The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-05-28
syFEE RoEEN BECAME A TEMPER
ANSE NAN.


brothcr-he was handsome. tail and stall
vart and about twice as large as Isis
sweet little sister Ruth.
People said that il was fear that had
stuntcd Ruth Lyons growth for her father
was a dtunkard. and in his fits 81 drunken
rage She seemed to be the sole object Of his
wrath aid abuse but Robin was growing
mp now. and his father did not dare CON
tend with the broad manly boy, Who
sprAg upon him ike a lion. indeed II tic
father dared even to touch the little sister,
4 whom Robin loved better than any one
| else in the world The little dinner,
though simple, was sayory, and well cook
ed but Robin could not eat Poor Robin
he was very unhappy, Your dinner IS
very nice Ruth, he said at length, after
gulping down few m0uthfuls at long in
tervals, 'but must 60 now and he
pushed back his chair, and started for his
lat, as # in haste to be gone But Ruth
sprang after him. 20 Robin. she cried,
with her little hand on his arm. haven't
yea a holiday this afternoon and won't
You stay with me f? Mother isn't coming
nome till night and IN sort Of afraid 70
stay alone, on account Of Father; besides
you haven't helped me in my garden this
long time-O please Robini, The tears
were in Ruth's eyes when she finished, for
Robin had changed so sadly in the last few
months. Alas, the poor boy had inherited
his fathers love for liquorl Many time
he had told Ruth he had such craving
for it, that If be once tasted it, he feared it
would prove his ruin And now-in these
last few months, lie had been tempted 80
taste tx he had even been brought home
intoxicated, and Ruth feared that ruin was
Inevitable 20 please she urged again,
as Robin hesitated Il can't Ruth lie
said at lengths 1 promised the fellows 10
go with them this afternoon. ,'But
Robin it's so dangerous for you to go with
them, pleaded Ruth thirdly. 4 know
ii, l know it cried Robin fierceiy, s'bui
can't help il | told you how it would be.
Ruth, If tasted IT, Now | have taken the
first step, and shah go down, down, just
as Father has done And he took his
hat, and started for the door again.
%. no no.! cried Ruth clinging 70 him.
eGod will mol let it come to that Per
haps you cant help. but God can @ Robin,
ask Him. He viii help you.
The little besecehing face and loving
words were TOO much well, at any
rate, viii stay with You this afternoon,
said Robin. with penitenf earess, so
get Your hoe and rake, and we viii put
that garden in the finest order possible.
But Ruth was not satisfied. Robin did
not want to ask God to help him, and who
else could However she said no more,
being wise enough 10 know THAT too many
words would not be effective, and procured
tic hoe aud rake with dispatch For an
hour the pair worked happily together;
but just as ROBIN began to feel a little tired
with his anaecustoned labor. 4 party Of
his comrades came along, and leaning over
tile fence, began to urge linn 10 come with
them
20 Robin, you promised me = pleaded
Ruth a low tone But promised them
first, said Robin beginning to waver
But "a bad promise is better broken
tlian kept. and then If father should COME
added Ruth inastill lowcrt tone 'Iwouldnt
worry about him, said Robin, s9,othingly;
Il guess he won't come, and mother viii be
at home o Ruth must 20, he added
wildly, ss struggle began between con-
science and appetite. ] must haze one
glass, just one, | promise you it shall be
but one You have no idea what raging,
burning thirst torments me-after that |
viii come back, promiss,--b,lt now must
20 And off he darted--poor miserable
Robin
Ruth bent over her flowers, and watertd
them with bitter, scalding tears A few
months before. Robin would never leave
her alone, ii he thought there was any
danger that She would be exposed 10 her
fathers brutality 20 God. she cried in
the agony Of her heart 'ean nothing be
done to save my Robin-my poor, hand
some, generous Robin @, If could only
die To save him =
Ne answer came from the serene blue
sky, and some children were going by
laughing merrily but through the little
gate there came a cruel, hardened man,
with an angry scowl on his face. he
glanced at the little eirl-his own daughter
who was bending over her flowers.
She did not hear the click of the gate 50
absorbed was size in her own bitter
thoughts the man walked stealthily
along, till he stood close at her side; then
giving her brutal kick, he exclaimed.
What are you at. here in my garden III
teach you a thing OF TIVE, You good-fol-
nothing girl g And seizing the hoe, which
Robin had dropped to join his comrades he
belabored her with rude, heavy blows, over
her head and back, till She sank IN little
covering, faintng, heap Ia the Garth.
But Robin had not gone al down the
street and something inpelled him 20 turn
around, just as has Father staggered ont Of
thc gate. His better feelings were reused
lie rushed back to his sisters aid fearing
the worst. and, alas, those fears were real-
izeC. a. he took mp the little senscless form
and carried it into the house. Speak TO