Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-07

!! got 30 tired and discouraged, Noses,
didn't have heart to step up any more,
an slipped back and made believe 7 didn't
care. But the hard grindin' Of life went on, an
went on, an we had to pun up once In . while,
or die. as the wheels OF the days turned round.
And now, I've made up my mind, Noses that
I'm not goin' to live in this slack, siip-shod way
any longer. I've made up my mind, Noses, that
if we can't walk right up to the mark together
without any sneakin' and shirkin' out OF the
honest work we have the strength to do-N we
can't take right hold, brave an bold, and make
something out Of oE lives, an build up homo
that's something more than place to crawl an
burrow into for protection from cold an storm
then shall take the little girls Moses, an start
out by myself where I sha'n't feel the dreadful
drag. drag of your weight on my harness"
looking piteously at the white, determined
woman before him, show can you be so cruel to
say such things. and the poor little baby Just
laid in the grave 2"
cts the precious baby herself as prompts me
to say what do" said the unyieldng woman
her own eyes so}tening with tears. "When I
looked my last on little Bessie's sweet face. an
thought of the miserable life of sloth and ignor-
ance to which she would have been raised,
couldn't find it in my heart to be ANYTHING but
glad that she has escaped 1t all; an then I felt
what burnin' shame IL is to bring children
into the world under circumstances that makes
1t matter Of thanksgivin' when they're took
out Of 1t, an I vowed VOW that, as lived, I'd
SO change our habits an stir up our pride an
ambition as to give us something more to look
forward to an strive for than the mere gettin'
from day to day, enough to satisfy hunger an
cover nakedness. And I'm determined that the
little ones left US shall have some chance in the
world to make their lives pleasant an useful, SO
derstandin', like wishin' they'd died with little
Bessie, an like cursin' us for brngin' them into
such make-shift existence. An what / have
to say to you tonight, Moses, is-ifyou're ready
to take right hold with me an pull steady In
the carryn' out of these new plans. then we
will Join hands in solemn pledge to do our level
best; but if you mean to stick to the old ways
I'll have to take the little girls, as 1 said, an
60 away; for l will not live with you, Moses,
and bear other children under the old condi-
TONS"
''Sary! I'm sure TIL do anything you say,
Sary," responded the startled Moses, stirred and
thrilled through all his sluggish blood. "Tu do
anything YOU say"
And with the thought to pledge the new pur-
pose, perhaps, he reached out his hand again for
the sacred pipe.
"Then you'll begin by finging that vile pipe
away and promising never to buy another ounce
of tobacco" said Mrs. Moses, taking firm ad-
vantage of the situation and testing at the ten
derest point the mans spirit of concession.
"You-you wouldn't rob me, Sary, of all the
comfort haye?" gasped Moses and in the agi-
tation Of the thought the blackened clay clipped
from his fingers and fell on the floor.
Ut your IOOC Oh IL, commanded Ills VIE IN
her new capacity of captain.
And without knowing for the life of him why
he did it, Moses obeyed
"Now shall have faith that you'll tread the
bad habit under foot" cried the too sanguine
woman, with an absolute smile. ''When you
take hold OF things with real live interest an
purpose you won't think OF any such comfort as
that, Moses. It's a comfort that's stupefed you
for long time. I've thought sometimes it's
worse than whisky. for that does kill man
outright, at last, but this comfort of yours
Just goes on duln' an deadenin' the senses till
there's nothing but a mass of seltishness left.
Now. Moses swear to me you'll never smoke
again lt'lt go hard with you at first but I'll
help you all can. an never find word of fault
with you while you're strugglin' to overcome
the habit. Swear. Noses"
''I-1-Sary, I'd ruther not" faltered the man.
who knew better than she the vice-like grip Of
The insidiOus pleasure.
"Swear Moses insisted the wife as though
the oath were the deed. Alas, mistaken woman!
II try swear I'll try" compromised
Moses, wiping the sweat from his face. and
dropping nerveless in the chair from which he
had risen to take the obligation.
ooh, God bless and help you" breathed Mrs.
Moses. and with an impulse of gratitude that
quite bore her over the barrier Of reserve and
indifference which had grown up in their mar
ried life, she kissed him on the forehead blush
ing like girl in the unfamiliar action, while
Moses looked happily foolish.
Ahu lHeN tHey began laying plans 1Or the 1u-
ture-a most unusual interest-promsing them
selves to honest, earnest effort in the direction
OF making their home more pleasant and re-
spectacle, and in amending, so far as in them
lay, the unfavorable conditions which Noses
himself, from momentarly elevated stand
point, could see had most depressing influence
on the family life.
And in this hour Of high resolve we may leave
them, knowing well what interminable chapters
ofdiscouragements, strivings. and partial though
not absolute faures-thank heaven-would
have to be recorded If the story went on yet
strong In the faith that such hours are the
golden points of life, raging out through lonely
reaches Of darkness toward the ultimate trf-
umph certain to crown all sincere endeayor at
last.
AS for the story az 1t stands-if. in the weeks
to come it might be 80 distinguished as to form
the fraction of pound OF waste paper honestly
bought and paid for at current rates by any
economical! grocer and dry goods man, and.
wrapped about parcel of calico, or supposed
Indispensable package of saeratus, it should
fall into the tired hands of some disheartened
Mrs Moses, sitting drearily OF 90 evening with
her smoking spouse before loweburning kitchen
fire. shall be s1ed.-Spriasatield Republi-