The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-09-19
That Terrible Scar.

ihe hearthstone plying her busy needle.
Her eyes were dim and sunken, her
cheeks thin and pale, her lips pinched
and purple, and her slender fingers so
shrivelled with the icy chill that was
fast palsying her that the plain gold
ring on her wedding finger and the
thimble that she held were every now
and then dropping into her lap. Her
delicate form was shivering even under
the heavy shawl that she had thrown
about her shoulders, and she looked often
with wistful glance at the little bas-
ket Of fuel that stood beside the fire.
place.
Another hour passed and tho clock
struck one.
"He must soon be here now," whis-
pered she in half-frightened tone.
II will lay aside my work and make
tbings as cheerful as can."
So she brushed the ashes from the
hearth, drew the Goals together, threw
on them ahandful of the carefully-saved
fuel and famed the faint fame till it
flashed high in the chimney Then she
lVlhtu dDOuu tuC lOoll w oSC IL thSilt
could be mended; but the few articles it
held were all in their wonted places,
and everything as neat as the hands of
love could make it. An armchair was
drawn from corner close to the crack
ling fire, the dressing gown that hung
upon it spread out anew and pair oil
slippers were upon the fender. The
lamp was trimmed afresh, the table
busted, and beside it was placed knife
almost as bright as though the blade had
been silver instead of steel.
II 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. sit is he
and how he bangs the gate? I shall
have a fearful time with him."
She hastened to the front door and
gently opened it.
A man staggered in, and reeling this
way and that, reached finally the room
his gentle wife had made so bright and
cheerful. But what was her reward ? A
volley of oaths so foul that it seemed as
II an army Of fiends had spoken with
one voice. He cursed the niggardly fire,
though to make that she and her chill
dren had been half frozen all day; ht
swore at tho patched dressing-gown
though out of her own thin wardrobe
she had plannedit; he raved at the breat
and meat, though her own lean finger
had earned them both. And when, angel
like and woman-like, too, she gave hin
smile for every frown, an endearini
epithet for every oath, and would hav
wound her arms about him to win hin
back to reason and himself, he raise
bis heavy hand and dealt her a power
full blow; aye, he struck her till ever
nerve quivered with anguish, and sh
his wife and the mother Of his beauteou
children! And now, when she Ia
prostrate before him. he raised himse
to kick her from thence. Aslight youn
hand pushed off the booted foot even
twas falling on the trembling womal
and voice, agonized in its tones, G.
claimed:
"Forbear, my father, fer though yo'
"ho, ouc ID ,yCO ny hO'D
save her from your rage + ;, !,
The eyes of the drunkard qualle'i
moment before the upturned gaze
hsfrst.born, so rnournfully holy was t
look that bealned from his fearful fac
then fiendish glare burned in his ow
and exclaiming:
"You, too must I level my hou'
hold ere 1 can find peace?" he seized
glistening knife and struck his child
"Will he live9" moaned the pc
mother to the surgeon, When ne il
bandaged the boys head. "He is VI
pale and weak"
'Itisag ghastiy and dangerous woun'
.aid the surgeon; "only the eight OF
inch deeper and it would have be
6tal-yet with care he might survi
Mother" there was pathos IN
tone that drew her eyes earnestly 10
speaker, STRIPPING of about l7year
mother, / am going away. .,
Away land where, Ernest
Inquired. as' -
II cannot say" he replied "
must direct my steps-but go from
lmust. The curse Of the drunka
son is on me. None will regard n
nsne even give me work. And m
mother, II stay here I must forget
Bible, for how can I honor my ia
when he SO dishonors bimself?"
Very long did the boy talk and
ere he won the fearful consent bu
gave it OF length, and, with q littlek
sack on his back, his mothers Bill
one pocket and her slender purse II
other, Ernest went forth in the
world to seek, not so much fortul
lame, as that peace and Joy viii