The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-24

Mr. Flaherty's breakfast didn't suit
him this morning
Perhaps 1t was because he began his
celebration of Christmas on Saturday
and drank too much btters, for his
stomach's sake, this morning before
breakfast
But, anyway, his appetite was bad and
his temper worse when he sat down to
breakfast in his home on c street, near
North Capitol.
The more he thought about the break
fast the worse Mr.. Flaherty's temper
got.
When Mr.. Flaherty is not drinking he
is pleasant sort of man, but drunk
he is bad, very bad. He was drunk this
morning, and he criticised his wife and
the breakfast unsparingly, and incident
ally he threw some of the smaller articles
of furniture at her.
His hand was unsteady, though, and
he failed TO score. Mrs. Flaherty re.
torted, too. and this still further angered
Mr.. Flaherty, and he grabbed Mrs.
Flaherty by the throat and choked her.
/ Cboked her until she got red in the face
and her tongue hung out.
| Little Charlie Flaherty saw all this
and tried to protect his mother to the best
of his ability, but Charlie is only 10 years
| OH and his father brushed him to one
| side and went on abusing Mrs. Flaherty
Charlie pummellcd away at his father
with his puny fists without hurting him
any and Mr.. Flaherty continued to choke
his wife until Charlie became desperate.
Pap. stop checking ma, you'll kill
her." piped Charlie.
pm going to-" growled Mr.. Flaherty
through his clenched teeth.
Charlie was scared.
lie was afraid his mother would be
killed. and it really looked as if she
would. He was no match for his burly
father, and he didn't know what to do
to help his mother.
lie knew that the tlre.engine house
was just around the corner, and Charlie
knew that If he told the firemen what
was going on they would help him make
his father stop abusing his mother.
But if he left and went over TO the
engine house his mother might be killed
while he was gone.
Mr.. Flahertys razor was lying on the
mantlepiece where he left it yesterday
after shaving himself and Charlie
saw it.
Charlie is a manly little boy and il
made him mad to see his mother abused
So he went and got the razor, took it out
of its case and opening it, started for his
: father.
MIR. Flaherty was choking his wife
with both hands and paid no attention
to Charles repeated demands that lie
stop choking ma
Then Charlie made lunge for his
, father and cut his throat with the razor
The keen blade cut long cash jus
, under his fathers ear, and if it had beer
a triAe deeper his jugular vein woulc
lave been severed. 1t was not very
serious wound, but it was enough t
make Mr.. Faherty stop choking Char
lies mother, and that was what Charli,
wantedt
Policeman Walsh reached the hous,
just then and sent Mr.. Flaherty to thu
,, doctor, who sewed up the cash in hi
1 throat He asked Charities father if n
would prosecute Charlie if he was ar
, rested for cutting him, and Mr.. Flaherty
who isn't bad sort of man when h
5 isn't drinking, said he wouldn't, and tina
1 1t was no use to arrest the boy.
1 So Charlie wasn't arrested, though h
was badly scared at what he had done
,, ana Mr.. Flaharty's throat was sewed up
{ and Mrs. Flaharty isn't much the worse
: save that her face is badly bruised.