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

pected you'a bring up, when you usec
to take dram a day, and scorned the
idea OF ever being a common drunkard
You're worse than that now. You've
killed your baby, driven your wife
raving crazy, and made your children
beggars-that's what drink has done fol
you. Oh, I'd like to fnd out the man
who supplied you with this devil I'd
make him buzz consider him just
one step nearer the evil one than you
are. "He's one of the DEVILS licensed
agents, and he's bought you pretty
cheap, l tell ye."
"Pll never touch another cursed
drop, so help me God," he murmured
with a feeble effort at prayer, but with
a sickening thought OF the desolation
at home. he cried: "Is it all true that
you have said, Miss Miggs2 Did
really kill Lena? 1t seems like horrid
dream, | have SO many of them"
| "lrs no dream, can tell We. All
night and all day your poor wife was
raving mad, and now they've taken her
away TO the Retreat. I've just put
Lena in her coffin, and the other ones
are all alone. Oh, it's horrible to think
what you have DONE"
Mr.. Burd groaned. "There's no use
for me to try, then; I'd better be dead;
they never will want to see me again. l
can jump into the river and the tide
will carry me far out to sea-
"Now don't you 60 to talking about
committing suicide-you've got sins
enough to answer for already. Live
and reform, say, and save your soul
while you've got Chance" and taking
his arm Miss Miggs led him into her
little cottage, made him cup OF strong
coffee, babe him battle his bloated face
and throbbing head, and left him to
rest to try TO sleep. But there was no
rest. Memory was stirred; he thought
of his lonely, wretched children, and
longed to see them once more, to tell
them he was sorry, and was going to
free them forever from the curse OF his
sight. Then the awful thirst grew
strong again, and from his heart he
cried like Dives, "Oh for drop to cool
my parched tonge for am tormented
in this flame" Yes, that was his con-
dition, and rising, he crept silently out
into the street. The darkness was fast
gathering. He would 20 round past his
home, and see what was likely to be-
come of his little ones. With slow and
feeble step he at last reached the cur
tainless window and looked in. There
was Kassy, on the hearth before the
fire, with Theo and Sylvia nestled beside
her. The freight danced on their
sad, wan faces, and gave them a strange,
CHASTITY look. He turned away with |
sickening heart and passed into the |
other room across the entry. There the |
moon looked in too, with clear, calm |
light, and Joseph Burd saw tiny pine |
coffin, and Lena lying peaceably in it a:
if sleeping. The folds of muslin hid
the dreadful scar on neck and chest,
and the fire had spared her sweet face
and golden hair. Her thin, white hands
were folded, and on one of the tiny
fingers showed small gold ring. He
remembered when it was given to her,
and how pleased she was; but she
would not want it any more, and it
would bring him what he SO terribly
glass of brandy. He shrank
at first from robbing his dead child, but
that soon passed away with the desire
that was stronger than love or honor.
He crept silently into the room, drew
the ring off the little dead finger, and
hurried with it to the pawnbroker's.
Now he could drink deep draughts, and
it would be easier to plunge into the
cold, black waters. Making no effort
10 resist the overpowering temptation,
he did not leave the bright counter till
MS money was all gone, and then sank
Town beside the stove in drunken
'tupor. As the clock tolled the mid
night hour he was aroused by shout
rom the rumseller, who babe him be-
zone. He crawled out and down the
steps, and moved toward the river. 1t
vas slow work, staggering or creeping
llong the filthy street, and he had to
PAUSE frequently to rest. At last, when
lie had almost reached the wharf, his
DOT slipped, and he went sprawling into
he gutter, when a Waterman, attracted
" his groans, rescued and sent him to
he police station.
CHAPTER III.
The next day he was sentenced, in
efault of bail. to months imprson-
nent for drunkenness. The first four
ays :, ere passed in his cell in dreary
ethargy of body and soul, void of re.
morse or feeling of any kind, except
he thirst which gradually grew less in
olerable, as no liquor was given him.
When the cloud OF drunkness wore
way, thought and memory grew clear.
lis past life lay before him with all the
readful experiences. lie saw that rum
ad been the cause Of his wreck and ruin.
/ was nossessed with the davil y he |