The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-10-20
A Faithful Wife.

Some years ago there lived in PhiladeI
phia thrifty pair. The husbands busi-
ness was one that his wife could assist in,
50 she was in every way his helpmeet, be-
sides being his house keeper and his saw
ing bank. They were happy and prosper
ing IN their own little house-the Philadel-
phian's patent idea Of comfort. After
time the man grew ambitious to gct more
snowy 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 conld not attend to bis private business
any more. II this was the story OF "Mul-
hooly," the rest of it would be that, in
spite OF bis empty shop and unfinished Or
dels, he went on getting rici*. But X was
not a Ligh politician Of that kind. He was
OF the sort that is used-net a 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
been trusted to him. She had to make
them good. Here again, the story ought to
turn out that she built up the business
herself again, and put up her own name
a. sole trader. But she was a 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
were half starved, but she kept up decent
appearance still, kept her children clean,
| and tidy. One day a 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 a scene; she
did not come for that. She qaietly took
| her seat there and waited fur hi.u. Peoule
came up to her and urged her to 20 home.
| saying that this low drinking place was no
place for her ind 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 90 home.
Some men would have been brutal-have
struck or cursed at her for interference. bu,
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. Thew
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 bal
to drink. She simply sat by, panied and
intent, with the two children kept very
close to her, as it she would shut out flom
their eyes and ears such talk
and such sights. No tavernkeepe1
could stand it. One after another refused
to sell liquor to a uan 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 il, and 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 MIN 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 h5
took the worse there would she and hit
children be. 1t was an appeal to his man.
nood, aud very uncomfortable appeal t.
the manhood If all who stood around. O,
who stopped in to drink. Not cryina
woman-no even praying one, as any one
could see-but, by the NIUE appeal Of he1
presence there. finally conquering for de-.
cenoy and happiness again.