The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1892-02-06

en- her Tor his own Dut ono hhot|
ago,
1t is no palatial home into
we are privileged tolook on this
winters evening, for John PA
not II rich man, only thriving
carpenter. with but his strong and
ing hands and honest heart to vi.
way in tho world. 1t is only one oil
the pleasant, cosy little homes scat
tered nil over our favored land. ns
bright and cheerful as Heavens bless
cd sunbcnmH, The warm, crimson
curtains ARE drawn closely TO shut
out the cold. the ruddy fire blazcs up
brightly. and the shaded lamp casts
its soft light around the room on neat
pretty furniture, books, and pictures;
on little Dick. the canary, who with
his head under his wing, dreams pcr-
hnps. of untir.d depths OF melody
with which to please his kind friends;
aud lastly the two central objects IA
the room. John Parker aud his wife,
and they nfr well worthy OF a moment y
observation.
She is plump little body, with
Golden hair, aud soft blue eyes, md "a
-wcot li,tl. mouth. with dimplcr that
play around IL like bHby's, John IL
not hnndsomc-no one would ever call
him thnt-but lao has good, true,
honest face. which one feels instinct
lively can bc trusted. Bertha had felt
so tn. first time she had ever looked
into his clear. dark eyes, and heard
his deep voice. aud IL was tbs happi-st
moment ot her life when hu had asked
her to lie his wife.
There had b--n show Of oppo-is
ton in tho family wncn IL was known
that III. young carpenter had declared
l,is love for Bertha. for her father was
n merchant. and tholFh, n mechanic
scarcely high enough IN the social scale
for lir daughter to contract n mar
riasr with: but bertha was firm. and
the point Wns soon yiclu-I TO her.
II don't know what you -ru 10 nd
miro in HIM" her sister. Mrs. Van
Dyke, who had married professional
man. said To her. one day,
II only know. Louise. thu, ! Low"
linn With alt nay heart" had b~rn
iicgthn'- uuansNcrAbl-Arsu aud
I'll, had never regretted her cupic~.
They had gone Immediately to house
keeping. aud was as happy ~ two
birds ia their little nest. iiu, - i-w
| months alter natt,as- ti-r,ha became
aware of n very littl. worm eating IN.
10 tho heart of til. rose Of hcr love,
Ntrsr- intervals. when John uf,cnt the
evening away from her. rs he cam.
home and she EnVn him It'll. greet.
ins kiss. when hts LIP, touched hers. n
inin, os!nr reached her r-s-mll.n. the
fumes al liquor. IL had been hut a
isin, suspicion. nj first. hat nov hal
hrromc CERTAINTY. aud. Of late. she
had detected Il moru frequent than
ever.
bertha know from sad experience the
dread ELECTS Of intrmprrnnr-. for her
only brother. thuIariiu. oi IL" family.
hal gone down to ndrInkHfd grave.
and with this sad memory ever
before her. was it not nnturaltur her To
feel tho terrible dread aud horror
which she did ~ the bnS- possihiiiiy
Of such fate IN store for her darling
hushnndf She had no; hruHChrsl tho
subject To him yet. hoping Il would
not he necessary that lee would SEQ
the folly Of this hahi; aud give It VIZ.
but oila,r she felt that she must make
Rn effort TO save him. and that soon.
John. dear size said. IN answer to
tho remarks he made at the commence
men, ~ our story, ht tho same tim"
coming around thr little center table.
SEATING herself on his kurr aud taking
hts inru bufwr-n her soft hands.
please don't worry this dear old head
about getting amy present for the ihis
yrnT. know you cannot well spar"
the monsy mud am quite rnniuni"d
with what I have. How could h-
dissatisfied" Elanrlngnrounh ih"rusy
room. and then her eyes returned to
their old resting plnrc-hIs iatc-wtth
a look more expressive than words.
My ..li.snrrihcing little darling
replied John, kissing the sweet lips 80
near his own. do you think would
let the holidays pass without -uine
LITTLE remembrance ! ana expecting
every day that eimons will pay me
for that las, Job Of work. then shall
have some funds ON hand, and bo able
to crafty some little wishes ! have
formed
We'll. we'll. n williul man may have
his way returned bertha. resigned.
~. pray what j. the news o.nisht'''
she continued. "Nou haven't read
me n word
ooh. nothing ~ particular replied
Join. taking up the discarded paper.
The newspapers seem to contain
more nonsense about these temper
nncc movements than anything else
just ntprcscnt.'
do you really think It nonsense
cal. john" askeI Bertha, earnestly.
TO n certain degree. yes. 1t Is well
enough to shut UP these low dram
shops. aud u good work Is no doubt
accomplished in trying to reclaim the
drunknris who frequent them; but
when Il comes TO closing the bars ut
our finest hotels. where these fellows
never ronrrccntc. and even crying
down the taking OF a social glass he
tween gentlemen whose self.respeyt
will never permit them to over-t.p
the bounds of aohrirty. then titiuk
these Temperance people are going too
far. and will do more harm than
good"
And yet I think. John. that total
abstinence j. the only safeguard for
anyone. We nre all SO prone to yield
to temptation. AMI when an honor
able man has pledged his word he will
keep it."
'Gcs. but n man cnuno' have much
strength Of mind who requires such
.a,cruari, As for fnr. think there