Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-08-29
~FoR MOTHERS SAKE
BY EMMA CARSON JONES.

I'm done with him. I've said SO.
and I'll stand to it. He's disgraced
himself and my good name, and /
wash my hands Of him henceforth and
forever"
Mrs. Arnold stood in the cottage
doorway, the sweet bloom and verdi
.ure of the early spring-tinIe all about
her, and listened TO her husbands an
cry words.
On, James" she entreated, sremem-
Der, he is our son !"
Il shall make il my business to for
getit from this hour; he is no son of
ninep
~But, James, James, think what the
end may be. What If they send him
to the State prison ?"
Let him go-he deserves it"
The angry father strobe away, a
hard, relentless look upon his lace.
The mother stood there in the early
sunshine, her poor face white with
agony, her hands clutched hard togeth-
er.
she could see the village spires from
the cottage porch, and in the village
prison her only son lay.
The trouble had come about after
this wise. Dick Arnold was coniiden-
tial clerk in the hardware house of
Robinson d Co., at very fair salary.
A promising young fellow was Dick,
bright, intelligent, and as shrewd and
clever IN business matters as he was
genial and winning in his social rea-
tons. But his character had its weak
points. In the first place, he was fond
OF strong drink; in the second, he had
not the courage to say mo" when
temptation assailed him.
Many scrape poor Dick was lured
into, many Il heart-ache he caused his
fond mother, many settingdown he
got from his oyersevere father; but he
did not mend his ways. Nevertheless
his employers were fond of him, and
trusted him, and winked ut his short
comings.
Hes fine fellow; he'll get all his
wild oats in, and do better after awhile"
they said.
One afternoon Dick was summoned
into Mr.. Robinsons private Office.
"Here, Dick" said that gentleman,
putting sealed envelope into the
young mans hands, 81 want you TO
take this, and deliver it to Mr.. Selbo,
in Covington. You know the place ?"
"Oh, yes, sir"
@Very well, mind you keep steady
on your legs, my boy, and deliver it
safely"
Dick put the envelope into his breast
pocket, bowed himself out, and was
steaming on his way to Covington on
the next train.
lie reached there a little before night
fall, and feeling somewhat tired and
thirsty, he dropped in mt restaurant
for drink. All, me! if there were
no such places, how much misery. and
sin, and shame, would be banished
from the world? But they meet us
at every turn, these DEVILS dens, where
in men are despoiled of their earnings
and their honor. Dick went in, and
stumbled right into the midst Of some
three or four old crOnies. They leaped
up and welcomed him with uprOariOus
delight.
why, Dick, old fellow, haven't seen
you for an age! Well met, pom my
soul! Here, lanlOrd, brandy and seltz-
er for four, and be spry at it,"
The brandy and settler appeared
and vanished. A broiled steak, and
oysters and crackers followed, and then
came rum to wash it all down. By
sunset poor Dicks weak head was in
whirl. When darkness fell, his GRAND
was still neglected, and he sat in the
little bar parlor, looking ON while his
boon companions played cards, hot
bloom i'll his handsome eyes.
"Come up, Dick, and try your luck?"
"Don't care if do" said Dick; and
Mt it he went.
His own purse was soon emptied,
and then, he never could clearly recall
how it all happened, but, insane from
drink and determined to recover his
losses, he yenturedy ITO open the sealed
envelope apdao borrow stake from
the funds intrusted to MIN by his en-
plOyer.
an soon double it." he thought, "and
then III replace the amount"
But he lost instead of doubling, and
then swallowed more brandy in his
excitement, at the invitation of his
good friends. The end was that he
made a night OF it, and when the morn
ing dawned, poor Dick found himself
alone,f orsaken 10y his friends, and the
sealed envelope and its contents both
gone The shock sobered him. He
got up, and with his head beating like
a trip hammer, walked back to his ma
tive village, and seeking his employer,
confessed all that had happened. Mr..
Robinson was greatly provoked, and at
once put the matter into the hands OF
the law, and Dick Arnold was arrested
and sent to prison.
When the news came to his fathers
ears he refused to give his son either
aid or cOuntenance
am done with him. Let them send
him to the State prison; he deserves
it."
But the mother, her faithful heart
going out in yearning pity for her err
ring boy, stood and pondered how she
might save him.
In little while she turned, and en-
tering the pleasant cottage, went slow
w up stairs, and into the chamber
where her daughter Rose sat sewing on
her bridal robes.
Sitting down beside her, she told her
the story of her brothers trouble.
Rose understood her mothers mean
ing even before she could put it into
words. There was a little box on the
table, which contained her marriage
dowerv. Little by little the father and
mother had boarded it in their only
daughters name, that she might not be
dowerless on her wedding-day.
Pretty Rose took the box and put it
in her mothers hands.
Take it, mother" she said, "and do
with it as YOU think best"
Heaven bless you, my daughter;
but it is hard to deprive you of your
marriage dowery, and your wedding
day so near"
Roses cheeks bloomed like her
namesake'S in the little garden below,
and her blue eyes lit up.
Never mind that, mother" she said. |
"Chlrlie will be willing to take me
without the dowry; I'm sure of it."
So Mrs. Arnold took the box and |
went her way. Before the day ended |
she had refunded the money to Mr.. |
Robinson, the charge was withdrawn, I
and her boy was out of prison.
Il can't so home, mother. Father |
doesn't want me; he told me SO" said I.
Dick, as they stood under the green |
locust trees beyond the cottage lawn. |
Let me go out into the world and /
work my way up, and then I'll come /
back"
She put her arms around his neck, |
and looked up ut him with streaming (