The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-09-29

A rosgh looking mani r@. perhaps
an We ain't oil Of Us responsible for OF
outside husk, no more than horscchss
nu, on hazel nut H. Tl,e Kind Of life lea
can't 10 lived Ia white Kid gloves an
dress coats ] wasnt brought up vii
many advantages, and am only brak'
man on the Rensselaer, 4 Saratoga lin,
Old Jones' Was telling you about me. VI
hss He'd better hold bis tongue Thsr
is more profitable subjects Of conversation
than am. But old Jones means vel
enough, and II he told You TO ask me ho'
that strip OF white hair came on my blscl
name. i amt the man 10 go back on hin,
Oh. you needn't beg my pardon. sirl
don't mind talking about il nov, thougl
the time vas when couldn't speak sbou
II without big lump coming in IN,
throat
| We hadn't been married long. Polly
and me. whes II happened. Polly was .
trim aud bnghteyed q slip Of girl n
ever you'd wish 10 see. She WAS one o.
the Mattresses In the Albany lunch room
and the first time set eyes upon her
made up my mind to make that girl my
wife. SO. when they raised my wages,
took heart and asked her il she would
have them with me, with wedding ring
thrown into the bargain.
Do you really mean it. Jake? said she,
looking me fully in the face, with those
dark blue eyes Of hers, that are like skies
in the night.
i do really mean it, Polly, said !.
Then, said she, putting both her hands
into mine. III trust you. I've no living
relative TO advise me, 30 lean only take
counsel with my heart.
80 we we're married. rented . little
one story house under the hill on the
Insight that overlooked the Hudson-a
cozy place, with good. sized wood-pile 1t
the rear, for winter meant winter in those
parts, and the snow used to be drifted up
even with our door yard fence many and
many cold gray morning And every
thing went smooth until Polly began to
object to my mates, at the White Black
bird. and the Saturday evenings spent
with the boys after my train was safely
run on the side track at the junction.
Why, Polly girl, said ], where's the
harm9 A man can't live by himself, like
IN oyster in the shell, and social glass
never yet harmed any one.
No, said Polly, not social glass, Jake,
but the habit. And il you would only
put every five cent piece that you spend
for liquor into our little Berties tiny saw
ings bank
Psiiawl said I, TIM not drunkard. aud
| never mean TO become one. And no one
likes to be preached to by his wife, Polly.
Remember that, my girl, and you'll save
yourself deal of trouble.
kissed her and went away. But that
was the beginning Of the little grave shad-
ows. that grew on my Polly's face, like a
creeping fog over the hill, and that she has
never got rid Of since.
II was sore point between us-what
the politicians call veIcd question. l
felt that Polly was always watching me;
and didn't wish to be put in leading
strings by woman. Sol shame to say
i'll went to the White Blackbird oitener
than ever, and didn't often count the
glasses OF beer that drank. and once or
twice Of particularly cold night, I lot
myself be persuaded into drinking some
thing stronger than bser; aud my brain
wasn't the kind that could stand liquid
lre with impunity. I'D Polly cried, and
lost my temper, and-vell, don't like
% think Of oil these things now. Thank
yoodness they are over and gone.
That afternoon As stood on the back
platform Of my car, with my arms folded
md my eyes fixed on the snowy waste Of
lat fields through which the iron track
eemed TO extend itself like IN endless
lack serpent, looked my own life in the
ace. made up my mind that ! had been
'ehaving like . brute.
What are those senseless fellows at the
White Blackbird to me, muttered l, Is
with one Of Polly's sweet. bright
,okss i will give the whole thing up.
II draw the line just here now. We shall
o of duty early tonight. I'll go homo
nd astonish Polly!
But rs night fell, the binding drift Of
reat snow storm came with ii. We we're
elAted by the snow which co lected on
DO rails, and when we reached Earldale
here was little girl, who had been sent
D in the care OF tho conductor. who must
ait either three or four hours for way
rain in the cold and cheerless station. or
0 taken home across snowy field by
,meone who knew the way.
Thought ! Of my own little children.
i'll take her, said land lifting her up.
altered my coarse warm coat about her,
nd started for the loag. cold walk under
10 whispering pines along the edge Of the
.ver., honestly bslievs she would have
'osen TO death II she hsd been left in the
bid Sntil the way train could call for her.
nd when l had left hsr safe in charge Of
er aunt. saw by the old kitchen time
iece that it was ten O'Clock.
Polly will think ! have slipped back in.
, the Slough Of Despond, Issid TO my.
III. With half smile; but I'll give her N
grsssbls surprisei t.a
Flowing down amid the snow driits
,rough grove Of pins trees that edged . /
wine At the lack al my house. sprang .