The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-09-02
enough to injure himself in the least.
Poor Mary"
"Yes; poor Mary!"

And the while Mary slept, or Waked
to gently soothe her fragile restless
sister, and her sleeping dreams and
waking thoughts, full Of hope and love
and happiness, clustered around Fred
as ccntre, and not one doubt or fear
threw its dark foreshadow on the
bright picture.
And at breakfast the kind parents
felt sad and anxious for the sweet,
pale young girl, SO soon to lie In her
Saviour's arms and hear the songs OF
praise and Tyres around the throne;
but felt no care or fear tor that merry,
healthy girl, SO soon to lie in drunk
ards arms and hear drunkard
oaths.
But not long was that father to be
at ease. Soon after he went to his
Office, his brother (whoses son was one
who helped Fred home came to him
.nd told him of the last nights ca
rouse. That father knew that Fred
was called fast in college; but he
knew, too, that he was young man
of wealth, education and good family,
and young folks will be young" and
wild oats" must be sown; and so he
gave him his daughter, and then, like
many another good father, gave the
best of his time and thoughts to his
Office duties.sl "a
But now he went direc:to see Fred.
and see for himself how true or false
the story. And that calm man wept
with that stricken woman over the
hope, the idol, the disgrace of three
i loving hearts. And then he turned
sadly to his own home; he heard his
child playing and singing; he met her
bright, happy smile-how could he
dash fer hopes, darken her life? He
sank down into the great chair always
waiting for him; but there was no
ease to him in the soft cushions, for
the strong man was weary, bearing for
an hour the great weight OF grief
which that young girl must bear for a
life!
Is Mary saw the air and look, and ran
to him, and with quick, loving tone,
s'SS Wat nat has hasppened?'o Il 3gq
He took her in his lap, and stroking
4 her blonde hair, said very gently:.e
How much do you love Fred?'
With all my heart" Then start
led by that sad face, she asked quick
ly: What has happened to him?'
Nothing that you fear, my child.
Did you know that he drinks?'
Yes! but all the young men Of our
set do more or less He sdoes not
drink any NOR, ,if he does :as ,nu;h,
as the restsof lhen. Al .sentlemen
have wine and drink sometimes.
There is not the least danger of his
ever drinking enough to hurt him..
Yes, Mary, there is danger of his
drinking to excess, to drunkenness
mot an elegant, ,Tbut the true word"
Why, fathert Fred never, never
did or will. Do not listen to any such
stories. Its beneath yay 70 let people
gossip to you about him"
II have Jet myself feel that way too
long. Tt is no idle gossip now. l saw
him myself, Mary, this morning: [
saw that young, strong man the slave
of an appetite; that brilliant, wide
awake one, ira dull, drunken sleep;
E that dainty in perfumes befouling the
J very air with his BREATH
Father. how can you tell such hor-
, rible stuff e I
Because it is horrible. disgusting,
even in kind words from untanted
lips. What must it be then in very
truth? You can trust your father $
eyes, and may yoar own never look
, upon it!'
/ There is some mistake, some acci.
; dent about it, l know there is. He
has been led .astray uni Intentionally
, / It is the FIRST time, and | knowit will
be the last"
i, Il wish it might be, but l have nc
hope that it will. He has been talk
ed to again and again by his mother
and YET he goes steadily downward >
And every one NOW will try.to give
= him push; !, for one will no. A;
, a friend Of his dead father ande6f hi:
: widowed mother, l should think 70,
, would wish to have me help win hin
! back. "a
Your life. your happiness1livel
I yet to be, are too dear price to. pa!
for soul that loves itself, yousane
heaven, less than the wine cups
q She burst into teaa oh, iather
you do not know d puch Ere,
r. loves me, and shon1dS q u1Werth.
4 OF his love if l could tQ{ from hin
at his first .offense without so mucl
= as asking for or listening to one wore
n of explanations.
% That scene this morning. tha
i mothers long pcnt-up sorrow ant
4 Overwhelming grief explains itself"
!, His mother has been low-spirite'
= ever since his fathers death, and eve
rything looks dark to her. For he
; sake as we'll as his l ought to refus
q to give him up"
: The father kissed her again an
~ II know you feel YOU cannHS. a. 1sS saie a
y him up; but, my dear. child, loo
- about you, see the miseries Of som
- drunkard's S families! Not one of thos
" suffering women but loved as you lov.
and trusted as YOU trust, and thei
N love and happiness have been drowt
"a ed in the dark gulf ON whose shor
: you stand"
NJ Father, how can you talk so. e
NJ Because 4 can not see you wit
shut eyes walk out into the black W;
"a ters which will swallow you up. .
81 small party went from here to m
" wedding. Williams, handsome and
20 good singers and full of fun, was th
N life of the party, and his bride ":
40 pretty and very happy. He dram
nr some, but We thought nothing OF
10 You know that last week your motht
= heard Mrs. Williams was very sic
st and went to see her. and found ht
- unable to raise herself in bed, and ht
only attendants, her husband and hi
to son, dead drunk on the floor Of h,
~ rooms Can you, dare you, look Q
,,,oh n I, f,,tv ~, ~
a mo, father, of course I cannot; b,
- thereis not the slightest resemblant
T. between Fred and old Williams an
IA his low, rowdy son. If you were u,
~ my father l would not listen to such
a. comparison
II am your father, and I tell yc