The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-04-05
son that was bringing them all surely

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 nightiall, the time he was ac-
customed 10 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 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, aflectionate
child of four. His wife, with Kassy and
and Sylvia, had gone TO carry home
some work. On light stand near his
bedside stood "a small fluid lamp, dimly
burning and beside it his supper, which
remained untouched. He tried 10 shake
oil the terrible thirst, the intense de
sire for drink which possessed his soul
for there was not penny in the house,
nor, as he looked round to see, a 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,n said he in whining tone, as
he watched the children catching to-
gether and stretching forth their hands
TO the pleasant blaze, "Theo, can't you
20 round TO the shop and get me some
brandy? I'm dreadful sick, and must
have some right away tell 'em I'm
sick and they must trust me till to-
morrow"
" Let me bring the doctor, father, if
you feel so bad, said Theo.
I've no money towaste on doctors
1t Is brandy want, | tell ye come,
start - and between groan and
whisper he sank back upon the pillow,
and saw with relief his son disappear
with the bottle. Hundreds OF little
children in Christian countries are daily
sent on this sad errand, but never before
had Joseph Bard sent one of his TO
rumselier's but pride and self-respect
were fast being swallowed up by dread
full desire out in the thick and murky
darkness through which the gas-lamps
shoue CHASTITY and dim, went Theo, with
"a burning sense of hate and wrong
swelling his little heart. He longed to
dash the ugly bottle on the pavement
and run away, but he dared not, and
Of Lena, he fastened on. The
saloons were full and ii was "a long time
before he could get attention or secure
anything on trust. Meanwhile, Lena, |
left 10 herself, came up with her child. |
ish prattle to her fathers side and had !
he not been crazed with LIQUOR. ne !
but filled with the devil, an angels !
presence was hateful to him, and after
her away without effect, he |
struck her blow across her sunny face |
and golden curls, at the same instant |
bringing his hand back he knocked the |
little lamp and dashed it in pieces on |
the floor, spilling the fluid, which at
once blazed up and wrapped poor baby,
who had been felled by the blow, in |
flames. In an agony Of terror he strug- |
gled to save her, but his hands shook, |
and his limbs were powerless his brain |
was bewildered and refused TO dictate |
his movements. For an instant his |
baby stretched her imploring hands |
with cries for help; he bent over with |
the vague idea that he must do some |
thing, but stumbled in the attempt and |
fell PROSTATE on the floor. Lenas !
cries and means grew faint on his deaf. |
ening ear. and soon he was lost in blank |
He was aroused by |
shrieks and cries of terror and raising |
his head he saw Theo bending over the |
charred and lifeless body of Lena the |
fire had spent itself upon her and left. |
ON, such a pitiful wreck
You have killed her you have
killed her Oh, father, how could you?
the poor baby! What shall we do
what shall we do?' and the boy wrung
his hanCs, and moaned, and sobbed. !
The father caring for nothing but OBJ
llyion, grasped the bottle that had !
slipped TO the floor. The intolerable !
agony OF his spirit gave him a little
strength he crawled on his hands and |
knees out through the slime and filth |
of the alley, and under cover of the |
murky darkness crept into a neighbor.
my aueu anu Ilu Dcnedln a friendly |
pile of straw, where he sank into deep |
sleep, that, bringing angony of dreams
and delirium, lasted till late the next
day.
CHAPTER IL.
Miss Miggs, the owner of the shed
where the wretched man had crawled
for refuge, was hunting for eggs the
next day, when she espied her lodger,
and, 10y a severe pounding and shaking,
succeeded in bringing him back to the
world he so longed TO leave.
"Ah, | know you,' she cried, and !
amt surprised; this is just where | ex-
pected you'd bring up, when you used
to take dram day, and scorned the
idea Of ever being common drunllard.
You're worse than that now. You've
killed your baby, driven your wife
raving crazy, and made your children
ggars-that's what drink has done for
you. Oh, I'd like to find 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, ! tell w."