The Northern Pacific farmer., 1881-10-20
A Faithful Wife.

OOul0 years dSO JutI0 IVclA iu uAldlie1
phia thrifty pair. The husbands busi-
so she was in every way his helpmeet, be-
sides being his house keeper and his saw
ing bank. They we're happy and prosper
ing in their own little house-the Philadel-
phian's patent idea of comfort. After a
time the man grew ambitious to get more
showy footing. He took to politics-as is
the duty of all citizens when this means
politics and water. Unfortunately 1t was
politics and whisky in his case-tLe sort
of ward politics that is carried on in the
liquor saloons. He grew to be such an
important man in this combination" that
he could not attend to his private business
any more. If this was the story of "Mul-
hooly," the rest of it would be that, in
spite of his empty shop and unfinished Or
de1s, he went on getting rich. But was
not high politician of that kind. He was
of the sort that is used-not master in
the political trade. His wife, left alone in
the shop. did her best; but for the very fact
that she was alone, that he was never seen,
customers began to suspect something.
Orders that he had taken went wrong: COM
plants were made of lost goods that had
them good. Here again, the story ought TO
herself again, and put up her own name
aS sole trader. But she was q poor,
heart. broken woman. She wanted
to reclaim him, and not even the business
was as important to her as what had be-
come of her husband all the days and nights
that he had staid away from her. They
we're half starved, but she kept up decent
appearance still, kept her children clean,
and tidy. One day strange thing hap
pened This respectable, neat woman,
with her two pretty children, made her ap-
pearance in the tavern where this man spent
his days. She did not make scene; she
did not come for that. She quietly took
her seat there and waited for him. People
came up to her and urged her to go home,
saying that this low drinking place was no
place for her and her children. "Where-
ever the father stayed" she replied, "is The
place for his children and for me-" Of
course he was ready soon to 60 home.
Some men would have been brutal-have
struck or cursed at her for interference, but
this man was only weak, not cowardly. The
next day he went to another place. She
followed presently with the bright little
children. This was kept up for some weeks.
The tavernkeepers grew uneasy. They
could not stand the mute witness of the
mans weakness. They could not complain
of her, for she did nothing, said nothing
only sat and watched. She
did not cry or entreat while
| her husband lounged up to the bar
to drink. She simply sat by, panied and
intent, with the two children kept very
close to her, as if she would shut out hom
| their eyes and ears such talk
and such sights. No tavernkeeper
could stand it. One after another refused
to sell liquor to man so guarded. Final
~ it began to tell on him-this gentle and
! faithful watch. He stopped drinking, and
dropped his political" associates that had
led him to!it, land began to turn over new
leaf. He picked up his old business again,
but finally concluded to move to another
place and make clean start. He is now
prosperous, and his experience is not the
least part of his gains. This was the way
| one woman reformed her husband; with
never spoken word, she fairly shamed
| him out of his ruin by letting him see that
whatever he sank to there she and the chill
dren were bound to be, and that even in
| danger or foulness she still looked to hin,
to protect them. For better, for worse,
she had married him, and even when he
took the worse there would she and his
children be. It was an appeal to his man
hood, aud avery uncomfortable appeal to
the manhood Of all who stood around, OF
who stopped in to drink. Not crying
woman-no eEen praying one, as any one
could see-but, by the mute appeal Of he1
presence there, finally conquering for de-
cency and happiness again.