The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-04-05

heart that was nearly dead to all othe
feelings. His wife, feeble and delicate
in health, had well nigh sunk under tn,
burden of trouble and suffering that la
had brought upon her. 1t was a sad
sad reality of the bright dream they hac
pictured of their married life, when he
had brought her happy bride to the
home that was then nice house in d
pleasant part Of the town new stores
saloons and factories had sprung ur
around it, and time and neglect had
wrought sad changes; the decaying
clapboards had long been guiltless OF
paint; shattered windows, ricketty
steps and broken fences told the sad
story all tco plainly. Inside, the furni-
ture, except for one or two rooms, had
been sold piece by piece, to buy the
poison that was bringing them all surely
to ruin.
All the next day after the children
had got him safely home, Joseph Burd
lay PROSTATE on his bed unable to stir.
The pains of rheumatism were racking
his joints, his head was throbbing, and
his brain was clouded. The black bottle
which lay beside him had been drained,
and at nightfall, the time he was ac-
customed to seek the saloon, he longed
with unutterable craving for just one
dram; he pictured the warmth and
light of the brilliant gin palace, only a
block away, and compared it to the
dreariness of his home. With the dark.
ness came a cold, thick fog from the
river, which penetrated the dilapidated
house. and wrapped freezingly around
him. On the hearth, before a small,
open fire made from bits of wood and
coal which Theo gathered along the
wharf, sat his two youngest children
the boy and the baby Lena. the darling
of the flock, a sunny haired, affectionate
child of four. His wife, with Kassy and
and Sylvia, had gone 10 carry home
some work. On light stand near his
bedside stood small fluid lamp, dimly
burning and beside it his supper, which
untouched. He tried to shake
Oft the terrible thirst, the intense de.
sire for drink which possessed his soul
for there was not a penny in the house,
nor, as he looked round to see, thing
worth pawning. The terrible pains all
over, and the awful longing, drove him
almost to frenzy; he felt that he should
perish if he could not have just one
glass to warm and comfort him.
"Theo," said he in whining tone, as
ne watched the children catching to-
sether and stretching forth their hands
20 the pleasant blaze, "Theo, can't you
20 round to the shop and get me some
brandy? I'm dreadful sick, and must
lave some right away; tell 'em I'm
lick and they must trust me till to-
"Let me bring the doctor, father, if |
'ou feel so bad" said Theo.
i've no money towaste on doctors
is brandy l want, l tell ye; come,
tart ~ and between a groan and a
Whisper he sank back upon the pillow.
md saw with relief his son disappear
With the bottle. Hundreds of little
children in Christian countries are daily |
ent on this sad errand, but never before |
lad Joseph Burd sent one of his to a
but pride and self.respect |
'ere fast being swallowed up by dread
al desire. Out in the thick and murky |
darkness through which the gas-lamps
hone CHASTITY and dim, went Theo, with
burning sense of hate and wrong
yelling his little heart. He longed to
ash the ugly bottle on the pavement
nd run away, but he dared not, and
linking of Lena, he fastened on. The
aloons were full, and it was long time
efore he could get attention or secure
nything on trust. Meanwhile, Lena,
1T to herself, came up with her child.
IN prattle to her fathers side and had
e not been crazed with liquor, he
'ould have welcomed her with kiss,
ut filled with the devil, an angels
resence was hateful to him, and after
rdering her away without effect, he
.ruck her blow across her sunny face
nd golden curls, at the same instant
ringing his hand back he knocked the
tile lamp and dashed it in pieces on
le floor, spilling the fluid, which at
nee blazed up and wrapped poor baby,
no had been felled by the blow, in
ames. In an agony of terror he strug-
ed to save her, but his hands shook,
nd his limbs were powerless his brain
as bewildered and refused to dictate
is movements. For an instant his ,
aby stretched her imploring hands
it'll cries for help; he bent over with ,
le vague idea that he must do some .
ling, but stumbled in the attempt and ,
ii PROSTATE on the floor. Lena's
les and means grew faint on his deaf
hing ear. and soon he was lost in blank
lie was aroused by ,
lrieks and cries of terror and raising !
s head he saw Theo bending over the ..
Jared and lifeless body of Lena; the
e had spent itself upon her and left, ,,
!, such pitiful wreck
/" You have killed her! you have :
lied her Oh, father, how could you? !
e poor baby What shall we do? 6
nat shall we do?" and the boy wrung !
5 hanGs, and moaned, and sobbed. :