The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-10

to drown his troubles, and forgotten in
his new habits of dissipation the family
whom it had been once his delight to
love and cherish.
The tent was miserable concern, very
good one in fair summer days, but poor
protection in cold and stormy weather,
and now the winter was coming on.
Already the SHOWS were on the noun
taIns, and King Frost was gradually
creeping down TO the little town nestled
IN the narrow valley.
No wonder Mrs, Murray felt the pres
sure of life's burden heavy uppon her
the children could not, should not starve.
But what could she do to take care of
them?
Late that night when they were asleep
in their lowly beds upon the floor, she
at in the dim light Of her solitary candle
pondering the question.
Jack had not yet returned; where he
was she knew not. The heart grew heavy
within her as she thought of. his grow
ing disregard for the wellefare of his
family.
The autumn wind swept mournfully
against the loose edges of the tent. The
river, not many yards distant, made
weird music in the ears Of the disconso-
late woma1.
At last she put As lie the worn dress
che was mending; sue had answered the
question.
81 have tried needle-work, she said !;
nothing remained but laundry-work -
washing. THIS is all that remains for
me to try-but this must be done to put
bread into the mouths of the little ones. {"
1t was not without an inward revo t
that this refined woman turned to this
last resort, for she was born and bred to
better things, but her nature was to
noble and self-sacrficing to shrink from
any labor that was honorable-any work
however menial that would save her
loved ones from starvation. II Jack
would not put his hand to the plow, she
must.
She raised the curtain VIII ch was fast
ened as close as possible to the post of
the doorway and looked out.
The night was calm and beautiful
overhead the moon was sailing serenely
through light, fleecy clouds, casting
now and then weird shadows on the
mountains and streaking the FOAM tossed
river with silver.
Mrs. Murray was not a learned woman h..
She could not haye expressed in as fine
form the thoughts which expressed her,
yet think she felt the same truths that
so often thrill us all in our grief-stricken
moments.
"Why should this beautiful world, so
perfect in its beauty, ever be marred by
the faults and follies OF humanity"
But her musings were suddenly ended
by the appearance of a reeling figure be.
tween her and the moonlight. 1t was
Jack staggering home, She wondered
how he had managed to cross the bridge
in safety in his condition, feeling crate
full to the kind Providence which had
protected him.
The reproaches that rose to her lips
were checked by the thoughts of what
he had once been.
The tears filled her eyes, but she as.
sisted him to bed tenderly, and when he
was fast asleep in his heavy drunken
slumOer, she knelt by his side and pray.
eG for him as only a pure and loving
wife can pray for the man she loves.
Heaven help such women as these
Tie next morning at ten he was still
in his stupor, and she left the two youn-
ger children with him and went across
the river to the town to search for work
She knew it would be hard for her to
obtain this, for she was comparatively
unknown, yet she was brave and deter
mined.
She remembered the address Of a lady
who had once spoken to her kindly in
church, and to this one she applied.
Mrs. Hildreth received her quite kind
ly, patting MaTgery's brown head in g
gentle, motherly fashion. She had seen
some Of the ups and downs OF life her
self, and knew how to aympathize with
this pale, careworn little woman, who
looked almost to frail to do a day e
washing.
"Yes," she said, in answer to Mrs.
Murray's inquiry for work. 81 will be
glad to have you do my washing this
week, for my laundry woman is at pres
ent disabled by an accident, Can you
take the clothes home or will you come
here?''
On consideration Mrs. Murray decid
ed to take them home. 1t seemed less
Illuminating, although she had deter
mined to let all false pride go.
Mrs, Hlldreth gathered up the articles
to be laundried and placed them in a
large basket with which Mrs. Murray
and Margery was soon trudging home
1t was about noon when they reached
the little tent on the other side of the
r.ver.
Jack was awake and "sobered up.
He was setting the table and getting
things ready for their meager dinner
He looked rather shamefsced as his wife
entered and set the basket Just inside
the door.
"What have you got thereg" he asked
"CIothes," answered his wife.
"Clothes-what for?"
"Clothes to wash" she replied quietly,
removing her bonnet. 1--WE can't starvs
you know, and it is the best can do,
It's good pay and not much harder work
than sewing
There was no reproach in her eyes
voice, only hard determination to dc
the duty which seemed before her.
Something rose in Jacks throat and
checked him as he looked upon her,
The crimson fame of shame rose to his
cheek.
This was the woman he had sworn to
protect and cherish, forced to take in
washing for livingl
/, he turned abruptly on his heel and
left the tent, taking a seat on a stone by
the noisy river.
For long time he sat there with his
elbows on his knees and his face buried
in his hands, his misdseds rising up be
fore him with sort OF horror.
No one disturbed him. The children
went on their play, the mother prepared
the dinner in silence.
At last he rose ard r. rg-entere, the tent.