The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-04-16

that when Young H3aHs Win sutH an
appetite gaining the mastery, would not
give il up, his life was in danger Of wreck
and ruin.
Il told Tom what my father had said
and asked him if he would not stop
drinking altogether. He laughed at me
He tried TO convince me that be was safe
ond finally he took solemn oath that
be would never drink again enough To
show it, ana for several months l am
sure his promise was kept. And during
those months my father died, stricken
down with malignant typhoid fever.
Six months after my bereavement
became Tom Hapgood's wife. could
not persuade him - quitdrink entirely
be said he couldn't look his friends in
the face, and refuse to sip glass Of wine
with them.
For six years after our marriage we
were happy, comparatively. There could
be no solid, substantial happiness for me
after the knowledge bad come to me that
Toms appetite WIS master. / know that
he tired to curb il but be would no.
crush il under his feet nor did he make
the attempt until il until it was too late.
Like man in a frail boat, approaching
Niagara, he did not make determined
effort until the fatal current had encon-
passed him, and his ability 10 reach the
shore WAS gone from hin. His appetite
had 50 grown upon him that he could not
break it of.
In his prime Tom gioried in his
strength, never realizing dream
ing that his strength was gradually, but
surely, going from hims When his eyes
were finally opened and, in bis lucid
intervals, ne saw his danger. the dread
current had taken him in its grasp, and
would not let him 60
"Oar child, Kate, was growing.
thought. beautiful, day ~ day and she
was as good and true as she was lovely.
At length she became old enough to feel
the cruel blight and in her prattiing.
childish way, with many kiss and many
q tender caress. she begged that papa
would not drink On, how have seen
the strong man weep and sob, as though
his heart were breaking, with the little
one held fast in his arms
But why prolong the painful recital =?
One day Tom came home and told me he
had been discharged from his place of
conductor, but they would still hire him
if he was willing to play under the lead
ership of another. A few short months
be tried to do his part as second vioIinist,
but, alas he WIS no longer the Tom
Hapgood of old. A few short months
and he had no place anywhere, save at
home and in the bar-room and you can
judge which of the two saw the most of
him.
Even after that he tried to reform ;
and Heaven knowns how tried to help
him But the man was gone the manly
strength that might once have enabled
him TO conquer was his no more. \ poor,
broken, shattered wreck, aged and de-
crepit before his time, he went on the
downward course. Can | tell you the
misery, the anguish, the utter desolAtion
Of his home, Of his wife and child, dur
ing those dark and dismal u.onths-aye,
years-years of such agony as only the
drunkard's family can know. Tongue
cannot tell il.
The end came at length. One dark.
dismal night in midwinter,.when l had
sat up till almost midnight waiting to
care for him when he eame-my little
Kate. then ten years old, had coaxed
away to her bed-on that drear night,
close upon the midnight hour, they
brought my poor Tom home to me-
dead dead knocked down by pass
ing team in the street, and lis life crush
ed out beneath the iron-shod hoofs and
ponderous wheels
Ralph, let Us say no more tonight
If you We're not so much liSe what Tom
was in his bright and buoyant youth,
with the same great heart, the same
strong passions, the same generous ma
ture-ah if you were different, l might
not have told you this story. Go home,
Ralph. and may God, and all the good
angels bless and keep you, now and ever
more If in the end, still refuse to you
the hand Of my precious kate-my JOY,
my life. my only stay of earth-you will
know why do il and am sure you
viii not blame me-
Ralph Porlett spoke not word in re-
ply. He took the widows hand, and
raised it reverently to his lips then he
tarned and went away.
Ralph did not act precipltately On
the fourth day after his visit to Mrs.
be called his mother into the
irawing-room, and closed the door be-
hind her.
= Mother he said, have PROPOSE
ion to make to you You spoke to me
on the subject of my drinking. / have
been trying az experiment-not that Of
citing wine alone-for that was done in
ltanter-but, trying Aow it would seem
% refuse the social glass-how it would
'eem to tell my friends point blanF, that
had done with it forever. And how DO
suppose / found it p
His mother was too utterly confound-
sd-too deeply nlystitied to speak, and
le went on
al viii tell you have found it not /
,nly the easiest thing in the world to DO,
,nt the grandest, and the proudesf, and
he best And what is more, | have al I
'eady got three OF my friends to join me. /
They have solemnly pledged themselves
hat / shall drink the first drop. They
viii never drink again If | don't. And,
low, my dear mother, what ! propose IS