The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-07-22
Who Is the King Of Terrors:


Twas only the came old story that We
had heard every summer ever since We
Old enough TO read a newspAper,-an IN
experienced sailor sudden squali, boat
capsized, a plunge into the water TO rescue
the drowning, a desperate struggle In the
frenzied clasp Of the dying, aud at last the
strong, brave one gone down 10 death In
the hopeless effort to save the uDaccustom-
ed swimmer.
II was an old story, and when 1t appear
ed In the city papers next morning, 1t
would seem to others just as like stories
had seemed to Us before. But TO Us this
one was very different. This time 1t was
tour Hal" here was another one 70 be
sure, but We hardly thought OF him, or Of
his mother. Our hearts were full Of Hal
aud his mother. Our handsome boy, the
pride Of the village, the quickest In his
studies, the most sklfu 10 all boyish
sports, the gayest laddie 10 all the town,
yet the kiDdest and most thoughtful, gone
Tor what! To save the life Of comrsds
Yes, but that comrade was very little TO
US. What right had he, a young fellow,
well eDough for augbt We know, 10 come 70
lure our Hal on 10 his death! Add then for
au iustaol our thoughts we're almost bitter
against that pale young face upturoed up
on the grassy bank so near our Hafs.
quiet woman, che had lived among US years,
almost unknown. We had thought her sad
until We noticed how her face would kinde
at the sound OF Halls foolstep, or the meU-
ton of his name. We knew she lived in
Hal, who could 90 TO her nowI Oaly one
amongst Us had known her well and long.
and she was, as supposed, miles away at
The bedside OF sick daughter. Who
,ould 60 but our minister a good man, q
gentle and kind man, but not the one TO 60
to Haps mother at such 8 time Is this.
"My dear madam" he began, may the
dear Load give you strength 70 bear the
most terrible news that ever came to you
The most terrible news that ever came
10 u,e!" she repeated standitg erect, every
trace OF color leaving her face. The
most t, rriole news that ever came TO me-
The good man trembled, he dared not
speak 10 that presence. Ii he could have
known what those words meant to her,
what visions they brought before her eyes,
how she was living over again that dread.
full night, wheo long years before, the most
terrible news had come to her; how she
was agaiu watching at midnight, again uH-
locking the door 70 admit what up TO that
moment she bad never seen, an intoxicated
man, AID that man the one who was dearer
than life to her, II the good pastor could
have known all this be would have hastsa-
sd TO tell the simple truth.
"Ine most teIiiule news that ever
came TO me, she said again and again. she
vas lost 10 that fearful VISION. Again ste
Was sitting, hour ait-r hour, holding trer
baby boy close to her aching heart, fen ~,
Ist almost hoping that the deathke -<efsx
might prove to be some mysterious, oft
not dishonorable illness, although she
knew in her utmost soul that 1t meant
death to her idol, sorrow and shame to her.
self, aud danger TO her darling boy.
She had lived through that long years be-
fore. True, the fearful memories some
times haunted her still, but time had kindly
duiled the pain, aud as her boy grew older
and SO much like what his iather had oeeu
in early manhood, she had come " think
of that father only as he WAS before that
awful night, and had grown cheerful, al
most happy agau. But now the most ter
role news that had ever come to her, could
anything be worse than that:
Yes, luhBitely worse. Bad enough 10
have had the sun that Hooded her Joyous
youth with glorious light suddenly lose its
radience 10 impenetrabe shade, but now to
have her boy
Mercfui father, it must not be.
1.-The Loost terrible news that ever came
to me- she said slowly and distinctly, and
then dartiug forward she seized the minis
he get itl'
Hush child" and the blessed form of
Grandma Dayton appeared in the doorway
"Ar. Barrett, she doesn't und, rstand.'
MARY, dear. your boy has not had it,
He has lever touched the sccursed stuff.
But he is dead died doing his duty"
is that true! Is that all!" she asked
"Thank God if he is only dead. He told
me ii was the most terrible news | had ey-
er heard, and yet my boy is only dead
And then with quiet tears, such as may
come to happy wives and mothers when
they are called to lay their loved ones away
to rest, she heard the story of her boys
brave struggle and heroic death.
Bring his friend here, too, she said,
land let his mother come" And then, as
If that were the one thing ncediul she
added, Tell her | know her boy is safe,
for in this room SIX months ago he prom.
ised TO touch not, taste not, handle not,
the Intoxicating cup, and Hal said be kept
his word"
1.-The last enemy that shall be destroyed
is Death" said Mr.. Barrel as he turned
away, land yet to how many thousands is
Death shorn of all his terrors as compared
with his great ally Intemperance. = Union
.SiJull