Connecticut western news., 1880-03-03
VOL. Tx.

Although drunkard, he had never been brutal husband Aor father. He had broken her heart, but he had never struck, or even cursed her.
 Of couree, the blow and the oath would have como in time, but so far the old love for his wife was in his heart, though the liquor madness was stronger.
 "I'm almost gone, John." Her wide, solemn eyes looked into his without emotion. ..s. .-'.s-A aee...r. '
 He buried his face in his hands, for he could not bear that look. -.s..s .t ..
 "Take care of little Frank, John. The girls will get on. Somebody will help them. But don't let my baby grow up a--" .aas .... .s., ...
 Drunkardl A miserable drunkard, like his wretohed father P he interrupt ed, passionately, falling on his knees. "Why don't you curse ne, Mary? Am I fit to bring up any child? Don't leave mo, Mary for the children's sake, don't leave me p ...,... ....t
 "Little Frank" whispered the failing voice, "my innocent babyl John,"- rousing herself suddenly to a last effort, -"I will require his soul at your hardsl See to it John, see toit!'
 "I will, I will!'' he cried. Have you not 8 word for me, Mary9 Are you go. ing to leave me without even look, when your love has borne with me so long ?"
 Little Frank" faltered the pale lips, and then the seal of unbroken silence was placed on them forever.
 "I tell you he went on awful" Mrs. Hoffman said the next day to gorne of her cronies. "He beat his head on the floor, and kept hollerin', Not word or look for me only the cbild she thought of. Oh, why can't die tco?'
 "And says Amen to that" went on the woman. "Sich folks as John Grey p'isons the earth, and the sooner it's rid d him, the better. Why, axed birn, neighbor-like, to let me keep little Frank fur day or two till he got used to beir' without his mother and he turned upsnnie' 'hkese ragin' bar, and cried out,- -i''Yg N..-9 H
 s's You haasa hsr tell ms5to keep him and tend to hia, and he's never gein'f to leave me, never za s#7~stsE /
 "Then he snatches the child up and funskg the Btred with him, as, f4was goin' to steal him. s-e'. s-..- s..
 Funerals for four o'clock. Come up and see her, Miss Neal. I never knowed Mary was sich purity woman till I saw her yesternight, lyin' there so peaceful after her death."
 The old beauty had indeed come back to the dead face. John Grey, gazing at it, felt like shrieking in his remorse. He rushed away from it to take drink. Then another and another followed.
 When the funeral procession started, he was there, in his place, carrying lit tie Frank, but every one who looked at him knew that by night he would be in his usual sottish condition. ..s ...
 "Better let me take Frank home with me tonight, MT. Grey," said kind neighbor, whose motherly heart was aching at the sight of the pure little face pressed against the bloated, flushed cheek of the father. a.. ..a,.
 "No," he answered, harshly. "I've got to be father and mother too, to him, and the sooner he gets used to me the better" ....
 Half drunk as John Grey was, the sight of the desolate house to which he returned with his children almost so- bered him. He took seat and stared vacautly around. ... .:....
 There was her little shabby workbox, with 8 rufae for Nelly half finished. There was her old Bible. which his drunken eyes had watched her bending over so many times when the children were abed and asleep. ..... -........
 He suddenly saw before him the pleas ant, happy homo from which he married her, and the cozy nest to which she came as bride. And to this he had brought her-to these sordid shifts of poverty, and death-bed at last.
 The conscience of the man, not quite drowned in liquor, stung him almost to frenzy. This would not do. As soon as the children were in bed, he would go out and drown his sorrows. .....
 He did not think of reforming his hab. it's 5nanaediately.., In time, for Frank'l sake, he would give up liqnor but jusI now he needed it, he thought, to keel him from going mad. ....
 The two eldest children had thrown themselves on the bed, sobbing aloud Little Frank was leaning against hil fathers knee, looking up with troubled eyes. What were Nelly and Jane cry ing about? he thought, and where wal "muzzer," that she didn't undA ess an6 wash him as usual.
 There was no connection in ittl. Franks mind between the coffin tha went out cf the house that afternoon and his mother. He had always beer fond cf his father, and glad to be witt him, but his mothers special hour wa here, and no one but her had ever pre- pared him for bed.
 His father saw the little mouth quive1 and knew that a burst of tears was a hand.
 "Come, sonny" he said, "let pa un dress you and put you to bed tonight It's high time for little chaps like yo1 to be asleep"
 Nelly sprang up instantly. .
 "I'll do it, pa," she said. "I gues Frank will let me undress him."
 But Frank would not let her, even her father had been willing. Holdin the child jealously to him, John Gre waved her off.