South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-08-14
The Serpent in the Cup.
SCENES FROM AREALLIFE

SCENES FROM AREAL LIFE.
BY MRS. LUCY z. SANFORD.
a gentleman in position of honor and true,
gave me the facts about to be stated He consents
to their publication in the earnest hope Of their
usefulness
The first snow of winter lay new on the
earth, and gave back the sunligh. dazzling.
ly, and group Of boys filed the crisp air
with the light balls and their merry shouts.
10 the midst of their glee, aud as if in con-
trast to their fresh young lives, the white
earth and pure air, an old man, in batter
cd hat aud ragged clothes Gust routed from
the steps on which he had slcp,), came gig
zagiug down the street The boys turned
their balls upon him, and jeered at bis i'm
potent threats and maudln tears.
A mother saw it all, called her son TO
her and told him that that ole man, so poor,
so low, was yet a human being, thing to
pity, not polt; TO raise up, not knock down.
FIRED, at your ago he was his parents
pride, and no moro dreamed that he would
ever be SO fallen, than you dream that you
will one day be-
Il was mad that my mother should i'm.
ply even remote possibility that I could
ever be like that old 6ruukard | SO loath-
ed and despised,' he said to mo-
They rang tho door bell
Hang on to the railing, FRED
'Pr-pr-pr-prctty-'vice to ei-givo
fol-fel-low' when the rsil-l-
ling swings at this rate
But his boon companions have rone. and
bic mother, aged, bu: not with years, stands
before him.
GOOD evening, -mo,hor-hic.
Haven't drank q dr-drop tonight. It.
told you [ w-wouldn't.'
Que look of bitter sorrow, md the wild.
owed mother placed her steady arm around
her unsteady son. One lurch, one bang a.
gainst the door, one clutch at the balus,
trade.
What a-ails this h-house? Ha-
having an ea-earth q-qua-ko p
Buta look in his mothor's stern, sad face
sobered him a littls.
'Ha-have--n't dr-drank q d-lrop
Observation-Disclosures honor I-I-ha-
havn't.'
-. -
Seating him III an arm char, bis mother
oade him sit there, and not try TO rise ,
aud she went up where KATIE, lovely
girl of seventeen, was sleeping. She look
ed at her moment. Could she disturb
her! Could she roll portion of the great
sorrow, that was eating out her very life,
on that young and happy heart? She turn
cd away. Should her son, her only son,
be made tho scorn Of tho servants, the talk
OF the kitchen, the gossip OF the stranger /?
Could KATIE DO kept in ignorance much
longer? Oh if she but might be but
could she She turned back-sho turned
away again. She, the clear headed woman,
was bowilderod by her great sorrow she
tho firm of purpose, wavering, as her love
for one balanced her love for the other.
But if her boy were disgracod, If he
lost all his self-respcc', KATIE must know;
better that abe should, whom perohauco her
sorrow would appeal to all that was noble
and good in her brother.
She turned firmly now but her voice
trembled as she said, 'Katie p
why ! mother are you sick 2
mo! but your brother - She could
not speak that word. Come down, and
help me get him up stnirs.
rs FREDDIE sick 2
The mother led on, but at the top of the
stairs she stopped.
KATIE, your brother has fallen into bad
company tonight and she passed to where
no still sat, his head swoying from side to
side.
is ne asleep, mother ? Are you hurt,
Freddie, dear p
lie leorod into her face with his rcd eyes
and with
Tlic, KATIE, g--got ready for par
party? III g-go in IA min-min--
ute. Ha-vu't d-drank n drop to-
night. Pom hon--honor | ha-havn't.'
This, from her darling, her only brother,
her pride, her idol, was too much. The
light Of her life was darkness, aud she threw
out bor hand as if to clutch happiness be-
fore i, should vanish forever; then, as hope
died, she fell as ono dead.
lie tried to rise and offer maullin SYM.
patty but tie mother siernly bado him
sit siill, aud then, with cologne, and kisses
and tears, brought her back but not to
tho joyous, light-hearted girlhood Of an
hour before, but TO sorrowing, suffering wo-
manhood.
I'Tbank God there is a world where the
innocent do not suffer for tho guilty, no said
70 me.
It wOs useless to try to get him up stairs,
and so they jus. helped him to tho parlor
sofa, AID there those two women, one now
as never before, eat down to wait aud weep.
SIS this the FIRST time, mother 2
Eyes: the fret time he has ovar boop