Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-11-01
rrample's Alsl

| MI. AuTcu IrdshPir uSo 1fsbed
four years. and during that - had led
a happy life-that is. as n ! = life as
a man like himself could q
"Alfred, dear" said 4 lrample
one morning as they wsfe 6feskfssi.
cant you come home eax eo-day o.
why, Nellie p he asks = surprise.
because am so lonely j(houi you.
If you were perfect stfa - 70 me
could scarcely see les q
"O."-he exclaineis sie ..is that
y ss.l 3 !! s:5<;s.5 |
Of your society''
81 wish I could stay with you, Mel.
lie," he said: ''but can't. I'm COM
PEELED to work hard. l have no time to
lose from my business. When make
a fortune and retire, which / hope will
be in a few years, I will stay with you
all the time"
Don't you think you might spare
more time from your business, if you
We're to make the effort ?" she asked.
"You are doing very we'll, and think
you might give more time to your chill
dren and me, even if you made less
money" q
Nonsense, Nellie. Itcannot be done.
do not mean TO work. all my life, and
must slave now in order to enjoy in the
future. Don't you see ~
mo, Alfred, | don't see. think it
is your duty not to neglect your family
for the sake OF making your business
more profitable"
"But don't neglect you. I am work
ing hard for you. II is as great a pri-
vation for me to be away from you so
much as il can possibly be to you.
know what | am doing, and think it is
for the best
| And so the conversation ended.
Mr.. Trample was not so rare an ex-
ception to the general rule Of humanity
as some may think. There are few of
us who have not at some time met such
a man, good, kind-kearted, liberal
man, but one who could not take the
| time from his business to devote to
other equally important afiairs-one " no
regarded the amassing of wealth as the
chef object Of a mans existence.
One night, as Mr.. Trample came
home from his business, tired aud worn
out, his wife said to him:
Oracle has been very sick to-day,
Alfred"
Not very sick, hope" he said, anx-
iouSly.
Yes, she has, and I'm afraid she is
growing worse. Can't you come home
| earlier tomorrow :"
Not tomorrow. It's a very busy
season, and / am kept hard at work
Besides tomorrow shall be away from
the store all day, attending TO matter
that promises to pay handsomely"
The next morning little Oracle was
evidently worse. Her cheeks were
flushed with fever, and there were alarm
ing symptoms about the throat.
Il wish YOU would stay at home to-
day, Alfred" said Mrs. Trample.
Il can't do it, my DEAR" he replied,
emphatiral'y.
Your clerks might do your work for
You to-day; or you might even afford to
lose one day, in order to stay with your
sick child
"Gracie does not seem to me to be
sick enough for that" he sand, hesita-
tIngiy, for he felt the force Of what his
wife had said. 1T is very important
that should not be away from my bus
mess to-day. If Oracle grows worse,
you can send for me-
He went off, and his wife was forced
to be content with this. II was a very
busy and very profitable day to him.
HIS sales were larger, and his profits
better than they had been on any day
during the season. He was out OF the
street at an early hour, and was going
bu>ily until night, scarcely taking time
to swallow a brief lunch. In starting
out IN the morning he was so engrossed
in business that he forgot all about Gra-
Gle, and neglected to leave word at his
store where he could be found in case
he should be sent for. Itwa after nine
when he got through his business, and
then. CHANGING to remembe: Oracle, he
decided not TO go to the store. but to keep
on home at cnce.
He reached his house about 10 o clock.
A terrible silence seemed 10 him to
reign through it-as he entered. The
parlqr door was open, and through it he
could see several ladies' sitting in the
room, and could hear them talking in
low tones.
Poor thing" he heard one of them
say; 'she takes it hard. Apd to think
her husband is not here 10 comfort her,"
The words struck upon his heart like
knife, and. with feeling of terror, he
sprang up the steps towards his cham
ber. The gas was burning very dimlv
IN the room, but there was light enough
for him TO see the pale, waxen face of
his frst-born lying on the little bed,
dressed for the grave, and his wife knecl.
ing hv her side in an agony Of grief.
He threw himself down BY her, and
groaned in bitter anguish.
When they were both calmer. his
wife told him all. Gracie's sickness
had developed itself into dip,keria in
its worst and most rabid form. Mes
>ages had been sen; repeatedly for him,
but none Of the clerks knew where he
had gone, and all efforts 10 End him had
been in vain. The little girl had died
about o'clock in the AFTERNOON, and
almost her last words hadbeen: 'sWon't
papa come %
No, word Of reproach passed Mrs.
Trample's lips, bu, her Husband saw his
mistake now, aud was paying fearful
price for 1t. Though he usiSht no, have
been able TO save hs;ie Grzrie, and he