The Red Cloud chief., 1878-06-13
the DlnKiSs HAS's CHILD.

m9A s9N Sssess1
--
Her name was Phuba Gray. and she
was only I've years old. She did not
live IN Q handsome house, nor wear fine
clothss, nor have plenty of good food
% saA, for hcr father was q drunksrd.
and did not take proper care Of his
family.
Now. Phmbs had always boon q sw set
child, and her tender. loving ways had
many tlmes kept hcr father from tav.
csns nud bed company. II seemed 10
hin, sometimes. when her arms were
sb0ut his y ncbk, m n m angel wore
guarding him. u never spoke crossly
70 ph0be, even I'D hts worst Ats Of drum
ksnnsss; and II ~ got into n rage. ~
he sometimes did phen his poor heart
broken wife tried D talk with him about
biz bad habits. hA anger died out whom
The dsar child, lifting hear fearful eyes
ard frightened face, would say;
'sOh, father! don't. please. talk 30 70
mother"
Before PhUbe was born, MIR. Gray,
when his drunken fits OF him, was
very cross NJ homo. and stormed about,
sometimes like q mailman. But after
PhUbe was born, these fts were less
frequent. and rarely 10 violent "a In
former times.
He loved to hold her In his arms. and
would often stay ut home In the even.
Ing, after she grew " DO = few months
old, lust for the pleasure Of carrying
her about or rocking hcr 10 sleep In the
cradle, instead Of going on To . pnbllc
house. IL WAS wonderful 10 SEQ what
power this little tender thing had over
: strong man who had become tho slave
Of maddcnlng vicc
30 Il had gone ON until she was i've
years old. But for her sweet Influence
oil would hare been lost. Mrs. Gray
bad no power over her husband. hshc
said . word about his bad habits, or
tried 70 draw him away from thcm, no
would get very angry. and 20 OF and do
worse than before. Now, long indul-
gence In drinking had made his fiery
thirst 10 strung that sven PhGbs's influ.
encc failod 10 keep him away from the
public house., where he spent NIL his
money, and left his wife and child to
suffer at home for want of food and
warm clothing.
Still. love did not die In tho heart Of
bis child. though she grew thin and
pale, and the shadow Of = sorrow that
was very bitter lay heavily on her young
face. "
Very lonely and sad were hcr even.
ings now. Her father rarely came In
before Q or 10 o'clock, and then he was
20 stupid with liquor that her only pleas.
ure In seoing him was 10 know that he
was at homo instead Of vt the tavern.
Love 10 strong and wise. Alittle girl
only five years old 10 tender and weak;
but there may DO In her heart such q
deep and unselAsh love ~ to make her
both wiso and strong.
One night . storm csme up. The wind
blew. and the rain fell heavily. A neigh
boring clock struck 3; and ~ the sound
died away the wind came with . rush.
ing noise along tho street, rattling the
shutters and driving the rain upon the
windows
.sOh dsasr' said little Phoebe, start
ling up from the door. where sho had
been lying with her head on an old
piece Of carpet II wish father was ct
home"
And then she sat and listened to tho
dreAry wind and rain.
"Hs,n &C. 70 wet' and the wind will
The poor child knew how weak he
was Altar he had been drinking. and she
felt sure no would never be able To stand
up against the fierce wind that was
blowing. Whom this thought came to
her mind. fear crcpt Into heart; and
fear began TO make pictures Of dread.
tul things. Now she aaw In imagine
ton, her father fall headlong to the
pavement with no one near to raise
him up; now she Raw him tumbling In.
10 the swollen gutter. and tho tide Of
water rushing over him.
'sOh dear. mother" she cried, start
ing up and going to the window. .he'll
get drowned. he wilt l must 90 for
..You 90 for himr' Mrs. Gray Nigh,
well look astonished.
Somebody must 20 for him. He'll
be drOwnedw said Phoebe In distress. oI
'sOh no, dear, there's no danger y
that" answered Mr.. Gray, trying !,
pncify her child. "Don't be afraid
Hen not 30 into the street while It rain,
70 hard."
fare you sur Of II, motherr asked
rhWbe.
Eyes, very sure"
But Probes heart would not rest.
s.In hook out Just for \ little minute"
said the child. lifting the latch. As she
did 20. . gust Of wind and rain swept
Into her fAce and almost blinded her.
sSOh, how Il rains." she cried, shut.
ting the door quickly. But she held /,
close only tor . moment or two. The