Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-25
A SCAR on THE FOREHEAD.

SCAR on THE FOREHEAD.
Midnight had tolied its solemn chime,
vet still the weary watcher sat beside
the hearthstone plying her busy needle
Her ewes were dim and sunken, her
cheeks thin and pale, her lips pinched
and purple, and her slender fingers 80
shriyeled with the lev chill that was
fast palsying her that the plain gold
ring on her wedding finger and the
thimbie that she held were every nov
and then falling into her lap. her
delicate form was shivering even Hnder
the heavy shawl that she had thrown
about her shoulders, and she looked
often with wistful glance at the little
basket of fHel that stood beside the IRE
place.
Another hour passed and the clock
struck one. E.
"He must soon be here now, whls-
pered she, in half frightened tone. i
will Law aside my work and make things
as cheerful as | can.
So she brushed the ashes from the
hearth, drew the Goals together, threw
moon them a handful Of the carefully
saved fuel, and famed the flame till II
flashed high in the chimney. Then she
looked about the room TO see II aught
could be mended: but the few articles 1t
held were all in their wonted places.
and everything as neat as the hands OF
love could make it. An armchair was
drawn from a corner close To the CRACK
ling fire. the dressings gown that hung
upon it spread out anew, and pair OF
slippers were upon the fender. The lamp
WAS trimmed afresh, the table busted,
and beside il was placed knife almost
as bright as though the blade had been
silver instead of steel.
az have done the best can" said the
pale watcher, as again she sank into her
chair. "Oh, if / were only sure of one
kind word" she continued. Hark!
She started up and listened. " II 10 he
and how he bangs the gate. ] shall
have. 1 much fear, terrible time with
him"
She FASTENED TO the front door and
gently opened it.
A man staggered in, and, Keeling this
way and that, reached finally the room
his gentle wife had made So bright and
cheerful. But what was her REWARD A
yolley of oaths so foul that 1t seemed IA
if an army of fiends had spoken with
one voice. He cursed the niggardiy fire.
though to make it she and her children
had been half frozen all day; he swore
at the patched dressing gown, though
out of her own thin wardrobe she had
made it; he raved at the bread and meat
though her own lean fingers had earnes
them both. And when, angel-like and
woman like, too, she gave him smile
fer every frOwn, An eudearing epithet
for every oath. and would have wound
her arms about him to win him back to
reason and himself, he raised bis heavy
hand and dealt her powerful blow
ave, he struck her till every nerve quiy
cred with anguish, and she his wife and
the mother of his beautiful children
And now, when she lay PROSTATE before
him, he raised himself to kick her thence
A slight young hand pushed of the boot
ed foot, even as il was falling On thu
trembling woman, and voice, agonizet
in it's tones, said:
Forbear, my father, for, though
your wife, she is yet my mother, ant
/ will save her from your rage"
The eyes of the drunkard quailed !
moment before the upturned gaze of his
first born, 80 inournfully holy WAS tn,
look that beamed from his fearful face
then fiendish glare burned in his own
and exclaiming:
You, too! Must | level my Who'll,
household ere | can find peaoe!' ht
seized the glistening knife and strucl
his child.
Will he livep" moaned the poor mo
ther to the surgeon, when he had ban
daged the boys head. +" He is very pal,
and weak"
cit is a CHASTITY and dangerou
wound" said the surgeon. "Only th,
eighth of an inch deeper aud II would
have been fatal: yet with care he ma,
survive"
"Mother, there was pathos in the
tone that drew her eyes earnestly to tn,
speaker, a stripping of but IL years
mother, am going away"
Away and where, Ernestf' sh,
inquired.
II cannot say" he replied. Coo
must direct my steps; but 20 from her,
/ must. The curse of the drunkard'
son il on me. None will regard me-
none even give me work. And more
mother: if l stay here | must forge
nay Bible, for how can honor my fathe
when he so dishonors himself p
Very long did the boy talk and plead
ere he won the fearful sonsent; but sh,
gave it at length, and, with little KNAPP
sack on his back, his mothers Bible II
one pocket and her slender purse in Tia,
other, Ernest went forth i'll the grea
world to seek. not 80 much fortune o
fame rs that peace and comfort which
drunken father would not give him il
his home.
Years passed away, and there came n,
tidings from Ernest, save that after th
first one, and each quarter brought tn,
mother remittance, and each success
sive quarter one of u higher figure
Welcome, too, were they all, for, bu
for such generous aid, the workhous,
had claimed her and her children.
Downward. still downward, went hei
husband, his absence no longer counted
by hours, but weeks and months.
In a bustling city, many miles from
his native town, a stranger one nigh
found him in gutter, starved, half fro
zen, weary and sick. Like good Sa
marian, the stranger picked him up
and as he was too weak to walk, placet
him in conveyance and had him takei
to his own home. A warm bath. clear
garments, wholesome food and sof
bed were freely offered him. and. passiv,
as a child when worn and languid, b,
suffered them 80 deal with him as the,
chose. and soon sank into deep, re
freshing slumber.
II was hours ere he awoke. and ther
he seemed as in dream. The filth,
gutter in which he had lost his conscious
ness VAS now exchanged for dowpy
bed, with pillows white and soft rs snow
with snow-white coanterpane and dam
ask hangings. His rags had disappeared
and in their stead he saw himself robec
in fine linen. The dirt was washed from
his face and hands, his hair was combee
and his tangled beard neatly shorn. Ii,
put back the curtains. Glad, COLDER
sunbeams were stealing through tn,
crimson drapery of an allowed window
and their brilliant light showed loft,
chamber with frescoed walls, a carpei
from Oriental looms. and furniture thai
prince might covet.
It's a dream" he muttered, and ther
closed his eyes. Light footsteps soor
aroused him, and, again unclosing hi.
eyes, he saw bending over him noble
looking man IN iife's early prime, and
beside him lovely woman, and in the
eyes OF both were tears.
Tell me-" said he, eagerly. do
dream, or am l the poor druukard s,