The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-10-25
HIS MOTHER.
Hush . its his mother


The crowd parted right and left a Gu
rious city crowd who had stopped for a
moment to see what was the excitement.
Small boys. b~arefooted and ragged, men
with nothing to do; old women with bun
dies and baskets; business men seeking
their offices; curious people of all ranks,
stayed a moment to look and wonder, and
now moved to right and left, as a young
man with quick nervous step, came forward.
"It," was a woman, some said a lady, for
she was well dressed, and had-underneath
the mask which her condition threw about
her,-a countenance expressive of refine
ment; but she was so far lost to all sense
of her position by reason ofliquor, that she
crouched or leaned against a lamp post for
support, and talked foolishly and at ran
dom, much to the amusement of those who
stood near.
The young man who now reached her
side was tall, slender well dressed. He
looked anxious, but not surprised. 1t was
a chill October day, yet before he spoke to
her he lifted his hat a moment, and wiped
the beads of Precipitation from his forehead.
The crowd hushed and waited.
He bent down and touched her "Come
mother, " he said.
The woman was half asleep, but some
thing in the tone, although it was by no
means rough or loud, reused her instantly.
Il knew you would come, Will, she said,
81 told them my handsome boy would not
have me arrested. Tell them yourself Will,
how it is. She tried to set up, and strug-
gled with a numb feeling which seemed to
creep over her.
BE quiet mother, " he said, sternly, and
with a firm hand on her arm he raised her
to her feet. You must try and walk a
rage here. Do not speak, " he added, as
she began to utter some words in a thick
unnatural voice, and she seemed to under
stand and fear him. for she was quiet.
He gave no glance to the crowd who
again parted almost silently to let them
through. A carriage was waiting a few
steps on, and he led her to this. and helped
her in. The crowd followed as if to do its
duty. until the end; and when the carriage
door was shut, and the curtain drawn hast
lily down, they seemed to fade away into
the city's rush and roar.
1t was all over; in five minutes it was for
watched, but there is a bird of i'll omen
which seems emnipresent, and that bird
carried the matter"
Will Bruce, from his place at his desk
head of the firm. He had known Will
from childhood, and had brought him
from his village home, where the town
gossips were quite busy with stories OF
the mothers Weakness and.giyen him a
position in his office.
"Will," said he now, as the young man
appeared lit seems your mother has been
disgracing you again" lie felt a rang
of sorrow as he saw. Wills troubled face,
and knew the trial Of his life.
"Yes-she has, replied viii, almost
hopelessly.
Il think you will have to make up your
mind to send her to some kind of an asy-
lum, WILL" went on Mr.. Dare, who felt
kindly toward the young man. sit stands
very much in your way to have such
scenes as that of yesterday, likely to occur
at any time
81 know it Mr.. Dare replied VIII,
and again he wiped away the beads OF
perspiration from his brow, brought there
by his anxiety and trouble; .bnt she is my
mother, and she tries SO hard to keep
away from drink for my sake, that fear
she might cease even to struggle against
it, if sent her away. 1t was trouble
which made her take it the first time"
"You look at the matter too kindly VIII, ;"
said Mr.. Dare. Trouble does not drive
you in the same direction. Why should
she stand in your light and how can you
ever be in a position to ask Nellie Vain
right to marry YOU, with such a disgrace
full burden on your hands. You know |
speak only for your good, WILL"
"What can | say, sir. | know it all,
but she is my mother" replied Win, with
an anxious face. All day long at his desk
he tried to reach some conclusion. His
mothers face with its pleading look, and
the sweet face of the girl he had left
in his village home, each came before him
over and over again, and seemed to plead.
"Oh;' he cried in agony. what is my
duty?!'
Another little bind, in the meanwhile
carried the NATTER
Nellie wainwright walked up from the
| village post-ofiiee behind two young men,
who had just come by the evening train.
81 hear VIII Bruce's mother has been
off on a spree again" said one. Eyes,
picked up or the public street; she's a dis
grace to any young fellow, but he goes and
picks her up, and carries her home, as II
he liked it" and they both laughed.
miserable kind of a home that must
be" said the other, Il pity him. He must
be worried about her every hour he is
away. lie never will rise, with that to
drag him down."