West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-11-25
stree, scene IN SnirLnl.e.
Salt Lake Tribune.

StrcCt scene in- SRIg'L Lake.
Salt Lake Tribune.
A sad phase OF human nature is
to be seen on the street5 of Salt Lake
CITY in the evenings, but more espe.
cially on Saturday evenings. Then
the lsboring men are, in general.
paid off, and many Of them do not
90 home. They 80 to reeolts which
are not good for them, and, in most
CAGES, their wives and families wait
quietly at home; but not all do th,s
Many come up town with their httle
ones cllnglng to their skirts, and try
to keep their eyes on the husband
ana father as he comes and goes in
and out Of the saloon, or, perchauce,
from one saloon to another. At one
moment you may see woman with
babe in her arms.and tiny child,
sometimes two, crowded close against
her, while she ID plucklug some tipsy
blackguard by the arm, and pleading
with .nm to 90 home. He PAYS no
aitnetlon, but keeps firing of bic
maudlln Jokes with companions of
his own kind, perhaps first met then
and there. The wife and mother.
pleadingiy and timidly again tries
TO attract bis attention, and does so.
but lie refuses to acknowledge it, and
reefs back TO the saloon again, to
treat or be treated. The quavering
voices OF the infants smite the air;
the babe-in- -arms, crying with out
ragged feelings, and the others, Just
big enough to walk, complain. "Oa,
mamma. l am tiredl Oh, mamma, !
want my supper" And the man
WHO abdicates his proper post Of
caring for these tender ones ia be-
hind that door, spending in worse
than ioolisLness the money which
should save HE oGsprDg from being
tired or hungry. And the mother,
with the divine patience OF wiiehood
and maternity, soothes the little
comPlsiners as best she may, until
tho being they wait for appears
! again, aad sue is able to coax him
of home; but not always at his first
reaprearance, She has, maybe, had
TO try many times before che sue
ceeds.
Another waman, not so demon
strative, but quite as anxious,
watches furtively from The corner,
or quietly eneconces herself on some
friendly step, either near at hand or
within eigbt'of the saloon door. and
with bursting heart and tear laden
eyes, watches the coming forth and
the return again Of the man upon
whom her hopes centre lie comes
out and is apparently ready to start
home, and sbe bdghtens up and pre-
Pares to join him on bis way. But
mol ne meets an acquaintance whose
wife and little ones are waiting and
watching from across the street. and
the newcomer profers TO stand
treat. They 20 into the saloon, and
the mourulul gloom Of disappointed
hope and hebitusl sngu.eh sellle
once more over two faces which arc
worn and wan. q little one. as,eep
on the stone steps, rouses up and
sage, Mamma, I'm cold. want "a
warm myself and 90 to bed The
/ infant sets up o d.scontented wall
and The mother qu.sts both as beet
she may. After Iong waiting. hour,
| it maybe, tle yigi is ended and
I Che prize is born homeward And
what a prize an added care 10 e.,
/ already ovsrlsxsd wife, aud O stag
I gsIing wretch whose uncertain st t,r
be must ezrend her httls-remain.
ing strength to steady and guide
Thsse scenes Of woe and sorrow
have been frequent enough in tbi
city for some timo past, and doubt
less will contnua. They pierce th
hssrt Of the casual observer, and b
tries TO force himself to give sstls
factory answer 10 the question,