Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-08-25
to my room and cried till my heart was

ready 10 break. utL 7Iuid .gN 2
The months went by, and Harry
seemed no happier at home, while when
1 took the old peoples part he grew an
CRY and reproached me for not caring
for him and leaning TO the other side.
Old Mr.. Smith came to fetch me home
once, and Harry fetched me two or three
times, and 1 used 10 wonder how i could
have been so mistaken In people who
seemed to like me better every time I
went. ."N3A 'li' ~ TT
l know one day thst there had been q
terrible upset ct home, for, as Mrs.
Smith had told me, Harry had been
neglecting his work terribly, and taken
to going to the public house.
Then couple Of days passed, and
heard nothing, while the next there was
aletter for me which seemed at the time
as II it would nearly drive me mad, for
1t was from Harry, telling me that he
could not put up with their ways any
longer, and that he had enlisted in the
TIL regiment of foot.
asked leave to go out, and went over
to the town to find out that neither Mr..
Smith nor Harry's mother had heard of
the step he had taken, while, when put
the letter in their hands and watched
their faces, I threw my arms around
Mrs. Smiths neck and we mingled our
tears. U10 usfag2
"It's very hard, very hard, I" we heard
the old man say. 81 began as labor
er, and I've worked up nice business
OF which I'm master; and there it is for
my son when 1 die, but he prefers to be
a scamp"
1t was miserable night that, and the
old man walked home with me almost
in silence. t. .t,t.,
Don't fret about it, my lass" he
said; 'sperhaps it's all for the best"
Not fret? How could help fretting.
Harry had his faults, knew, but he
was my sweetheart, and who, asked
myself, wasperfect? Are You surprised,
then, when l tell you that, after six
months service with his regiment, when
he kept on sending me letter after letter,
telling me how bitterly he repented the
step he had taken and how miserable q
life he led, that should listen to his
prayers to find the money to buy him
off?
He knew had few savings, and I
told myself that they were his, and paid
the money willingly, for he told me that
he could not exist away from me any
longer, and that if 1 did not buy him off
he should desert.
Yes; L paid the money, and he came
back home to work, on and off, with q
little more steadiness, while, poor, weak
girl that was, refused to see how he
was changed, and loved him more than
ever.
Then he began to talk of our being
married, and, though old Mr.. Smith OPP
posed it, Harry's mother was quite eager
that we should be wed. She thought
that, once he was settled down, hewould
be steady and keep to his work, and L
thought the same.
just at that time my mother died
my father hGd gone years beforehand
this put off our wedding for six months,
though it gave me comfortable little,
well furnished residence to offer as my
portion to my husband, and very proud
Twas, for his sake, of my possession.
Shall L tell you more, or hide the rest,
screening my husbands faults?
l would, but that think my unhappy
life may prove a warning to those who
acted as foolishly as [ did, in refusing
to listen to the good advice L received,
and in binding myself so thoroughly to
the weaknesses OF the man was so soon
to make my own for life.
For, in opposition to Mr.. Smiths will.
we were married, Harry and /. The old
man was not angry with me, but most
kind all through.
No, my dear child" he said, CT
feel as ii should be doing you wrong
if L gave my consent You know Harry,
now, as well as do, and your marrying
him will not make him better man."
"Oh, yes, indeed-indeed it will" 1
cried.
"God bless you, my DEAR" he said,
kissing me tenderly, 81 hope it will,
but | won't be party to the matter"
But you won't be angry with us,
Mr.. Smith ?" said, imploringly.
with you? No, my DEAR" he said.
"Nor with Harry?"
"We've been angry with Harry for
five years, and shall keep on being
angry with him until he drops the pub
lie house and sticks like man to his
work.
So we were wed, and-I almost shame
to own it-that day for the first time 1
saw my husband SO helplessly drunk
that, III my agony of mind, Ibelieve that
If L could have been unmarried then I
should have left him for good.
But was his wife, and he was my
husband, my master, whose willing
slave 1 became, working for him when
he would not work, striving ever to win
him to our home, but striving in vain.
Before we had been married q year I
was very i'll with an ailment brought ON
by grief and anxiety, and hen our lit
tie one was born and looked upon its
little face as that of tiny angel sent.