The daily gazette., 1875-02-27
Figures Won't Lie.

his cigar, held it carefully between the |
thumb and forcfnger of his left hand, |
and looked thoughtfully into the fire. |
Mary's tired fingers showed no signs of |
weariness, but turned the hem of sheet |
mechanically, then proceeded to baste it |
for sewing.
Belle will be three years oldP" he
said, hterrogatiyely.
:, 'Enfee, James," replied Mary, without
the trace OF IL bright smile lighting up
her pretty young face. James gave u
few more whiff;; at his nearly consumed
cigar, but did not seem to enjoy it isluch.
A hstener would have pronounced Mary
a cold, unloving wife, that the genial
prcsence OF her handsome husband, or
the return Of her baby's birthday, failed
to please.
LOCKERS OH and listeners 20 not always
look into the depths of the heart to see
what trials and struggles are there So
IN this instance. Another woman, whose
life was all sunshine, would have pro-
nounced Mary Carroll heartless. Poor
thing She had too much heart for this
worlds trials. Her wedding day was %
bllssful one; her husband the ideal Of
manly perfection. His love, uumccoinpa-
med by wealth, was more to her than all
the treasures of the earth. But u cloud
arose to dim the brightness of her sky.
she soon made the discovery that he was
! human, that the love of wine, and poss-
oiy something stronger, filled his heart,
| as well as the love of his wife. He was
| not what the world called an iutempe-
| rate man-one glass Il day does not col-
| stltute drunEard-wbys should she have
| any fear?
| At the end of three years he took at
least iwo glttsses u day What had she
l fn hon tx,,. tl,H
L wish, Many, | was able to make
Belle present every birthday in her
| life, but you know it Is AL that | can do
| to get along as it is"
know it, James," meekly replied the
wife.
| James was ill atsease. Something in
Marys manner disturbed him.
| "What makes you go solemn and
quiet, Mary9 Why not sympatlize
with me, and say you know have a
hard time to get along, and that Belle
can do without presents better than
we can afford to make them? Fox
gave me the wood bill this morning,
and Jones wants to know when the
grocery bill is to he paid. don't like
to bother you with these things, only
want you to understand that as
l AhuNh 40 4 iONC Jul gill; i CdunOt
afford to make her presents"
Mary's color came and went. Tears
stole into her violet eyes, and her hear
beat quick and fast. Her trembling
} fingers guided her needle unsteadily
and her stitches were long and irregu
lar. Three long years she broodet
. along over her husbands weakness
without a reproof, and much us sh,
{ dreaded to speak she knew her tim
had come.
II wish, dear James, could econo
mize in something, and save som
money TO buy our darling a present
1t seems cruel to neglect her birthda
SO soon"
81 know nothing you could be NOR
prudent in, and you know am as eco
nomical as possible, don't you?"
1t was very hard for the lips that II
tered only words OF praise, to sa
v no; but a strength not her own cam
to her aid, and with smile, the vii
i uttered her first rebuke.
mo, James, l am grievcd to sa
q that l feel that in some things you III
is too extravagant. 1t must be sin
ignorance, for know if you realize
y it you would never wrong your wi
10 and child"
James started from his seat. II
eyes flashed, and his cheeks paled.
MARY, are you crazed?"
Not crazy, James, but too clea
headed for our happiness"
After the shock had passed, and
was prepared to listen, she went o
and in clear, concise manner, la
before him the cause of her last bitt
Words
- During the last year you La
drank, at least, two glasses OF liquor
day, haven't you?"
"Why yes, suppose SO. What of tbs
Only ten cents aglass-that cannot ri
man"
Three hundred and siXty-tivc day
which. multiplied by twenty, amour
to seventy-three dollars. Three Gig;
IL day, which you know is below yo
ect average of smoking, will amount
Ia. as much more, which makes one In
~ dred and forty-six dollars. Fifty d
lars would pay your coal and groct
bill, now due, and leave balance
7, ninety-six dollars for baby, you Il
, me. You know, too, that the ii
Spclt III vi inhiuS dii't summing 10
only wasted, but worse than vast
'ho for tobacco and liquor poison
system, destroy the health, soften
g brain, weaken the nerves and bri
. ruin to thousands OF happy homes
There is Il lack of tenderness
Belle and me when your nerves
hin excited by strong drink. l forg
you freely, but the sting is left in
heart"
Mary's efforts overcame her,
s., she fell into passionate fit of W.
ing.
! be cam I blind ? 1t cannot be pC
my BILE that / have wronged my dea
treasures ?"
They mingled their tears,
talked until a very late hour, lay
out plans for the future; and ia
IS begged forgiveness of her he =.
wronged.
ors ut is not too late to prove my he:
e. eoA and strength, said the penitent, an
N. 1t proved.
a. "In one year from that day, two
Kid. yer cups were brought home by