The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-10-20

n"u w pO"cE OVcr Her nuSO80O. III
she said q word about his bad habits,
or tried to draw him away from them,
he would get very angry, and 60 off
nd do worse than before. Now, long
indulgence in drinking had made his
fiery thirst SO strong that even Phoe be's
influence failed to keep him away
from the public house, where he spent
nearly all his money, and left his wife
and child to suffer at home for want of
food and warm clothing.
Still, love did not die in the heart of
his child, though she grew thin and
pale, and the shadow of sorrow that
was very bitter lay heavily on her
young face.
Very lonely and sad were her even
ings now. Her father rarely came in
before nine or ten o'clock, and then he
was so stupid with liquor that her only
pleasure in seeing him was to know
that he was at home instead of at the
tavern.
Love is strong and wise. A little
girl only five years old is tender and
weak; hut there may be in her heart
such deep and unsel6sh love as to
make her both wise and strong.
One night storm came up. The
wind blew, and the rain fell heavily.
A neighboring clock struck nine; and
as the sound died away the wind came
with rushing noise along the street,
rattling the shutters and driving the
rain upon the windows.
''Oh, DEAR" said little Phoebe, start
ing up from the floor. where she had
been lying with her head on an old
piece of carpet, II wish father was at
home"
And then she sat and listened to the
dreary wind and rain.
He'll get so wet, and the wind will
blow him about" The poor child knew
how weak he was after he had been
drinking and she felt sure he would
never be able to stand up against the
fierce wind that was blowing. When
this thought came to her mind, fear
crept into her heart; and fear began to
make pictures Of dreadful things. Now
she saw, In imagination, her father fall
headlong upon the pavement with no
one near to raise him up; now she saw
him tumbling into the swollen gutter,
and the tide of water rushing over him.
"Oh. dear, mother!" she cried, start.
ing up and going to the window, he'll
get drowned, he will! I must 20 for
him.
you 90 for him" Mrs. Gray might
we'll look astonished.
''Somebody must go for him. He'll
be drowned!'' said Phoebe, in distress.
'0h. no, dear; there's no danger OF
that" answered Mrs. Gray. trying to
pacify her child. Don't be afraid.
He'll not go into the street while it
rains so hard"
Are you sure of it, mother?'' asked
Phoebe.
Eyes, very sure"
But Phebe's heart would not rest
Ill look out just for little min
ute" said the child. lifting the latch.
AS she did SO, a gust Of wind and rain
swept into her face and almost blinded
her.
''Oh! how it rains!' she cried, shut.
ting the door quickly. But she held it
close only for a moment or two. The
thought of father out in such a storm
made her open it again. And this time
she bravely faced the wind and the
rain and looked along the pavement as
far as the next cerner, where street
lamp threw its circle of light.
"Oh! there he is!'' she exclaimed, and
then, shutting the door behind her,
ran toward the gas lamp, against
which she thought she saw q man
standing. But it was only the shadow
OF the lamp that she had seen; and her
heart sank in painful disappointment.
Down upon her bare head the heavy
rain fell, and the wind blew against
her so hard that she could scarcely
keep her feet.
Love for her father made her forget
herself and she stood close to the
lamPpost on the corner and looked up
and down the two streets that crossed
each other, hoping to catch sight of her
father. But no one was to be seen.
Far down one of the streets a light
shone from a tavern window.
Maybe he's there" she said, and ran
toward the light. Sometimes the wind
dashed SO hard in her face that she had
to stop to get her breath; but she kept
on. At last she got to the tavern door,
pushed it open. and went in.
A sight to startle the crowd of noisy.
intoxicated men was that vision of a
little child. drenched with rain, coming
In so suddenly upon them. There was
no fear in her face, but searching.
anxious look that ran eagerly through,
the group. =.
''Oh. father!' leaped from her lips, as
one of the company started forward.
and, catching her in his arms, ran ont
into the street. "a. >.
= Mr.. Gray's mind was confused. and
his body weak from drink, when
Phoebe came in, but when he bore her
forth in his arms, strange to say, he
was . sober man
my poor baby" he sobbed. as. a
few moments afterward, he laid her in
her mothers arms, and, kissing her
passionately, burst into tears. "Ny
poor baby! It's the last time.''
And it was the last time. What
persuasion. conscience, suffering.
shame, could not do, the love. Of = little,
child had thus wrought OH! love is
very strong.
Love for him had made her fearless
Of the night and the storm. But H.
whose love Is over Ill things made her
the instrument Of q wider good. She
was the means Of his conversion.
Startled and touched BY her sudden
appearances and disappearance In tho