The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-04-09
Harold turned with an

Ohbu.
II never once dreamed that the
man who struck vote mother kill
ing blow with that cruel whip, and
that | afterward horsewhlped sound
ly, was the same Harold as the dear
little cousin | used to love. Cousin
Harold, I did that I would do it
again, if / should see you so abuse
your poor old mother"
did ! strike you, mother?' he
asked, turning his burning face to-
ward her.
"You wouldn't mean to hurt me,
DEAR" she said, drawing the linen
rag tenderly across the bruises.
"But did r.
"Take off your dress, auntie, and
show him." Len insisted, and though
she stoutly refused, the man pulled
the thin garment from her shoulders
and revealed long, liyid, bloody
track,
Il would not touch it till you was
tended to- the foolish, devoted wo.
man sobbed.
Harold Howard arose to his feet,
clinging to his loosened. garments
with one hand while he waved the
other above his head. 1t was all so
Ridiculous, SO tragic, and yet 50 heart.
feltls
"lf ever | strike my mother again,
may the Lord strike me down dead!"
he cried. Then turning to me he
said, "I'm glad you lashed me. She's
been good mother to me, and drop
lping down on the side of the bed he
wept Historically.
/ We stayed with them for a few
days, but Aunt Emily never for a mo-
ment seemed like herself. She was
not insane, but she was hopelessly
broken and changed. Harold talked
with US, eagerly, full of repentance
and hopelessness.
~ remember when you talked to
me, Cousin Marion" he said, "and o,
If only had never touched a drop
Of hard cider again! There's moth.
ing on earth so deceptive, 50 sure to
make drunkards. o, they have rails
ed a glorious crop Of drnnkards a.
bout here, / ASSURE you. There is not
|, a steady fellow, not one that I know,
! in town, though some of the boys that
, went away broke off the habit. I'd
! give all the money in the world, if I
. possessed it, if | could let liquor alone;
but, Cousin Marion, / can't. 1t is
utterly hopeless. There's no help
, for me, here nor hereafter; but / did
| net suppose that I ever abused my
) poor, hear.-broken mother. / never
! knew that. I'm glad you cut me
pretty nearly into mince.meat. Ionly
wish you had knocked my worthless
/ brains oul!"
Ill / took bis hand and talked earnest.
!, lY, hopefully to him, and later, Ler
= had long, serious conversation with
him, he staid closely at home and
: consequently kept sober for the re
mainder Of our visit. l wish I nigh
i, say as much for all time. but q few
q years later we received q short lettel
. from Uncle Leonard, in which b,
2 said:
= 81 write to let you know that on
!, poor son is dead. He died sorry TO
!. his past. 1 am glad te say that b
= never struck his mother nor swore q
/ her since chat night.
g Your affsctionate uncle,
1t LEONARD HOWARD"
-, $50 that is the end of a promisin,
d life" Len said, laying the letter down
{ The old familiar, "still small voice,
!, cried out to me, and 1 shrank fror
il. Was I to blame for this? Had
IN acted out my honest convictions coul,
have done away with that wretche'
y crop, those barrels Of cider? Hov
J. they would have laughed at me haI
'e tried it, those twenty odd years age
Ie They would have laughed and, yes,
ID think in spite Of all reasoning an,
i entreaties they would have kept RICH
d on making cider and setting it befor
i their children. Yet the memory o
. the mental struggle ofthat time cam,
" back to me, and. again I heard th,
y carr wheels monolonous clank
L @Drinkl drink drinkety.drink |" the
e, said, and a distant chnrchsbell tool
n up the measure and tolled, dead
: dead! dead I"
: That the bell vas in reality tollin,
for some stranger did not, ia the leas
brvk the chain Of my thought
l. Dead, yes, dead all of life worse thai
thrown away, and what fthe awaken
y ing where "there shall be no NOR
|" deatos" Oh, pitiful Heaven Care
less fathers and mothers, beware o
ID the harvest when ye SOW such croT
y MRS. W. H. ROGERS,
III 4