The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-03-30
WHAT SAVED HIM.


the voices of two of her schoolmates,
who were standing inside the fence
that surrounded the home of Dr. Mills.
Lucy could not help but hear what
they said, as they were speaking in
quite high key.
'Oh Mamie! Did you see Mr.. Fair
banks going past few minutes ago?"
That was Laura Mills voice.
II should think did" replied Mamie
Lord, emphatically. Isn't it Just Gao-
fteL Laura, the way he drinks?"
Eyes, indeed! My papa says if he
keeps on, he'll become-a-Sot!"
"Oh, Laura, what's that?" asked
Mamie in Mortified accents.
'Oh, it's when a man drinks and
drinks, till at last he becomes a SOL"
said Laura, impressively. my papa
ought to know because he's doctor.
l don't think l care to 'sociate with
Lucy Fairbanks any more, do you?"
mo, indeed" said Mamie, who gen.
orally agreed with her friend in every
thing. Little Lucy, with a heavy
heart, hurried home, filled with won
dering thoughts. What did her papa
drink to make it probable that he would
become that mysteriously awful thing,
n set? And why should these two girls,
who had always been friendly before,
make up their minds not to associate
with her on account of her papa's ten
dency to become sot? Why did her
papa want to drink? Was it because
he was so very thirsty, and if he uds
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 ran 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 was no OPP
portunity just then for the child to I'M
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"
rs papa very sick, mammal"
mo, dear, he'll be all right in the
morning" said Mrs. Fairbanks, who
looked sad and troubled. They had
supper and Lucy tried to study her
spelling lesson for the next day, but
her heart was SO heavy that she could
not fix her mind on the words. When
bedtime came, she kissed her mother,
and going into her little room knelt by
the neat little bed and prayed.
Y 1
baby, and if papa gets thirsty again,
keep him from drinking so much.
Make me good girl, for Jesus sake,
amen" Then she went to bed, where
she cried herself to sleep.
Mr.. Fairbanks appeared at the break
fast table his usual self, gentle and
tender in his words to his wife and
children. Lucy watched to SEQ if he
seemed thirsty, but he drank only one
cup 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
saw Laura NJ ills and Mamie Lord stand
ing together, and with them Lula Han
non, 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
and drew her away, while Mamie NUT
tered something about ''drunkards'
children"
Lucy's eyes filed with tears, and she
hurried up the steps and to her seat
She could not stndy. and failed both in
arithmetic and spelling, and was kept
in at recess. At noon she heard one of
the girls say she was going to have
party but was not going to invite Lucy.
The little girl felt that she was Stunned
by all the world, and when she tried to
eat her lunch the food seemed to choke
her.
AS it was Friday, Miss Lee, according
to her custom, read the scholars story.
This time it was about a little girl
whose father drank whisky and abused
his family, till one night he turned poor
little Mary out of doors. Lucy listened
to the story with terrified interest, her
cheeks scarlet with excitement, her
eyes open to their fullest extent What
if her papa become like this unnatural
father of little Mary, and should abuse
her mamma and baby and herself? The
idea took such complete possession of
her mind that she could think of moth
ing else.
She felt afraid to speak of her fears
to her mother, and brooded over the
matter till the sight of her father threw
her into state of nervous terror. She
could not eat nor sleep, and her mother
was very anxious about the child
One evening Mr.. Fairbanks came
home so much the worse for liquor that
he fell over the threshold When his
wife tried to help him he answered her
so roughly that Lucy screamed aloud
in horror, and ran to her own room,
where she threw herself on the floor,
moaning and sobbing in her agony
There her mother found her, and put
her to bed. where she tossed all night,
muttering and crying in her sleep. In
the morning she was in raving fever
sMd Dr. Mills was sent for.