Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1885-02-19
wages and talk kind and good to her,

thing. and then l am going right
away again.
There was pause, an awkward
pause. Instinctiveiy she felt that
there was something wrong and she
pressed her hands to her heating
heart. She had never seen her father
act so peculiarly. Even in the par
tial darkness she could see his SHIN
ing eyes. and she could smell the
fumes of liquor For the first time
in her life she was afrsid Of her faith
er.
you must give me money!" he
said, in gruff voice.
She did not understand what he
| meant. She expected that he would
give her money to help keep away
the grim wolf that was growing at
the door.
''Money from me, pa?" she said.
''Yes. and he quick about It."
She stammered something about
Saturday night.
1--we lost my weeks wages. There
are some friends of mine at the tav-
ern. They have sort of u bank. l
tried my luck, but it was bad iuck," "
and he laughed in silly sort of way
at his attempted wit.
The little mother shnvered as she
said:
"You have lost all the wages, pa ?'
"Yes, and what of it.? Everybody
loses at first, but I'll win it all hack, y
he said, excitedly, for the magnitude
of the loss to the small family began
to dawn upon him.
| Mary said nothing.
'.What are you blubbering about
Give me the money!" he said gruffiy
Poor little mother! If she give.
him the money the little ones viii
have to starve.
81 have no money!" she said, trem
bling.
'.You have got money. You go
: money for your work yesterday"
She was a shade paler, but sh
stood resolutely before him, and said
''Pa, I've got no money for you
/. The children can't starve."
r He stamped his foot furiously. H
n strobe up and down the room like a
r infuriated animal. The demon {
e drink and the demon of gamblin
:. had possession of him. They ha
It also darkness to aid them. Could /
d have seen Those large gray eyes fu
,r of tears and the quivering moutl
l. 'the little mother" would have rou
1t cd the twin demons. but as it was b
m passions had full sway.
/" "Do you dare disobey me?"
8. said, hoarsely.
id She threw her arms around hil
h. and between sobs exclaimed:
at 10, papa, forgive me if 1 disob
you! l do it for dear mama's sax
th Look at the dear little ones that "
Y, have to go hungry!'
ny At almost any other time this q
IT. peal might have had effect. But
of saw the pile of glittering money,
X heard the jeers of his boon comps
re. ions if he returned without it. Utt'
IN. ing a curse he seized her by the arr
Ig- and lifting her up, he dashed her
no the floor. There was a heavy I
pft and piercing shrek, and til
oh silence.
7as That was sad scene that was
10 vealed by the moons rays IN that
,ed tic room. The suddenly sobe'
all father was bending over the dea
pnt like face of the unconscious chi
He and the other children, awakened
wn the noise. crying around the bedsl
and calling on little Mary to speai
,et- them.
Sc The 'slittle mother" did not sc
her at first to suffer much from the she
she but every day she became paler {
Is a thinner. She never complained,
.ur- she never smiled. She appeared
der work as hard as ever, the child
,me were as neatly dressed as forme
ON, but her old-lime cheerfulness, wi
ing was part of her nature, was g
ght forever. Joy and happiness had ,
nee ished from her face. When
he working she would keep her {
,ore fixed on one spot, and did not s
lid, to hear when spoken to. Her fo'
in withered. and her canary bird d
tile She never cried but once, and that
nts, when she pressed the dead bir,
got her colorless lips.
tue Her father, too, was changed.
She spent his evenings at home and b
sum loose from his dissolute compani
for He gave up all his bad habits.
her little mother" seemed to sleep I
she than formerly, and when the wret
sers. man came home from his work
lfors looked at her pinched features
and unmoved in slumher, he "
once throw himself upon his bed and
.ther like a child.
lever The summer was over and
r,lay leaves were falling from the {
went The "iittle mother was on her {
( his bed. Another withered lesf was
ut of ing from the tree Of life. A d
Oh to had been called in. He shoe
win head and taking the almost C
e all parent 10 one side, SAID:
stars There is no hope. Her