Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-29

and when heard the church clock strike
and knew my husband would DO in, in
less than halt an hour, and nothing ready
to make him comfortable, though he had
had 9 hard days work at the saw-pit in
wet weather, could have cried with vex.
alton. My resolve had been so strong
in what Pin my own poor, weak
strength! Well. hurried; but it is hard
racing alter misspent time. My husband
came in dripping wet, about five minutes
before his usual hour. lie looked at me,
and at the clothes line that was stretched
ii front OF the fire. and with the small
chopper that he had 10 his hand, he cut
/ the line, and down went my half dried
/ clothes on The not over clean sanded
| llOOr. 'A soft answer turneth away
wrath, saith the proverb; but l did not
| give the soft answer, and the wrath was
nct turned away.
Very well. Katie, he said, there is no
/ place here for me 10 sit and rest, and no
supper ready; but can get sitting, rest
ing and supper at the Blue Lobster,
where many fellow is driven by an i'll.
managing vile And with that he turned
out OF the door. II was in my heart to
follow him, to lock my arms around his
neck, and begging his pardon, bring him
back. But was vexed about the clothes
and forgot the provocation. This was his
first all night nj the Blue Lobster, but il
was not his last. | saw my error and
prayed then for strength to do my duty,
bat somehow my husband had got taste
for The popularity that grows out of n
good story and iiGe voice, and be ielt
that woeiul nigh, what it was to be
warmed. when he was cold, by the fire of
brandy instead OF sea coal. Days passed; !;
our little boy, our Willie, grew worse
and worse. Time had been when Mr..
Grey would walk the night with him on
his bosom 10 soolhe him 10 sleep; but
now, it the poor child walled ever so
heavily. he could not hear it. Another
child had been given 10 Us. but she only
aided TO our difficulties. Then, indeed,
labored continuously to recall what |
had lost, but drink got tho mastery. We
were backward with our rent; my poor
husband lost his customers, for he neg
lec.ed his business and both clothing
aud furniture went 10 satisfy our creditors,
and that craving which cries for moro the
more it gets. could not bear the sym
pathy OF my neighbors-ior they would
give me their pity-hold me up as a
suffering angel--while every hour OF my
lie | recalled the time when the neglect
ofmy wifely duties first drove my husband
to the public house.
When sober. my poor dear was full OF
sorrow. but he had not the strength to
avoid temptation. He never used any
violence toward me, though if attempt
@ to hold anything back he wished TO
I turn into drink, be would become furious,
and tear and rend whatever he could lay
his hands on. One terrible night be
broke every remnant Of glass ard china
that remained of what once, for q
tradesmau's wife, | had such q store.
Every thing was shattered, everything
/ trampled on and broken. Everything
but that one cup
And how did that escape?" ques'
toned Lucy.
at contained the infants supper"
replied Mrs. Grey. IL saw his hand
over IL. and the same moment his poor
bloodshot eyes rested on the baby, whose
| little ou,stretched arms craved for food.
Some silent message at that moment
must have entered his heart; his arms
tell down, and without an effort to sup
port himself he sank into heap upon
the floor in the midst of the destruction
he had caused. tried to get him onto
where once bed had been; we had still
mattress aud couple OF blankets"
Lucy did not speak, but her eyes were
oyerhowing, and she stole her hand into
that of Mrs. Grey. The good woman
soon resumed her story.
1T was even there sleep came TO
subdue and calm him. My poor child
ale her supper and fell asleep, and my
sick boy was certainly better and also
slept l crept about, gathering the
broken pieces, and endeavored to light
the fire. A kind lady TO whom | had
taken some needle work that morning
for several weeks | had been the only
| bread. d.winner-in addition TO the eighteen
pence had earned, gave me small
quantity OF tea and sugar; an old pewter
teapot that, however battered, would
not break, seemed TO me q comforter.
He would awake, | knew, cold and
shivering. but hoped not until the Blue
! Lobster and every house OF the same
description was closed, and then his
thirst would compel him to take some
tea. heard the church clock strike one,
and it was a joyful sound; no open
doors, even to old customers, then. l
knelt down between the children's
blankets and my poor, shattered husband,
and prayed as never prayed before.
had managed to get sufficient fuel to
boil the kettle and create some degree of