The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-05-21
WHY EEE CAME HOME 80 LATE THAT
NIafiT.

Maggie. put on the tea and set the
table; he will be here soon. said a glad
looking woman as She pat the last stitchc,
into garment
Yes, mother, aud I'm going to make
| HIM a buttered toast; he likes it so mach
with his tea, - and tile girl looked glad too,
for she was thinking how good it seemed
to have father come home sober from his
work.
Just think, mother, it is nearly six
weeks since he touched drop. Il is almost
too good to be true -
"The results prove it. my dear. How
different our life is already, replied her
mother
The best Of all is, mother. ! shall not
need to wear my old dress to school next
] term, " said Maggie, casting loving glanees
at the dress her mother was making. No
! one will call e'-her voice trembled-aa
drunkards daughter. The boys too will
have new clothes Poor fellows! they suf-
fered all last winter terribly with the
cold. I"
Poor children how much you all have
suffered. trust we leave behind forever
those dark days We will try to help
those who suffer. we know how to pity
them. There is Mr. Foster. he spends
nearly every day at Browns To think
the town will license the sale Of intoxieat-
ing beverages where snch men are =
Mother why do they2 Bell told me
the other day that things grew worse and
worse. and unless her father changed his
course they should have to apply to the
town for help
II suppose the town would rather sup
port just such wrctched families than have
a law Of prohibition enforced and carried
out TO save the fathers to care for their
own families. Maggie, God grant. and |
say it reverently that we shall never go
back to those terrible days We will try
and find some way 10 help Bell and her
father
The clock struck six The mother
folded her work and the boys rushed in
from their play
Mother we're 50 hungry when will
supper be ready -
Just as soon as father comes
'Goody goody, he don't get drunk
now, said little Charlie
''IIurrah, hurrah for new overcoats and
boots this winter We shan freeze.
Charlie. cried Harry.
Such tussle as they had fer the next
few moments, then they rushed 10 the
door to see if father was in sight.
'Guess orr clock is slow, =" said Maggie.
The toast will get cold before be comes.
''Never mind, he won't scold, for I'll
tell him how hard You tried 20 keep it hot,
that will please him.
Thus the impatient family waited and
watched
Seems as thoueli he'll never come,
said little Charlie
"0f course he will. said Harry
What's to keep him now, he doesn't
drink -
The clock licked on and still he came
not The mother looked anxiously ont Of
the window She thought of Browns.
She was very sure that he wouldn't stop
there Only that morning he said 81
never felt SO strong She would have
faith in him Tie clock struck seven
She started back Maegie's face grew
strangely white BY and by the girl
rushed to the door, then down the pathway
He was no where in sight. She leaned
over the gate Did She believe that he
would break his pledge? Who among all
his acquaintance would urge him todrink?
Oh it must not be
Her mother met her at the door Mag
gle, has he stopped At Browns p
Mother I'd rather die than have that
happen"
silence fell over the little group, that
silence, which is 50 helpless yet expectant
1t came at last, that unsteady step along
the walk The mother thought Of her
boys. Go to bed you viii be safer there:
and Maggie too There is no telling What
he may do .
mo, mother, I'll stay with you
The gate opened and swung back on its
hinges, the pathway gave back its duh
sound, the door opened and closed and he
came in
Maggie felt as though all the bright
hopes Of her lille had been snatchcd away,
ii looked like one deep sea Of despair.
Last night her father Vas gentleman, to-
night fiend Why did he moi wish any
supper9 The rum had taken away his
appetite Why did he throw toast, dish
and all to the floor Because the demon
that was in him is terrible one Why
did he speak such cruel words and threaten
10 take the life OF his wife and children2
Because his life blood was poisoned by the
enemy alcohol and his brain crazed
Late that night mother and daughter
wept in each others arms.
Mother this would never have happen
cd ii the voters Of our town had given Us
true prohibition. Why don't they let the
poor women and girls votes We would
save ourselves. Mother, mother! why
should we saflerso much where there might
be Law that woald free rs p Nag Z. Hore-
lq8d