The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-10-27

WAS comoed. and his tangled beard
neatly shorn. He put back the curtains.
Glad, golden sunbesms we're stealing
through the crimson drapery of an al
coVed window, and their brilliant light
lofty chamber, with frescoed
walls, carpet faom Oriental looms. and
furniture that prince might covet. sit
Is a cream, bresthed he, and he closed
MS eyes. Light footsteps aroused him
soon, ana uncios1ng them again he saw
pehaing ever him noble looking man
IN hfes prime, and beside HIM lovely
woman, and IN the eyes of both large
tears were standing.
Tell me, said he, eagerly, "do
dream, or am the poor drunkard 80
greatly cared for 2"
You were sick and we ministered to
you, replied the lady.
SICK! ay, SID sick he said. But you
DO not know how vile 1 am, or you would
cast me out at once. Listen. l have
broken the heart of my wife. l. have
driven my only son from home; ay, and
malt Killed him first; and have i'll treat
eel my other children till they fear me
more than the evil one. Will you care
for me now ?"
tie almost shrieked out the question,
and 1t seemed as though life and death
hung on the answer.
p" We must forgive even as we would
be forgiven" said the master of the
mouse. while you can be happy, stay
with u.s."
week passed away, and still the old
man tarrled In that beautiful home, now
toying gently with the little LILY. the
wee, delicate babe, and then PLAYING CAV
pranks with Harry, the pride of the
household, boy OF four summers; now
dreaming III the pleasant chamber where
he hrst awoke again to manhood, and
then lolllng IN an arm chair in the par
Tor, tears and smiles chasing each other
over his wrinkled cheeks as the lovely
lady OF the mansion sang, gay ditty
and then solemn hymn. But he never
offered to cross the threshold.
81 dare not" he would say when
asked to ride or walk; "there is danger
IN the street, and this calm is SO very
sweet. If it could only last" And then
he would sigh, and sometimes weep and
sob like child.
X
"There is to be grand rally of the
friends of temperance to. night-the new
and splendid hall is to be inaugurated.
Banners will wave, music ring, and
ladies smllei Snail / invite you, my
wife, to accompany me ?" said the mas
ter of the house.
Of course, after such programme, :"
she said, gaily, land you may depend
upon my going, too. How soon must 1
be ready %
8 In an hours time" he replied. 81
will send carriage for you, and meet
you myself at the door of the nall. Be
sure tuat you are ready, for there will
be tremendous crowd"
will be in time trust me for
that, said she, aud FASTENED to perform
her duties to the little ones; but what
vas her establishment when she returned
to the parlor, all bonneted and cloaked,
to tind their stranger guest awaiting her.
cannot surely be tempted there"
said he, IN low, sad voice; but if you
will suffer me to ride with you, l will
gladly go. 1t may be that | shall COM
plete there the salvation here COM
menced."
Gladly did the lady acquiesce in the
request, and they were soon at the door
OF the thronged hall. Not her husband,
but an intimate friend of his Joined
them there, and led them TO some re-
served seats near to the pla form.
There had been stirring music by the
band, fervent prayers by the clergy and
thrilling speeches from orators from dis
tant parts of the country, and the hearts
OF that vast multitude were aroused as
they had never been before TO the dan
gers OF the cup. Then, while yet they
were all riveted to the subject, the pres
1dent announced "a voice from our
home. There was a breathless silence
for moment, and then long and loud
acclamations greeted the good Samari-
tan OF our sketch as he bowed to the
waiting thrOng. 1t had seemed to them
as the last speaker hushed his voice.
that the theme, world wide as it Is, was
quite exhausted, but so impassioned was
the el0quence that now mastered it, that
they hung upon every word as if he had
spoken of something fresh from heaven.
Where Others had generalized, he indi-
vldualized. He did not take the mass
of drunkards, but only one out of them
all, ana he portrayed hIs course in such
vivid coloEs that the audience seemed
gazing upon dIssolvlng views rather
than listening to chosen words; and so
wrought up were they that when he pic
tured that horrible scene in the tragedy
of drink, where the husband levels to
the floor the wife who once slept so
sweetly upon his bosom, the wife that is
also the mother of his children, thew
seemed to hear the gentle and wronged
fall an1 CnhE on1 oinho s.
from the assembly. The speaker paus-
ed till they were quiet, wiping. mean
while, the tears from his own cheeks.
" Do you ask, said he, when he again
resumed his theme, "do you ask why
stand here tonight and speak these
things? Look at this, F" he said, lifting
the glossy locks from his left temple.
DO you see that scar on nv forehead ?"
In the brilliant gashght it was perfect
ly visible to many a watchful eye; it was
a CHASTITY, rightful-looking scar, MARI
lug the beauty of brow that might
otherwise have been a painters model.
Slowly and solemnly did the speaker
inter each word, then, as he STOOD push
ing back the raven hair, he continued:
" After the drunkard had felled his wife
to the floor he would have kicked her
PROSTATE form but that her young son
rushed between the two. What did the
drunkard do then?" ne exclaimed In a
voice of thunder. Another pause and q
GREATNESS hush. More slowly, more
solemniy did he speak. "He seized
knife, he continued; aye, and the one,
too, his gentle wife herself had laid be. J
SIDE his plate for him to carve the dish
her worn and weary fingers had earned
to sustain his lite; he seized it and-did
thls!' and he pointed to his forehead. |
:" To my grave shall carry this scar,
and not till | rest in my grave shall |
cease TO plead for the drunka1d's chill
dren."
With these words fresh on his lips he
Withdrew. There was no applauding,
bat silence as of death rested on the |