Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-05-25


'aAe nome lesson with him to night.
MI Mark came In at shutdown and Maid
nun Tor his days work, briefly telling him
That he had found him work for the next
day. Roger fingered in the entry.
Sir" said he, suddenly grasping tho
reclors slender hand. "Walk past those
ueVliish places with me tonight. am Just
torn TO pieces with the craving.n
Roger" said he, sternly, ~ win be no
mans crutch. II after, all, you want TO
drink, drink My strength can't save
you. IL you don't win to reform, II YOU
don't care enough for your wife and
children, and your own manhood,
can't help you, and what is more /
won't.n
ut is OF no use for me to preach to your
be continued. with every temptation
there Is way Of escape; everything de
ponds on your will TO take the means pro-
yided know enough Of men TO be sure
OF one thing, that crutch is never going
70 help them permanently; and so, II you
really intend some day TO fall back into
your drunken ways, you may as well begin
at once, for tell you, 1t is your will that
needs the strength, and no human being
can help you there. Pray for strength to the
One, who alone can give IL TO you, and fight
every inch OF your way, single handed
"fou must think me q poor. pitiful
wretch muttered Roger
II wont judge you yet" smiled Mr..
Mark. II should think so, If found you
Obliged TO rely on my strength to keep you
from falling And II you can balance your
love Of drink against your love Of home
wife and children, give you up here and
now.n
With this, the rector shut the door on
Roger, who went moodily through the
street TO be good or evil presented itself
as q matter Of deliberate choice, and Roger
was tirm IN his intention TO reform. He
skulked past the drinking houses frequent
ed by his boon companions; some day, per-
haps, he would walk past manfully.
What would Molly say 10 see him home so
earlyI
Molly trembled. As he drew near, she
covered, expecting blow.
wife" said he, gently. Here's fifty
cents, can't you get US some superb
lay and glad,' she replied. 1.-THE
poor children have had no proper meal to-
day..
As she went out, Roger took the crippled
lad in his lap and put one arm around
Susie. Little Charlie forgiying the cruel
past, soon was nesting TO his father, with a
clinging, loving embrace. When Molly
came back, she wanted TO take the child
away for fear that he would prove an an.
nayanec.
"Don't take him away" said Roger. with
slight choke in his voice.
He held him on his knee ana fed him with
the choicest tnorsels from the meagrc sup
per il was his hand, too, that gently laid
the little fellow on the rags where he was
accustomed 70 sleep.
/ ats SO cold, murmurcj the child, half
asleep as he turned over 10 draw the pool
coycriet over him. Roger laid his coat over
HIM then coming 10 his wife, he took away
the coarse work over which she was strain
ing her sight
'I'ut Il up for to night" said he, almos
| siernly.
Roger, lying on his pallet that night, wa
praying for life for few years more, tina
he nigh, undo some OF his cruel work en-
he died.
He went carly 10 work next day. Mr.
Mark came in 10 see him, spoke TO him witt
evident increase OF warmth, then waited q
| sec II Roger Ind aught 70 tell him.
.'Irs that cellar sir said Roger. 6
want 10 get them out OF Il at the end Of thi
week. II could find a decent place coul,
rent"
VERY good said MIR Mark "I'll maxi
some inquiries as 20 around today"
| AZ the dinner hour be came for Roge
and drove him out 20 suburb, where
| small cottage az low rental was wanting
| tenant There was a small piece OF groun
attached TO IL, so that Molly could have
garden. This was palace 20 Roger, AM
he was quite excited over the opportunit
thus afforded him, OF living RESPECTABLE
again. He thanked MIR. Mark, heartily, an
went homo that day so full Of his new hopes
that he passed his old companions withou
seeing them. and cheered Mollie's hear
with money for another meal
But the very next day, the men combine
and got hold OF him. They dragged him
the bar, and poured raw liquor down hi
throat He stood there painting, white an
| hloodless, like one who had suddenly falle
from heaven TO hell. His companions ieere
az him; he rubbed his rough hands acros
| his eyes, as If TO clear his vision. II SCENE
10 him that a voice from above spoke loude
than these tends OF earth. ITO him this
| oyorcometh'' he TO lose his home, HI
wife and children for such as thesei
thousand times, MOI Standing there among'
them all, he made deliberate choice.
"Good evening, mates,n said he, shakin
himself as one who awalcs from a ba
dream, and, before they had rightly undo
stood his meaning, he was gone.
But he had not left the battle field witt
out a wound he was terrified to think no
near he had been TO falling. As he starge
cd along, he heard quick steps behind hir
Were the fiends pursuing hint He turnt
NJ bay with his back to the wall, and ifs
clenched TO defend himself.
1t was MIR Mark.
aI.ois wanted me to bring your little b.
some oranges, but, as have met you, i
70 no further tonight
"Sir,n said Roger 81 thank you." /
was wondering II the rector could smell q
fumes OF the strong liquor the men HI
forced upon him.
aI.ois will come and see your little boy
soou as YOU get to the cottage; they viii
friends hope,n he said in friendly, XII
voice. different from anything Roger HI
heard from him before. Then he was gou
Roger the bag OF oranges In his hand, sto
: | :. l,..,. - .a,, Mr., atrnnpply hnDny. He Il