Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-10
One SHINING Curl.


to call at the house of a prosperous
merchant of our city. l specially ad-
mired and remarked upon the rare
beauty of small velvet casket. silver
hound, oblong in shape. and occupy.
ing prominent place on the elegant
mantel of the abundantly furnished
library.
"That," said my friend, els one of
the few valuables in my possession
which ] always take with me to my
chamber ct night. and wish to have it
placed where my eye can readily fall on
on il, when at home through the day.
will show it to you"
80 saying he touched spring, and
the lid opened, showing shining curl
OF golden brown hair lying along the
boz, while spiral coil Of silver wire
was ingeniously. arranged so as to keep
the tress in place, without at all con-
cealing it.
81 will tell yon about it," he said
and this is the story the rich man told
me concerning the lovely casket and it's
sacred contents:
You see, I was q restless boy; in.
sisted, - many another had done be-
fore, ON leaving school while quite
young. and starting out to seek q for
tune. My father died during my in
1ency, and although I loved my gentle
mother very dearly, and thought her
the prettiest; little lady I had ever seen.
yetwe were ii atraitened circumstances,
ard ! imagined that by going TO sea
might be able 10 earn something, and
- help mother along. I reflect with
some degree Of cemfort always ON the
fact that the chief motive which in
6uenced me then was to secure an easy
comfortable home for my mother, whe
had toiled hard for my maintenance and
happiness for fourteen years.
She parted from me reluctantly
enough; but. boy-like. left her with
the stout assurance OF the wonderful
things ! Intended TO accomplish for her
interest y
Well. not to tire you, / will say cir
oumstanceS entirely beyond my CON.
trol-s0 often the case with sailor
detained me from home for several
years.
During this time I continually re.
ceived letters from my mother, in all Of
which abe especially warned me against
The nse OF intoxicating drinks.
Being . mere boy when / left her,
and never having the sligthest tempta-
ti0n TO use anything Of the kind. I Of.
ten wondered why she should say 80
mach more about this one form Of
temptation than any other. The sail
on took their grog very regularly, but
= me il was distasteful stuff. 90 I re-
peatedly assured her in my frequent
letters home-these letters 10 full of
boyish hope and ambition, 20 full Of
buoyance and expectations OF making
money, piles Of money, with which
sometime TO 20 home and take care Of
mother. God pity as all! Well, I
shall never forget. we had been cruis-
ing about one bitter cold winter, and,
getting short Of GOAL, We made port
somewhere on the coast Of France, and
the captain allowed me to 60 ashore
with his mates. Soon after reaching
tho hotel. hungry, cold and tired, .
waiter entered our room with various
kinds Of hot drinks, those enticing
French drinks, you know, 90 delicious
and seductive to the tasta Hardly
knowing what I did, raised q steam
ing glass 10 my lips, and drained il to
the last drop. Good Lordl What de-
mon took possession OF my senses from
that moment? It was my first drink,
you zee, of good wine. How I reached
my bed that night never knew; the
mate paid the bills ut the hotel, and the
next night found us on board the chip
ready for . fresh start. But, OIL the
shame, remorse and bitter experience of
int0xication! This is what poor mother
warned me against, time and again;
but why was she so fearful; and why
did that first warm glass of strong, rich
wine madden me 90? Could it be that
my fAther-but NO, mother had never
told me anything against him, and,
como to think Of it. she had never told
me much concerning father any way
Well, mother should never know, that
VA ons comfort; and mother never did
know.
Six years after leaving my native
land ! returned young man twenty
years OF age; returned to find An aunt
watching my arrival, in the cottage
where I left my dear little mother.
But where was she that NO warm rush
Of welcome greeted her long absent
bcy9 Poor auntie! she tried her best
to break it TO me very gently-a long,