Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-01-03
A NEW YEAR STORY.
From the Country Gentleman

FROM the Country tfentlclndH
The LIST of January had dawned clear
and cold, but was closing in d setting OF
gloom, when Sarah Percival holding her
babe in her arms, stood at the window
Of her sitting room peerlng uneaslly
through the gathering darkness down
the road toward the village. AS the
night came down, and she could no
longer see, she turned from the win
low with sigh and tried to amuse the
two little ones, who were clamoring for
attention Her heart was so heavy,
as she sat in the freight, that a tear
stole down her cheek, and she could
not shake off the fear of impending
trouble.
Soon the sound of her husbands foot
steps aroused her and she FASTENED to
the door, intending to give him an af-
fectionate welcome. But she was coldly
and cruelty repulsed.
''Look at this-and this-and this !"
ssid he, as he threw down upon the
table three bills which had been taken
from the post-Otfice. PAY them if you
can; can't. How we're going to live
through the winter ] don't know. [ have
mind to shoot myself
Mary hurried from the room to give
orders for supper, taking the baby with
her, having q sort of fear that the father
in his present savage mood would injure
the child in some way: Che was SO fond
of the other children that she had no
fears Of them(. AS she paced the floor
of the dining-rOom, hugging tie child
closely, she resolved to make an effort
to change the old order OF things
in fact, 10 institute ameasure of reform.
d.. 1x-
cruel husband and father; he and
Mary began life very happily, but he
was not fond Of work, neither did he
enjoy seeing his wife work. AS time
passed on, and the little ones came
rapidly, it was he who insisted on keep
ING Il servant the year round, although
Mary protested-on the ground that
thew could not afford the additional eN-
pCnse. He also insisted upon keeping
Il bow, although the winter work on his
farm was not so heavy but that he could
nave done it himself. With boy to do
the work he had a great deal of leisure
in the winter season, and as he found 1t
rather mGnotOnOus to sit IN the house
and read from morning till night, day
after day, he gradually fell into the
habit of Harvesting his horse for
drive to the village store to hear the
news.
The path of idleness always leads
downward, and SO quick traveller was
Charles PerciVal that it was not long be-
fore he could smoke as many pipes, eN-
pectOrate as much tobacco juice, take as
many drinks and spin as many yarns as
some men who had occupied the barrel
heads st the grocery for many successive
winters.
Mary observed the downward prog
ress. and her heart grew heavy; yet
she dared not demonstrate lest she might
utter the one word too many, which
would defeat her aim. She knew that
her husband was neglecting his family,
and she knew that their finances must
soon become involved if matters con-
tinuod to grow worse. She therefore
kept her home pleasant and cheerful,
made herself and the children as at
tractive as possible, and waited and
hoped for Il change.
That night--tho night of the LIST of
Januarv--was the eliminating point.
Although her heart was breaking, she
gave orders to Bridget to set the table
with the best napery, and bring from
the cellar the best preserves; the table
was made as bright and appetizing as
cleanliness and good food could make it.
When she called her husband to supper
the cloud had partly vanished from his
face, the result of the caresses and
bright speeches of the little ones.
The supper pleased him, and by the
me the meal was flushed he seemed to
have forgotten the episode which had
nearly crushed his wife. But Mary had
not forgotten, and while getting the
tittle ones ready for bed nerved her
self to speak BY the time the babies
were asleep she was ready fo~ the
ordeal.
Charles" she said. TREMENDOUSLY, a
little frightened at the sound of her
own voice, ''put down your paper,
please, for a few moments; have a
plan TO propose to YOU
The old frown came back to his face
as he said: ooh, know what it is; you
want me to discharge John and do the
work myself
Eyes, Charles, and not only John but
Bridget"
Are you crazy, Mary? You would
be sick in bed in week, and the