Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-01-16

singing OF the gas. The cheerful tu-
multi of the streets came duly to his
ears, and the merry bells and joyous
voices seemed somehow out of tune.
Presently he spoke, very gently:
II must go back now, dear-they will
need me a. ttil 6 store and I only had
an hours leave; but will come homo
as soon as I can"
He stood expectant for moment, but
no response came from the sullen figure
at the fire, and with sigh he pulled on
the shabby overcoat and much worn
gloves, and went quietly out with a low
ing, pit7ing glance at her, that would
have pierced her heart had she not been
so willfully blind to what should have
been her glory and pride.
> oh, wifei mother! beware how you
let your dear ones go from you with
angry words and clouded brow. Who
can know what may befall ere they re-
turn to your love and forgiveness? She
sat long time, angrily brooding and
weeping bitter tears till the midnight,
with O. merry chime, rang in the Christ
mas morn. As she listened sound
from the crib reached her that startled
her into instant activity-a sharp, ring
ing cough that she knew too well.
With all her faults she loved her chill
dren, and thought remorsefully:
"Charley has not been we'll to-day
how could have so forgotten him?"
She took the child from his crib, and
set about administering such remedies
as were at hand, and wondered how she
could get physician, Bob and Lucy
we're too small to send into the streets
at such an hour, and to leave the child
was impossible. Oh, why did not
Robert come? In her seifishness she
had not needed the premonitory symp-
toms, and the delay was fatal-it was
too late for human help. Her punish
ment had come upon her she felt, as
she sat with the dying child in her
arms, watching the awful struggle for
breath, till with parting sigh the little
soul went home. and the mothers heart
was desolate. It was all over, but she
sat clasping the little form till the
morning light peeped in, and Lucy and
Bob, with joyful cries, scrambled out
of bed md rushed to their stockings,
hung carefully at the fireside. Alas!
she had forgotten them; and the tear
full faces turned to her, the sorrowful
cry, "Oh, mamma! Santa Claus for
got us" stung her past endurance, and
she drove them back with angry words
and threatening hand.
A key in the door, a foot on the stairs
Roberts foot, she knew, but what
strange, uncertain step. Was he i'll?
AS he came in the dreadful truth burst
upon her-he was drunk! shamefully,
beastly drunk. This was the bitterest
drop of all! And, mad with pain, she
rose from her seat and confronted him
with her dead child in her arms, bid
ding him look, and asking why he had
not come home sooner to save his
child.
In reply he only leered and grinned,
and answered in thick tones $50 much
er bezzer, one less in fam1y-bezzer
dress now," and flung himself on the
bed in heavy, drunken sleep.
How did that awful day ever pass
away? Stunned and silent, she robed
her dead darling for the grave, and laid
him in the crib, covering the still form
as carefully as she had been used to do,
with dim, dazed feeling that he might
be cold.
The frightened children found the
toys where they had been left, on the
bureau, and gathered some small COM
fort in the fact that they had not been
forgotten; but still that haggard, de-
graded figure lay on the bed, breathing
heavily, the dead child lay in the crib,
and she sat dry-eyed and motionless,
slowly going madl Yes, she must have
been mad to have harbored the thought
that crept into her mind, and grew and
| grew, shutting out every other feeling,
even her mother-love, with every mo-
ment of that dreadful day.
! By-and-by the night came, and with
it heavy snowfall. The children came
about her knee asking for food. Her
purpose was fully matured now, and
she brought out two bowls, filed them
with milk, and, taking them to q side
table, bent over them, her back to the
little ones. What was that in her hand
"A bottle? What was she pouring into
the milk, and why did her hand shake
and her eyes turn away from them when
she set the food before them and babe
them eat? But she watched them I'M
til they had eaten it all; then helped
them undress, and sat with white tace
and stony eyes while they knelt at their
baby prayers. She covered then. care
fully in their bed, muttering:
"The last time the last timer
They slept soon-a sound, deep
slumber, very sound, very deep, even
for healthy childhood. Then she put
on her veil and bonnet, and, wrapping
her shawl about her, put out the light
and left the house, turning her steps
whittier? Swiftly she passed through
the snowy streets, neither seeing mol
hearing the tumult about her, but at
tracing some attention by reason Of
her set, white face and wild eyes. Out
of the busy, lighted streets she passed
rapidly into dark and silent ones, al
leading one way-where? To the riv
er, that flowed, black and sluggish an6
awful, by the piers, and beneath thu
bridges; lap, lap, tapping at their foun
dations, as though cla1noring for it,
prey. Her dreadful purpose neve
failed her.
"Harkl" she muttered. $50 loud, s.
loud, it calls-I'm comingl" and will
wild, outstretched hands she was walk
ing straight into the black water, whe1
o strong hand laid hold of her shout
der, bright light flashed into her eyes
and-she awoke to find Roberts arm
about her, his voice in her ear, an
eager delight shining from his deal
honest face. "
She looked about her, entirely be
wildered. There in the crib lay ros
e Charley, sound asleep; Lucy and Bo
nestled cozily in their little bed; tn
empty stockings at the freside; and
and-yes, that dreadful bottle labele
J "Laudanum safe and sound on il
high shelf, we'll away from mischievou
: fingers. About her all the well know
! objects Of her dear, dear home; AMI
outside, the merry Christmas-b bells g
ing mad for very JOY. -, -. ~
r Roberts voice in her ear-ch, no
, sweet it sounded! she had though
! never to hear it again, and what was h
! sayingP ~ 4. T.
{ sOh, Alice, such good news-they te
), me I am faithful and valuable, and the
: have raised my salary for q Christina
l Egift. Heaven bless theml Our dan
{ days are all gone now, dear. Look u
+ Alice, darling, and wish me mer1
( Christmas" .ss::.. @
3 aThank God! it was but drear
: Oh. Robertl forgive me if you can
i - 4 a :.