The Van Buren press., 1875-10-12
NO.27

and attend to mel Ryerson's in town
my old chRm, yen know--only for one
day. and I've asked him to dinner
TO dinnerr almost screamed Mrs.
Hopgood, dropping her brush in her con.
sternation. Alexander Hopgosd, You
are craxy2 or course caa't have him
to dinner. just look at the confusion
the honsc Is in
%, he won't mind that, mother. Ry-
er.on is thoroughly good fellow. just
let him sit down to pot-lack with the rest
OF us, any
4 shall do nothing of the sort. Alex
ander,' said Mrs. Hopgood, severely COM
pressing her lips. 'iou knowI do net
approve Of ysur inviting company at any
time, still less at such q period as this. II
you have been fool enough to ask him.
you may get cut Of the scraps the best
way you can!
But, mother
don't wantIany mors discussion On
the subject. said Aus. Horgood. dabp.
away with the brush.
the door.
By Gcorgef quoth Alexander Hop.
good to himself. il can't ask friend
to my home, there's at least the alterna
tive Of inviting him to hotel. | never
did such thing before, but don't see
how else am to manage
So Alexander Hopgood entertained
Mr.. Rysrson at the hotel, ond gave an
unlimited order for champagne and des
sert. And the upshot Of il all was that
Alexander Hopgood was brought in at
eleven o'clock at night, by two OF tho
walters, hopclcssly intoxicated
Don't be + raid, mother = suffered
he, brandishng an empty bottle, IS he
became dimly conscious Of her white.
scared face bending over him. GO on
with your washing it's = deal jollier at
the hotel than it is at home Freedom
forever! Hoo .oor ray!'
20, what shall dor sobbed Mrs.
Hopgood, when the walters were oacs
more out Of the house, and the roll OF the
cab wheels had died away. To think
only to think that son of mine should
ever disgrace himself .has!'
It's your own fault, mother said
Benny, the second son. .You wouldn't
let Ally bring his friend here
Hold your tongue, sharply retortsd
Mrs. Hopgood, ,Iwincing beneath the prick
Of this hone thrust. Call Elsie; need
her help
%. motherr piped Fanny, the young.
er girl running down stairs in frantic
haste. Elsie sin't here
Not hcref
No, mother; she hasn't been to bed at
all--and there's note on her table d.
rectcd to yos.'
Open It, mother said Isaac Hopgood,
kuskily, this is doomed night for our
household. My God has eur home BE-
come so distastcful to our children that
they fly from it like rats from falling
house.
Elsie's note was short enough. It
read:
DEAR MOTHER: am tired OF living
in the kitchen. have ran away with
John Elton, and before you see me again
l shall have entered upon new future.
ELsIH.'
Mrs. Hopgood broke cut into wild
hysterical sobbings.
Mr.Hopgood read the hurriedly scrawl.
ed paper, with a face cold and set like
steel
Run away with John Elton he re.
peatcd, slowly. Poor Elsie then God
help her. For he is as great villain and
scoundrel A. ever lived
1t wasn't my fault, Isaac, sobbed Mrs
Hopgood, rocking herself backwards and
forwards on a chair into which she had
dropped.
II was your fault rctortcd her hus.
band, almost savagely. 'Yoa made the
very name Of home . mockery to your
children; you shut up your soul inside
Of scrubbng pail; and now you are
reaping the bitter harvest
or course poor Alexander Hopgood
was unable TO lift his throbbing head
from the pillow, the next day, and his
mother never loft him until afternoon.
When at last she came down stairs, the
parlor blinds were thrown wide open, .
Aood of sunshine streaming in, the table
neatly set in the pretty dining room. with
flowers on the table, and new books,
games and puzzles scattered around,
i, Mrs. Hopgood Sgazed around with .
. bewildered air. She hardly knew her
own home
This is the way in which we mustlivs
henceforward. mother, said her husband
cheerly. Let in the light and sunshine;
teach Fanny that home is something
more than a name, and try, in 80 far as
We can, to retrieve the errors OF our past
, life.
And Mrs. Hopgood merely bowed her
! head.
Il will try, husband she answered.
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