Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-09-18
TURNING A POINT,
ALMOST WRECKED.

AZhOSA "hLCAAGD.
When Mark married Polly you could have
singled him out of a crowd of men as well
calculated to make any woman happy, and
was, indeed, at that time an excellent me-
chanic, and steady as the sun in going about
his work,
Five years later what change ! Two
beautiful children have been born to him,
and we find him the victim of drink, sink
ing lower day by day.
Polly's pretty pretty face was clouded
with sorrow now and when her babes were
asleep what bitter tears she shed over the
nightly absence of her husband.
She could fancy too we'll the scenes in
which he played such leading part.
In the old days Mark had hung motto,
s'God Bless Our Home" but he seldom
looked at it now. He was changing grad
ually into another being altogether.
She had pleaded with him earnestly and
lovingly, but to no avail, and now want
was beginning to stare here in the face.
Nightly orgies do not conduce to steadiness
of hand and nerve, and from being his faith
ers favorite workman, Mark had now been
reducai to third-rate hand. This was not
the worst of it. Marks earnings went to
swell the profits of the keeper of the drink
ing saloon where he spent his evenings.
But through all her troubles and worri-
ment, Polly was still the same loving at
tentive wife. Mark might make her I'M
happy, but. she would do her best to pre-
serve the sunshine of their home, even as in
those happy days when she had filled the
background of her motto with color to
represent the sunlight which at that time
surrounded her heart
The motto still hung where Mark had
placed it. Did he ever look at it f?
"Come, Polly, hurry up and get supper
ready, have an engagement
Eyes, Mark" said Polly. But, strive as
she might, she could not speak cheerfully.
Her heart was too heavy.
Mark watched her as she set the table
and cooked the frugal meal. She had a
trim figure, and though her dress was of
calico, it had an air of taste about it /; and
her hair shone like FURNISHED gold as the
light struck upon its heavy braids. But her
cheeks had grown hollow, and her former
merry smile had lost the trick of lingering
about her lips.
81 say, Polly" began Mark.
But he did not finish his sentence before
rap came at the door, and voice inquir-
ed:
sis Mr.. Leroy at home If he is, wo-
man has been murdered by her drunken
husband, and the coroner wants him to
come to the inquest"
Mark rose and took his hat to go with the
lad.
"I'll be back as soon as l can Polly.
Keep something hot for me.''
eyes, Mark answered Polly quietly.
She had turned half pale, and she SILVER
ed like an aspen leaf. A drunked man had
murdered his wife Gould he have been
kind and loving in his sober moments
Aud if SO, would other men follow his ex-
ample when in drink What if Mark
should. But here she checked her
thoughts abruptly. Should she let them run
on 10 that wild fashion she felt that she
should go mad.
Polly never forgot the agony that she
suffered during that interval of time. 1t
was not very long before Mark returned,
but it seemed an eternity.
He came in, looking as white as though
he had seen a spectre. And so he had-the
spectre of what he himself was rapidly be-
coming
He went up to Polly and took her in his
arms and kissed her. Then he knelt and
drew her down upon her knees beside him.
':Polly, it is the last of my drinking |
here, upon my Bonded knees, make SOL
emn promise to Almighty God never to let
another drop of liquor pass beteen my lips,
and pray Him to give me strength to keep
my VOW"
Happy, thankful tears were in Polly's
eyes as she and Mark rose from their con-
trite positions; and he went on to tell her
the terrible scene he had just witnessed.
SIT was enough to break ones heart Pol
ly The miserable man was seated in the
most squalid little room it has ever been
my fate to witness. He was too dazed to
know what he had done and the poor wife
was no older than you are, and had been
nice looking. And right over the bed hung
motto just like the one you embroidered
when we were first married. Think of see
ing God Bless Our Home in such a scene
as that Oh, Polly, it has opened my eyes.
l now see what drink may lead a man to
do, for they say that the man who has done
this dreadful deed was once kind husband
and father, and that drink alone is the
cause Of this tragedy, which has already ia
ken one life, and for which he will have to
render up his own. Oh, it was a horrible
sight ! 1t will always haunt me. What if
I had been that man, and"-
"Don't, Mark It couldn't have been
you, for we love each other too dearly"
$50 we do, Polly, and I will from this
time prove different kind of care taker for
you and the babies. I will try to live SO
as not to feel ashamed when l look up at
that motto. will prove myself worthy to
pray God Bless Our Home"