Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-01-01
9iiedo',.
Bertha's New Ycars's Gift.

|
er, looking lovingly over the top O.
his evening paper at a sweet face jus
opposite his own, "the holidays are
coming on us now, and | have beer
thinking what would please my dar
ling the best for little gift at tina
happy season. I know of many
things which would like to give you
Bertha, but, alas! the means arr
wanting; for, owing 10 some cause,
shall hardly be able to make botf
ends meet this year. So your wishe
must be governed accordingly, dear.
The little woman thus addressed
looked up, and her eyes glanced
around the room ccmplacently, as
though every wish we're already graf
fled; then they rested tenderly on the
one being in the world tor her, HIN
who had taken her for his own but
one short year ago.
1t is no palatial home into which
we are privileged to look on this
bright winters evening, for John Par
ker is not a rich man, only thriving
Young carpenter, with but his strong
ana willing hands and honest heart
to win his way in the world. 1t is
only one of the pleasant, cozy little
h homes scattered all over our favore,i
land, as bright and cheerful as Heav.
ems blessed sunbeams. The warm,
crimson curtains are drawn close y to
shut out the cold, the ruddy fire
blazes up brightly, and the shaded
la,cp casts its soft light around the
room on neat, pretty furniture, books
and pictures, and on little Dick, the
canary, who, with | is head under his
wing, dreams perhaps Of nntrieo
depths Of melody with which to
please his kin,i friends, and LASTLY on
the two central objects in tie room,
JohA Parke~ and his wife, and thev
are well worthy moments observa-
ton.
She is a plump little body, with
golden hair an.l sof, blue eyes, and a
sweet little mouth, with dllnples that
play around it like a baby's. John is
not handsome no one would ever call
him that-but he has a good, true,
honest face, which one eel ln'tinct.
lively can be: trusted. Bertha had
ieIt 80 lha first time she had ever
looked into his clear, dark eyes, anl
heard his deep voice, d it WAS the
hapy,iest moment Of her llfs when he
ASK ed her to be his wife.
There had heena show Of orposi-
tion in the family when it was know
that the young carpenter had de,
clared his love for Bertha, for her
father was a merchant, and thought a
mechanic scarcely high enough in the
social scale for his fair daughter to
contract a marriage with; but Bertha
was firm, aud the point was soon
yielded to her
II don't know what you sec to ad.
mire in him, her sister Mrs. Van
Dyke, who had married professional
man. said to her, one day.
II only know, Louise, that love
him with all my heart had been Ber
tha unanswerable argument, and she
had never regretted her choice.
They had gone Immediately to
housekeeping, and were as happy as
two birds in their little nest. But a
few months after marriage Bertha be-
came aware Of very little worm eat. .
ing into the heart of the rose of her
love. At rare intervals, when John
spent the evening away from her, as
he came home and she gave him her
greeting kiss, when his lips touched
hers, faint odor reached her rese n
bling the fumes Of liquor. 1t had
been but faint suspicion at first, but
now had become certainty, and Of
late, she had detected it more fire.
quently than ever.
Bertha knew from sad experience
the dread effects Of intemperance, for
her only brother. the darling Of the
family, had gone down to a druakard )
grave, and with this sad memory ever
before her, was it not natural for her to
feel the terrible dread and terror
which she did at the bare possibility
Of such a fate in store for her darling