The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-06

Cissy, I'm glad you're home," he srid.
" | thought you'd never come"
She put her arms round him, laid the poor
little head on her thin shoulder and took
him over to the fire again, trying to comfort
him as she went
" Is the pain very bad tonight, Willie ~
Yes" A sadder Eyes" never heard.
Willie, | wish could bear the pain for
you"
4" It's cruel Of father to send me out in the
wet; he knows how bad am"
Hush Willie, hush he might hear
you"
al don't care don't care wish he
would kiln me at once"
Tho reckless abandon Of the child's despair
was dreadful.
Hush hush he is our father, and we
mustn't say such thingsl' This through
her fast falling tears. Then she said, " Let
me try and make the pain better"
The hoy took OF his shirt.
The girl leaned over and put her arms
round him, and kissed the shoulder; she
then put her hand into her pocket and took
ont the snulf.box.
ooh, Willie, wish we had more, so that
it might cure the PAIN
Having lighted dip-candle, she rubbed
the child's rheumatic shoulder with the few
drops of spirit, and then covered up the lit
tie thin body, and, sitting before the fire.
took the boys head on her knee and began
to sing him to sleep.
| took another lool, into the room through
| the halfopen door my foot creaked the
| frightened eyes met mine. | put my finger
on my lips and crept away.
But as | began to descend the stair met
n drunken man neutrality-suspicious. and
stumbling as he came lie slipped and
stumbled by me and entered the room.
followed to the landing unoticed, and stood
in the dark shadow of the half-open door
A hoarso, brutal voice growlod "What
are you doing there get up"
&C. can't, father Willie's head is ON my
knees"
sect upr'
She gently laid the boys head on the floor,
| pillowitg it on her little shawl, and stood
up.
"Father, Willie is very sick you ought
to try to get him cured.'
"Shut upi If hear another word I'll
make you and him too keep yourselves
| quiet" And the brute flung himself on his
| bed, muttering TO himself in his drunken
| semi Oblivion: "Cure him, indeed Not 1t
know it. That's not the way to get the
money his cough is worth lot alone. Cure
him, indeed Not if know it. That's not
the way to get the money; his cough is
| worth a lot alone, Cure him. indeed Not
| likely ~
The black hearted scoundrell
| The girl bowed her head lower and lower.
could not bear it. entered the room.
The brute was on the bed already in his
| besotted sleep The child stole up to me,
and in halffrightened whisper said, {" Oh,
| sir, oughtn't people to keep secrets if they
| know them1 think they ought, if they are
other peoples" This with the dignity of
queen.
| could not gansay her, so | said, as
gravely as | could to the little woman, "The
secret shall be kept, but you must ask me if
You want anything"
She bent over, suddenly kissed my hand,
and went down the stair
The next night she was shy in coming for
the whisky, and took care she had good
measure.
The last night of our long run of six
nights she looked more happy than had
ever seen her. When she came for the
| whisky she held out the thimble, and whis-
pered to me with her poor, pale lips tremb-
ling, " You need only pretend to night"
Why ?" whispered.
Because-he doesn't want it now. He's
dead 20