Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-07-19
Our Saturday Night.

Uneducated and possessing but few
worldly goods, the daily bread was
provided bv the sweat of his honest
brow. He was an iron moulder and
worked early and late among the
black sands and molten metal, re-
ceiviDg each Saturday night his
small allowance of hard earned coin.
One of those ''hail fellows well met"
with wealth of good fellowship
for those with whom he associated,
he was a popular man and was
known as lone of the boys.n Not
unlike other men, he could not look
upon the cup without imbibing.
He thought, as did many an other,
"pll taste thee on the tree" and the
inevitable result found him too often
under the exhilarating influence.
He could drink or let alone, he
thought, and emboldcned by this
idea frequently he was found CLAN
cling in the bottom of the glass
Years before the time of which this
is written he had met his fate and
"eyes looked love into eyes that
spake again" Quietly the nuptial
bands were welded and two loving
hearts were as but one. Happy was
their lot. The true wife that she
was counted impatiently the weary
and uneventful hours of the long
day until Charley (for that
was his name) should re-
turn home after his day OF
labor. Time sped on and was
noted save by its flight. Spring,
with its fragrance and flowers had
gone. summer roses had faded, and
with the first bright streaks of au-
tumn came to the good husband the
reminder that shadows of coming
events were being cast before. A
daughter to them was born-a fair
haired cherub of gentle features and
frail figure. She was a doting
mothers pride and a jealous fathers
prize. Slowly the mother recovered
from her long illness, and happire ess
once more dwelt within that little
home. Alice (that was what they
called herr grew to be "a bright little
girl, full of life-the idol of the
household. When the little one
was about to celebrate her third
birthday the mother was taken ill
ana for many days her life was sus-
pended as by thread. One day she
rallied and the doctor said all dam
ger was passed. Weary with watch
ing and bowed with care, Charley,
for the first time since baby was
born, took one drink. Another and
yet another followed until his mind
was daZed. The mother suffered IA
relapse and as Charley staggered in-
to the death chamber the spirit of
the wife and mother was lowering
over the river which separates these
banks from the other shore.
She kissed the baby, as her eyes
rested upon bright vision beyond,
and her weak voice faltered Good
bye-baby Alice-good bye--papa,
Charley-they are calling you will
see mama over THERE" Her
eyes closed, she sank to rest-the
imprisoned soul had broken its fet-
ters and escaped to the great beyond.
Again winter with his hoary
locks was here. The spring came,
the flowers dropped, seeming to pine
for their wonted gentle care. Sum-
mer's sun parched the earth and the
dew kissed the whitening
flowers that marked the lonely
grave in the silent churchyard.
Alice now often talked of mama and
between her sobs would ask, "when
is mama coming back?" and if baby
would ever "see mama over there"
Alice was ill. The doctors eve
sparkled with tear and choking
down the great lump which would
rise in his throat said she could not
last long-sweet, frail little one.
Daily the flower faded, until il was
Il trial for her TO take her wasted
form u the window 10 tap on the
pane as papa Charley would return
home to supper.
Again the trees were tinged with
the first bright streaks of autumn.
All day Saturday Charley had
pictured to himself how proudly the
little Alice would watch at the win
low for papa TO come home. He
luit work with the men and with
them went To buy for her II wax
doll and big bright orange. The
foreman invited all To drink with
him and the toast was to the health /.
II the little queen. They drank
around and around until il was
with difficulty hat Charley .
made his way home. But he had .
not forgotten the doll, Arriving at .
he gate he saw no sweet face at the .
nor heard the music of I