Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-01-16
ALICE MURRAY'S LESSON,
BY MRS. J. W. FOX.

ALICE MURRAY'S LESSON.
BY MRS. J. W. FOX.
They stood before tho bureau, these
two, husband and wife, and the faring
gashght shone on two faces whose e1-
preston was strangely at variance with
the harmony of the merry Christmas
season. Her face, young and pretty,
though somewhat worn and thin, was
fretfully contemptuous as she looked
down at little heap of toys and con-
fections lying on the shabby toilet
cloth, and he, slowly unwinding string
from large package, regarded her
with an anxious, perplexed, almost
panied look on his handsome face.
Presently she spoke, slowly and indif-
as that all? What miserable lot
What's the use of trying to keep Christ
mas ct all in this wretched way?"
"Wel, DEAR" he spoke gently but
cheerfully, lit is not much, I know, but
tho best we can do this year. All the
bills seemed to come in at once, and a
little earlier than I expected them; but
never mind, the children will be just as
well pleased, and-and Alice" hesitat-
ing just little, but with happy, eager
tone in the pleasant voice, Il have
something for you; the dress you have
been wanting so long"-hastily unfold
ing the parcel and displaying pretty
steel-gray alpaca-"here it is, dear,
and you can have it made whenever
you ike-there's the money!" and, lay
ing little roll of bills before her, he
looked eagerly in her face for some
sign of pleasure. Not one penny had
he spent on his own needs or wishes,
though his overcoat was worn and
frayed, his boots were patched, the
soft hat was decidedly shabby. All
that could be spared was for her and
the children, but she never noticed
that.
There ere times, I am sure, when a
woman becomes reckless and dispirited,
and, Worn with the struggle for bread
aud the homely needs of life, allows the
devil to take possession of her soul
when all that is womanly departs, leav-
ing but dregs of folly and sin. Surely
TINT evil spell was upon Alice Murray
now, for she answered the eager pleas
ure in his face contemptuously:
"Alpaca-common at that. Papa
used to give the servants alpaca for
their holiday dresses, but times are
changed now," and she turned away
and sat down at the freside, staring
into the glowing Goals.
1t was cruel speech-all the JOY died
out of his face as he stood where she
left him, slowly turning the despised
gift in his trembling hands, and curl
GUS expression grew and deepened in
his honest gray eyes.
Ten years ago Robert Murray, the
handsome young singing-master, wooed
and won the fair daughter of wealthy
merchant, whose dollars were many and
whose prideand arrogance were supreme,
but who loved his daughter with all his
heart. Motherless from her birth, she
grew up beside him, INDUCED in every
whim, ruling him and all the household
with her imperious will, till her young
fancy for her singing.master, not meet
ing with her fathers approval, resulted
in violent scene, midnight fitting
and q private marriage, and, worst of all,
the undying anger Of the proud, disap-
pointed old man, who thus found his
castles in Spain pulled rudely about his
cars, and who formally renowned her,
bidding her nevermore to come nigh
him-their paths were parted forever.
All parties were somewhat to blame
for, though a woman's love cannot be
bought and sold like bale of merchan.
disc, yet parents untiring love and
never-dying devotion may not be SC
bitterly requited, nor cast aside like g
withered flower. She was ve-y lonely
this imperious Alice, and with the
glamor of homo about her she felt bolc
enough to face anything with he1
Robert" who, young, strong, anc
with a glorious voice, was confident il
his power to keep her in comfort, if mo-
luxury.
All, so fairly set out the boats OF
Iife's stream in the enchanted morning
of youth; and who may know that be-
yond are sultry heats of noontide, ad
verse winds, and hidden, cruel reefs tina
may bring q stormy end to the lonely
smiling day!
For a time all went we'll. Happy
hearts and smiling faces made the little
home very bright, and Alice cared mo-
that her father passed her in the street
unnoticing and unrelenting-so strong
she felt in her youth and happiness
but no ones lot is perfect, and sever
fit of illness which attacked Robert
owing to undue exertion and some care
lessness, resulted in the utter ruin O
the silver voice that was bread-winne
for the wife and two children now clam
bering about his knees. It was bite
blow to him, young and ambitious; bu
he was cheerful soul as we'll, and g.
took up the burden of life "a trif
heavier now with stout heart an
willing hands; but the dollars cam
slowly, though his courage never faiie
him-for he loved her well-so we
that his chiefest sorrow was to see he
denied those surroundings she grace
so bonnily.
Dark days came on apace, time
pressed heavily on the young couple
and in the hour of sorest need tn
girla undisciplined heart failed he!
and when the struggling man turned t
ner for comfort, in his distress b
found but broken reed instead of tn
rock of strength he so fondly fanciet
Then Robert, never blaming her, too
contrition to himself that he had eve
taken the delicate bird from its glide
cage. He could bear poverty, but sh
was too soft, too frail, to face its bitter
hss he s Was s f hs GTis o a hi
manner toward her took on remors'
full tenderness, a great pity and gent
endurance of her useless complaining
and angry, bitter tears, and he stro
always to shield her, though his ow
heart was heavy with disappointe
hope, and sordid cares crowded ia
upon him, and his wasted strength W,
sorely tried.
There was some excuse for her, no,
ever, in the fact that she had been mo
tenderly reared, carefully sheltered fro
chilling winds, and no one could expe
to find in the delicate hot-house flow
the hardness of the little snowdre
that fights its own way in the world ar
makes the frost-bound earth beautif
with its tender presence. Now tn
trouble and want had come upon he
she was not brave enough to meet boil
ly the life she had chosen. She mournt
daily for lost Injuries, and went b
daily way hoping against hope that b
father would relent at last, and some
his overfowing wealth come to ma
her life more endurable; but one NOR