The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-04-02
GILES STEVENS DESPAIR!

in one Of the back streets Of faseapOrt towO
of England, three little children were
crouchiDg over a bit of frc, whilst their
mother paced the room, trying in vain to
hush the crying baby which she held in
her arms, Mother, when shall we get
our suppcr?" said the eldest Of the little
group.
Il haven't got any, jeanne said the
woman; "aad | haven't got any money to
buy it, May be your llher'll be home
soon"
Jcmima sighed. Fathers coming
home" was not usually the signal for sup
per for he was always cross aud suappisb,
and sometimes not rs steady as be might
be- and when bis wife asked him for mon
ey, bis usual answer was an oath; and
when, after while, heavy, numbering
footstep was heard on the stairs, the child.
ren got into the furthCst, darkest corner,
whilst their poor weary mother renewed
her attempts to keep the hungry; scream.
ing baby quiet.
Signalling as''usuaG" said Giles StGv'
ems, coming in and sitting down on the
only chair in the house that was not brOk.
en-, "No Gre, no supper, no nothingP
Poor, weary mother, she was tired aud
i'll, jaded and soured with the troubles Of
her life, and the taunt was more Than she
could bear in silence. Shame oD your.
self. then, Giles, spending your money in
drink and bad company, aud letting your
wife and children 60 hungry! Is it my
fault, there's no fire and no support" 8
Come, stop that, will you!' said the
man, angrily. "Its not my fault works
scarce and moneys scarce"
"Isu't it your fault that you lost your
place? didu't you lose it by drinking and
bad Ways?' retorted the wife,
But Giles sprang to bis feet. "l've
had enough of this, he exclaimed; "you
won't catch me hone in hurry;" and he
went down airs, slauming The house:
5ddor.beAipd him.
lsyeus Saps beS head asEu psss
E.tBs 6a6y3 sc6bda aloud, and The chill
Edron joined in with chorus Of crying,
although they didG't quito know Why
Poor mother, she had never meant ITO 40.
ger Giles" as she said to herself; she loved
him still. in spite Of many hard word, or
evcu blow, which bad come to her during
the seven years they had been married.
Now she would have given anything to
follow him, ard tell him she was sorry and
beg him to come home; but she dared not
aud then there was the children to see to
besides; so she kept up her weary walk
with the heavy baby, but her thoughts
we're softer ones, and she wished she could
take back her sharp words.
Mcantimo, Giles Stevens walked on
through the streets too angry to care where
he was going
There isu'ta man 10 oil the world aS'd
stand it." he muttcrcd. What's come
over Polly cant think, she usedu't to be
so sharp,tongucd when first we were mar
ried What il do take drop too much
now aud then, there's many does worse"
Yet, though he tried to excuse himself,
most uncomfortable thoughts would come
into bis mind; he could not forget that time
he had spoken of when they were 6rst
married, and had a neat little home, and
we're as happy as the sunshine. No, Ger
taiuly Polly had changed, she hadn't
sharp tongue then; but what had changed
bar? Hadn't bis conduct made all the
difference? Aud the misery he had drag.
her into-porhaPs for the first time Giles
saw how much he bad been in the wrong.
While thinking Of these things he bad
wandered on to the barbor, and os he
looked round, a sudden thought, an evil
thought, flashed across bis mind. why
shouldn't be throw himselfin? There was
water, enough, and no one by, aud he was
no use; be might as we'll be dead aud have
done with all the bother. Polly would do
as we'll without him" Giles sank down
on bis knees in the mud, and covered bis
face with bis hands. 1t was a desperate
struggle between fear and hardened brav
ing Of death, between right and wrong;