Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-18

| coming 10 me Tor KISS, whlch re-
fused, went on the erraud which cost hin
his life. Had l known that night what
had happened while waited with suller
patience for his return, my life would
have been a diffsreot one, and his life
would have been spared, and perhaps hi;
mothers. had always been very strict
with him about quarrels with the rude
boys on the street. aud had once severely
punished him for one, with the threat
that ii he engaged in another, more
severe one should be the consequence.
That you may understand his part in
the events that am to relate. | will tell
you what did not then know, what be-
fell him on that sad errand.
Blinded with tears oi shame and sor-
row be made his way to the place TO
which l had sent him, which proved to
be iull of loafers OF all ages. Although
he could not hide the traces OF tears, in
his manly way be executed his degrading
errand. As be turned from the place,
their drunken chatting and banter was
turned pililessly upon him. One drunken
fellow who had hated me for success in
business, coward that be was, called out ;
Say, Boo, how do you like doing
errsnds for a drunkard?"
Burning with shame, little Robbie hur-
ried along, followed by two or three boys
older than himself, bent upon the fun
that the cowardly brute had begun.
Lets daub his clean clothes, take
down his pride little, and get a swi- OF
MS fathers rum" said the leader. as they
followed close upon Robbie In the gath
ering darkness.
The boy had been favorite with his
teachers aud 1t the head OF his class,
uuch 10 the chsgrin of these fellows, ,snd
under NY instruction had not noticed the
insult that they had heaped upon him,
Now they had him where they could re-
veDge themselves.
Rushing across an open lot, they came
upon an unirequented place where he
mus. pass.
What's your hurry, Bob, amt you
going to speak ter iellars?" said the
leader as be ranged across his way.
BOYS. wish You would let me &c
along; haven't troubled you"
Give US swig from that black bottle
and We will"
Boys, can't, it would not Le right
and am in hurry and must not delay
"Oh ho! can't delay. SAY, Bob, ain''
it bout time ter stop trying to be gen
ileman. when yer have to 90 and fetch
rum for drunkard? Delay! Talks big.
jim, don't be
The next instant this young bully was
sprawling in the street, from blow that
Rob gave him full in the lace The rest
fell upon HIM and in the struggle that iol'
lowed, his bottle was broken and he con.
siderably bruised and smeared with dirl
which really was what they wanted lc
DO, more than to harm him.
All this while VS., snllenly waiting
wondering at his long absence.
In my partially drunken state when be
aturaed Sss exasperated st The loss o
he liquor, and was annoyed that he had
descended to q blow with those low iel.
lows. had promised t. punish him Sc
yerely tor this same offence. And wher
he refused TO tell me why be fought with
the boys determined that he should tel
me. The boy loved me. had not fallen
below bis respect. was not gutter
dru0kard; was still a.gentleman to the
world, and kind though strict father tC
him.
Father, cant" he said. | canno
detsil the sickening scene that followed
In that s,s,e. punished ,hst brave boy
10 make him tell mo what be had Tough
|tar.
His only words were pi;eous Father
| can't tell" punished him until he tel
tsiD,irg.
Ny wife pleaded with NE. Brutally
asked if she would make him more stub
born. While | ;aIked with him, he woulC
cling around my neck and sob. My wife
after in vain Try ing to dissuade me, haC
goue away " where she should not hear thC
blows that fell upon her boy.
When the dear little fellow tainted,
went to the chamber where she was upoL
the bed, and a bright spot was upon The
pillow where her head rested. A sudder
attack of hemorrhsge. | vas thoroughly
sobered now. That night she died. A:
| kuelt by her bedside that nigh, prom
ised her and God that would never drink
again. And with smile of JOY, one
white hand 10 mine. the other resting
gently on my face, as it rested near hers
she took my promise TO God.
When little Robbie awoke the next day
from troubled feverish, sleep, he die
not wake to consciousness. The dellirilu
Of fever was upon him. and from thai
fever he never recovered. A short time
before be died, which was about one
week from his mothers death, he knew
me and could converse. He seemed tc
awake from the terrible night.