Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-04-19
waAT V HIM.

the voices o.. ;iyo of a~- sehoolmates,
who were stan mr. :n.i,s The fence
that surrounded tn hrn. 81 Mills.
Lucy could not heap bai h-.i what
they said. as they were 81? aNing IN
quite a high key.
"Oh, Mamiel Did you see Mr.. Fair
banks going past a few minutes aso?7
That was Laura Mills voice.
Il should think l did" replied Mamie
Lori alphabetically. Isn't it Just dso-
r3ee laura. the way he drinks?"
"ss. l.c, cd! My papa says if he
kpe~, s.u. be-. hecome-a-s0tl'
"Qa, l. rr. what's that?" asked
Name d 10 ied AZ .pnts.
'Oh. as IS ,1 q ulin drinks and
drinks, Il a. a-t ne becomes a sOlf'
said Laura. iu r,s ve.y MY papa
ought to know eca.l~e he's a doctor.
I don't think ! are 10 'sociate with
Lucy Fairbanks any more, do your"
mo, indeed" said Mamie, who gen.
orally agreed with her friend in every
thing. Little Lucy, with a heavy
heart hurried home, filed with won
dering thoughts. What did her papa
drink TO make it probable that he would
become that mys~teriously awful thing,
a s0tg And why should these two girls,
who had always been friendly before,
make up their minds not to associate
with her on accoun of her papa's ten
dency to become a sot? Why did her
papa want to drink? Was it because
he was so very thirsty, and II he ods
thirsty, what harm could there be in
drinking?
Lucy reached her home, a neat-look-
ing white cottage in a small yard
Opening the door she San in, bursting
into a storm of tears and sobs. Her
mother came out of the bedroom, and
in surprise inquired the cause of her
tears.
Lucy tried to tell her, but the baby
awoke and cried, and there Ia no OPP
p~ortunity just then for the child TO un-
burden her heart
you may set the table for supper,
Lucy" said her mother, rocking the
baby as she spoke. Your papa is not
very well and has gone to bed"
as papa very sick, mammal"
mo, dear, he'll be all right in the
uiOl nAnks odAd MIr+ AdiiOdnho VIM
looked sad and troubled. They had
supper and Lucy tried to study her
lesson for the next day, but
her heart was so heavy that she could
fix her mind on the words. When
bedtime came, she kissed her mother,
and going into her little room knelt by
the neal little bed and prayed.
20 Lord, bless papa and m and
and if papa gets thirsty again,
keep him from drinking so much.
Make me a good girl, for Jesus sake,
Then she went to bed, where
cried herself to sleep.
MIR. Fairbanks appeared at the break
fast table his usual self, gentle and
in his words to his wife and
children. Lucy watched to see if he
thirsty. but he drank only one
of coffee as usual After break
fast he went away to business and
Lucy helped her mother with the work
till it was time to go to school.
As she entered the school-yard she
Laura Hills and Mamie Lord stand
ing together, and with them Lula Ham
who was Lucy's special friend.
The two LUIS" they were often called
Lucy smiled, and was about to speak
when Laura put her arm around Lulu
md drew her away. while Mamie NUT
cred something about ''drunkards'
children"
Lucy's eyes filed with tears, and she
hurried up the steps and to her seat
She could not study. and failed both in
arithmetic and spelling, and was kept
n at recess. At noon she heard one of
he girls say she was going to have a
but was not going to invite Lucy.
rhe little girl felt that she was Stunned
" all the world, and when She tried to
her lunch the food seemed to choke
Ter.
As it was Friday, Miss Lee, according
o her custom, read the scholars a story.
time it was about a little girl
whose father drank whisky and abused
lis family. till one night he turned poor
title Mary out of doors. Lucy listened ,
the story with terrified interest, her
scarlet with excitement her
yes open to their fullest extent What +,
+ her papa become like this unnatural
of little Mary, and should abuse !
Ter mamma and baby and herself? The
aea took such complete possession of ,
ler mind hat she could think of moth
ng else. .
She felt afraid to speak of her fears /,
o her mother, and brooded over the !
till the sight of her father threw i
er into a state of nervous terror. She /,
ould not eat nor sleep, and her mother !
vas very anxious about the child. ]
One evening Mr.. Fairbanks came
SO much the worse for liquor that ]
e fell over the threshold. When his !
tried to help him he answered her !
0 roughly that Lucy screamed aloud :
q horror, and ran to her own room, :
there she threw herself on the floor, :,
and sobbing in her agony. i
here her mother found her, and put !
to bed. where she tossed all night, :
iuttering and crying ia her sleep In !,
no morning she was in a ravinr favar I