a fel-
low works hard all day he must have some
fun when he eau, without being cross-ques-
toned !; and pushing the empty plate away
and rising with a movement that upset his
chair, Tom slams the door after him, and
goes to his bed.
God help me what can doY'
Yes God help you, poor weak mother !
You gave up the Ieins to head-strong boy
too soon. And now you cannot get them
back.
Scene Second.-The same room, darker
and more dismal, bookcase and clock
gone no carpet "a woman old and feeble
with a look OF constant terror, Long past
midnight. several times she has moved
about, started, listened, drawn her old
shawl around her bent shoulders, and thon
lung herself down again. AT length there
is knocking, and Tom comes IN. lie Is
man now, in size and years, but with u
defiant aud daredevil look that makes you
turn away from him. Ills breath is heavy
with drink, aud his clothes look as " lac
picked them ON chance out OF "A heap.
Tom, dear, you're killing yourself, and
you're killing me too, It's past three
O'Clock, aud pm-"
Come now, shut up, old woman
know all that by this time pretty we'll, l
guess. You just get 10 your bed, aud III
take care OF myself
Tom, don't want 10 80 ill you're
ready, III watt -
Come, old woman, here'a your candle.
I'm old enough 10 mind Nulnbor oae.'
Aud the poor mother goes. lie would
abuse her, strike her as he had many
time done, when quite drunk, II she did
not. She goes 10 bad, but not IA slecp-to
think aud weep. ies she lhlnks. lom
Is no, her olllvst child, She had another
Willie who died al the age uI two. she
renenl1rs the llllle curly head, llle smooth
bgow, the waNen hands that lay va lho
small coffin, buside which she and her
husband alood and wepl bitterly, She naA
brokeaheaTled, Al the world looked Like
a grave 10 her II waa aiany . day boioTv
she Nas cqnleni ~ Ihlnk thai uod should
take hsr ehild. And lhen iola cams, she
thoushl uf hln a. baby, oI hls baby
tricks, " hls boylah ways, " hes pFla, ln
hlm, Aud nos Al she lhlnks ihsgc
aeo heavier bloss than death can strike.
fhsTe aTe greater gTleis than . ehlld's dy'
lnA. And lAs looF, cf'islieds eohlased spirit
nandeFs ~ gnd no, ll9m lilr euiiiu " dsAd
Willis W tbs living safgos ~ heF ~ Aud
a.,'s Is .as Asd lssa ~scss % hIa. ~,
hsps che sss -sslns u n5s, rsshsps lie