Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-04-04

oIio iOiOildJ say, anu 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, sob for drop to cool
my parched tonge! for am tormented
in this fame" Yes, that was his con-
dition, and rising, he crept silently out
into the street. The darkness was fast
gathering. He would go 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 Sylvianestled beside
her. The freight danced on their
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 as
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 a 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
craved-a glass of brandy. He shrark
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
1t would be easier to plunge into the
cold, black waters. Making no effort
to resist the overpowering temptation,
he did not leave the bright counter till
his money was all gone, and then sank
down beside the stove in drunken
stupor. As the clock tolled the mid
night hour he was aroused by shout
from the rumseller, who babe him be-
gone. He crawled out and down the
steps, and moved toward the river. 1t
was slow work, staggering or creeping
along the filthy street, and he had to
pause frequently to rest. At last, when
he had almost reached the wharf, his
foot slipped, and he went sprawling into
the gutter, when Waterman, attracted
by his groans, rescued and sent him to
the police station.
CHAPTER III.
The next day he was sentenced, in
default of bail, to a months imprison-
ment for drunkenness. The first four
days ere passed in his cell in dreary
lethargy of body and soul, void of re-
morse or feeling of any kind, except
the thirst which gradually grew less in
tolerable, as no liquor was given him.
When the cloud of drunkness wore
away, thought and memory grew clear.
His past life lay before him with all the
dreadful experiences. He saw that rum
had been the cause of his wreck and ruin.
8 / was possessed with the DEVIL" he
groaned. Would that they had locked
me up in mad house before wrought
such desolation." Once he had been
beloved, useful and happy, but yielding
little by little, the demon had at last
full possession of his soul. Now all was
lost-his family. his honor, self-respect
and confidence; nothing remained but
remorse, grief, and a sense of deep
degradation. He cursed strong drink,
and the people who sold it to him.
For long time, broken hearted and
cast down in spirit, it seemed to Mr..
Burd that he could never rise above his
miserable condition, but at last thoughts
of his children filed his mind, and the
desire to redeem what he had lost in
their sight possessed him. The arousing
of love and self-respect in his heart was
dawn of light, which grew stronger
and stronger. There was no drink to
quench the tiny sparkle of hope that
had been born, and so it lived and
grew; and when the day of release came
he felt strong enough to take up his
life and "battle for the right" With
this resolve he went at once to his old
hsme; but strangers responded to his
knock. The house, heavily mortgaged,
had been sold and in Miss Miggs poor
cottage he found his children.
"Oh, father, father, what did become
of your" cried Kassy, leading him JOY
fully in; "we thought you were
drowned"
~ thought he hadn't died." said
Sylvia; 4" knew he would come back,
and he looks weller, too"
"You've come back to be good,
havn't you, father?" asked Thee; &c it
will be real nice if you are good, cause
Miss Miggs is so kind, mother is getting
well. Kassy has been to see her, and
she says SO, too"
Yes, Theo, I've come back to be
good. l think God would have let me
drown in the river if he hadn't meant
that should be good man YETI
s'.Praise the Lord |" calculated Miss
Miggs, who appeared in time to hear
the last sentence; "if He hasn't given
us back Joseph Burd, clothed and in
his right mind. Yes, yes, neighbor,
feel it in my bones that you have pulled
through and will make a strong man
yet; but you will have fierce tempta-
tions."
81 know it," was the reply, and |
trembled to think of it. l wish | could
go away somewhere and get something