Smyrna times., 1889-08-07

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ives together many were the compli- |
nents they received, for indeed they
we're a fine csuple. Their friends con-
graduated them and the future looked |
bright. And when the first little pratt !
tier came the acme of their happiness
seemed to have been reached.
But Toms old habits clung to him,
and ere many years had gone he began
to neglect his home. Often he would
come home late at night under the influ-
ence of liquor. The money he earned
passed over the bar of the saloon, and the
roses faded from Mary's cheeks. The
stars left her eyes; her face became
pinched, and deep lines of sorrow chased
away the dimples. Still she did not COM
plain, and Tom did not see what great
changes were going on i'll his home.
From one house to another they moved.
The little home on which Tom on his
wedding day had made the first payment
was gone, and at last his midnight reel
carried him to miserable hOvel in which
a heart broken woman and children ex
listed.
THE ANGEL WING.
Tom had reached the bottom. So low
had he descended that he would scrub
out saloons that he might get the dregs
of alcoholic stimulants. He was Bum
mer Blinker now with a rum cOlOred
nose and eyes bleared and bloOdshOt.
Many times he inhabited the drunk
room" at the station house, and when he
was brought in the desk sergeant would
say, Hello, Blinker; you here again?
Why don't you brace up and be some
one? You used to be a pretty good kind
of a fellow"
Tom would only mumble and drop
down into a corner to sleep. In po-
lice court he was chronic" and was
fined time and time again.
One cold and dismal night, when the
snow was on the ground and all nature
was ice clad, Tom was in a low barrOom
asleep. Some cruel jokers had painted
his swollen face with lamp black end
were having rare sport with the drunken
man. When he awOke and realized his
condition he became angry, and the re-
suit was that he was badly beaten and
thrown out of doors Then he staggered
homeward. That night while the father
was at the barrOOm 2-year-old baby
Mary, whose eyes and dimples were like
mothers used to be, was taken suddenly
i'll with that night dread of all mothers
the Group, and in few hours its little
life was ended. While the mother bent
over the form of her child and bathed
its face with her tears, Tom staggered in
and threw himself on to a char, with a
besotted oath; then, as sleep overcame
him, he fell to the floor, where he lay
till morning with Mary's faded and torn
shawl under his head for pillow.
All night long the mother sat beside
her dead and sent her prayers heaven
ward. When mornings light appeared.
and Tom, benumbed with cold and par
TALLY sobered, saw his dead child and re-
allied that he had not been near to wipe
the death damp from its brow, or help it
battle for life, then an old feeling, be-
come new, came to him. Down on his
knees, with his face buried in the tat
tered bed clothing, he sobbed as only
great strong men can sob, and Mary, the
wreck of long ago, placed her wasted
arm about his neck, and with her wan
face against his, unmindful of the lamL
black, the fumes Of vile liquor, mingled
her tears with his But no promises OF
reformation did Tom make.
Kind neighbors furnished little coffin
and when Tom, trembling in every Ii MI
from dissipation, dropped hot, burning
tears on the little face upturned, anC
with his shaking hand caressed the tiny
white hands peacefully crossed on the
bosom Of white, people wondered I'll
this will be a lesson to him." The fu
neral was unpretentious. Every clot
that fell or the coffin struck q blow OF
Toms heart. For two days Tom re
mained at home, and on the third, whe1
he started away, he took his wife in hi
arms and kissed her as he did in time
! gone by. And when he returned MARY
listened for his step, oh, so anxiously
and, when she heard it, thanked God
was the step of a sober man.
Tom was missed from the bar room
from the police station, from the polio,
court. He quit drinking and went t,
work. Go to one of the largest factorie
in the city. Pass among the whirrin;
wheels and ringing hammers. See tina
tall, broad shouldered man with a cheer,
face, begrimed not with lamp black, bu
with the result of honest laborl That
Tom Blinker.
When the whistle sounds he takes of
his apron, buttons his stout coat abou
him and with brisk swinging walk ant
a CHEEKY whistle starts for home. Fol
low him to a neat little cottage an,
watch the picture that the light throw
upon the curtains at the window See
happy wife in;tidy attire throw her arm
around his neck and kiss away the dir
of the factory. See happy children
clamoring to kiss papa. See them a
their evening meal-and then if Ton
does go out after supper-Mary and tn
children go along, The neat cottag
isn't Toms yet, but it will be some day
for he is the old time Tom, sober, har
working and honest.
Out in Crown Hill is little mound c
earth that Tom and Mary visit ever,
Sunday. On this mound in summer tn
flowers ever bloom, and winters fierc
gale that rends the oak and shakes tn
evergreens sinks to a low sweet and ten
der lullaby as it passes over the spC
where rest the remains of Blinkers baby
--Indianapolis News.