The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-15

caught at her mothers gown as II for pro
lection. Roger, looking W from his dark
corner, saw this with sudden horror Of him
self, and, to sllay the evident fear with
which he was regarded, simulated a heavy
slumber.
"Mother," said the crippled boy, old with
the experience Of lifelong misery, "was
father always like thisp'
"No; oh, no! laddic,n she answered,
,, softly.
"Once father made a lovely home for us
He is first-class carpenter. you know, and
he built the cottage we lived in, himself.
'Tell us about it, mother" begged Susie
Roger listened eagerly, as his worn wife
lovingly recounted those happy days when
father took care Of them all.
"Mother, mother!" cried Charley, with q
little sob, "c0uld run about then by my
selfs Did not have to use crutches 90
There was sob in his mothers throat, but
she strove to answer calmly.
"You did not need clutches, then, Char
lie.'
"F'ather did not beat YOU, then, mother?''
"Hush, Susie! Father never LAYS finger
on us when he's SOBER"
"But he i 8 nearly always drunk" mutter
ed Susie.
Say your prayers and go to bed, dear
Children" said the poor mother, sighing.
"Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done"
The words haunted her, as she bent over
her sewing.
She rose and stopped over her husband
Apparently, he slept heavily.
Next morning, ere she was awake, he arose
and went out.
CHAPTER II.
Mr.. Mark was still at breakfast when
Roger was ushered into the room
The rich aroma Of coffee pcrvaded the air,
making Roger sick with longing. This mas.
sive frame was enaciated from his drunken
habits. What had been handsome man
was but pitiful object in the morning sun.
shine.
Before we begin to TALK" said Mr.. Mark.
II am going to give you some breakfast. Sit
down."
Roger obeycd. The coffee he longed for
was beside him, and he made an effort to eat
the food generously provided, but failed.
'If you have eaten as much as YOU can.
follow inc" said Mr.. Mark Come into nv
study"
Roger shambled along with bent head He
was ashamed to look ut the young man.
"Now, sit down. Your namc is Roger
Burland, you say. Well, Roger I've got a
great deal to say to you. In the first place.
don't expect sympathy from me- have none
foryou can't forgive YOU for thus dcbas-
ing yourself with sclf-indulgencc 1t is well
for you that the good God above us is more
forgiving than we can be to one another
Roger, when think that you have wife
and little girl, living in those horrible
slums, and you, o strong man, God forgive
me, Roger, but long to take horscwhip,
and break it across your broad shoulders"
Roger started. This was something com
pletely unexpected. He had looked for del
icatc sympathy and offers to help, to be told
'human nature was weak and others had
fallen as low as he," but US he sat in the rec
tors presence, he felt overcome with shame.
He tried to stammcr forth some excuse.
DON'T" said Mr.. Mark. "It only in
creases my loathing for YOU You can bear
to keepa wife and child in a cellar, while
you drink for your own amusement. You
can be content to keep them in a place de-
cent people avoid. Call yourself man, do
you!" Roger stared silently.
'l'vc got two Children he said, present
ly. Then added, my boy Charlie, he's q
cripple
"Good God! In that ccllar!'' exclaimed
Mr.. Mark, with flashing eyes. Now.
Roger, let US understand ONE another am
your witness before God Almighty that you
have sworn to reform. Now, l am not going
to keep YOU straight. shan't try to for if
you want to drink, and have not,will enough
by help of God to keep from it, human help
will avail nothing, and will be no mans
crutch. Twill find YOU work; see to it YOU
keep it. I will be your friend till death,
if YOU but prove yourself man; but under
stand me, if you go back to your drunken
habits, my interest in you will be gone.
You are thinking am hard man. Do you
know, never loathcd human being as
loathcd your drunken clutch last night. Inc
memory of that horrible walk will never
leave me. 1t was forctastc of hell"
Roger stared, open-mouthcd
81 go willingly to such places when called
by the sick and suffering, Inever count that
labor" continued Mr.. Mark; '.but last
night was in ill company. l was with a
strong man who had given up all goodness
to the indulgence of his base appetitcs
When saw your cellar home l thought it
was as good as such a one could expect: but
when saw you had wife and child there,
Roger, my contempt and disgust almost
overcame me. could have thrashed YOU
heartily, Roger.'
Silence followed this energetic speech.
Roger tried to shake himself together to
find some loophole by which to excuse him
self. His huge fists lay on his knee his
remnant of manhood came to the fore.
II mean what say," he said. I'll drink
no more and as soon as can earn decent
wages, Iii make home for my Molly. as
shan't be ashamed for you to enter sir''
AT this, MIR. Mark rose and stretched out
his hand. The handshaking seemed to
Roger solemn covenant, as important as
the oath of the previous night.
Mr.. Mark then began to question Roger as
to his work, and finding he was q carpen-
ter put him to make some book shelves for
his little sister, who was lame.
"About the size of my Charley" thought
Roger, as he looked at little Lois.
Ah, how tender the stern rector was with
this afflicted little one Roger might we'll
take home a lesson with him to night.
MIR. Mark came in at sundown and paid
him for his days work, briefly telling him
lndL lc us1u 1ouuu ului WOEk lOF LnC next
day. Roger fingered in the entry.
Sir" said he, suddenly grasping the
rector's slender hand. walk past those
devilish places with me tonight. am just
torn to pieces with the craving"
"Roger," said he, sternly, ~ will be no
mans crutch. If after, all, you want to
drink, drink! My strength can't save
you. If you don't will to reform, il you
don't care enough for your wife and
children, and your own manhood,
can't help you, and what is more l
won't"
"lt is of no use for me to preach to you,"
he continued. "With every temptation
there is way of escape: everything de-
pends on your will to take the means pro-
vidcd. know enough of men to be sure
of one thing, that a crutch is never going
to help them permanently: and so, if you
really intend some day to fall back into
your drunken ways, you may as well begin
at once, for tell you, it 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 it 10 you, and fight
every inch of your way, single handed
"You must think me poor. pitiful
wretch muttercd Roger.
II won't Judge YOU yet" smiled Mr..
Mark. ~ should think so, if l found you
Obliged to rely on my strength TO keep you
T! from falling And IL Won can balance vour