The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-01-02

New Years Eve.

1t is New Years eve. A weary
miner. John IIOtteD, has reached his
cheerless home and seated himself In
a iickeLy chair, after his day OF toll.
His lily Kempt and poorly clad child
purpose room while his wife, In the
lean TO kitchen is preparing his even
Ing meal He Is not greeted bv the
joyous prattle OF rosy children or the
happy smile ofa winsOme wife, but
Is met only by squalor and want.
On his way home from the mines
he passed by the mansion ri the saloon
keeper and through the open windows
OF the brilliantly lighted parlOr saw q
gay throng of happy children in brill
liant holiday attire and caught a
glimpse Of the Christn as tree heavily
laden with It's costly aud glittering
presents GloOmy'aGd Respondent he
b ad sought his hove1 and been met at
the door by his vixen wife, who in
shrill tones berated him for not bring
Ing home some corn meal that the
children might have breakfast on
New Years morn.
Weary and sullen the miner sat and
needed not tie Innocent prattle of
the little twO-year old that climbed
about his knee, nor interiered 10 the
scrimmage that was going On between
two OF the older ones, while he watch
ed the slatternly form and pinched
and s0ured features of his wife as she
placed few broken dishes on the
bare table and told him to eat what
there was, that she had nothing else
a Inh fc tAH
with bitterness and envy He had
seen a glimpse of the elegance and
luxury In the mansion and had seen
the owners wife, elegantly attlred in
her warm winter robes, with two OF
her pretty children, assisted from the
carriage at the door and seen the
nu1dles of costly toys and hnery with
which the carriage was laden carried
ntO the house and was mentally com
pan & the two conditions of life.
Twenty years before he was vigo
rous, intelligent labOrer, earning
good wages and was happy and ambi-
tiOus. On New Years day he had led
to the altar the belle Of the hollow
md his happiness seemed complete.
He moved intOa comfortable cottage
with his Young and pretty wife, and
the future looked rosy for both. But
John had contracted the habit of
drinking a social glass and spending
his evenings at the saloon with a lnt
Of jolly, registering companions. Fo"
time his new f0urd bliss kept him
away from his old haunts but soon his
vife's fearful face and pleading ex
pOstnlations could not deter him
Children came to bless their home hui
were only considered as so many ad-
ditional cares.
His earnings became smaller and
his wife was compelled TO wash for
her more prosper Gus neighb borS for her
scant clothing and coarse food. The
family was elected from the comfort
able home and forced to seek shelter
as best they could in deserted cabin.
John spent his evenings in a low dog
very with his low associates while his
wife mended and repaired cast off
clothing for her children. To night
something had aroused thoughts of
the past IL his mind and after swal-
lowing a few morsels of food, instead
Uf taking his greasy cap and seeking
his associates in the grOg shop, he re
mained sitting by the table.
He looked at the careworn and bag
gard cOuntenance of his wife and her
coarse and scant apparel and contrast
I'd her present looks and condition
with those of when he married her
and promised to love and protect. His
feelings of bitterness for his more
prosperous neighbors began to give
way to bitter censure Of his own con-
duct He cOntrasted the wages he
received then with his present earn
ings. and remembered how his time
was spent in the groggery that SHOULD
have been spent with his family and
how his hard earned money had gone
to enrich the saloon man, while his
once dear wife and innocent children
were deprived of even the necessities
of life.
Then be called his wife to his side
and for the. first time in years spoke
in pleasant tones and called her Kit
tie, the name by which she was known
in gjrlhood. strange expression
stole over her face and she gave John
look Of tenderness and love he had
not behelCi for years" "Kittie, "he said,
twenty years ago l promised to love
and protect you through life. How
well have done 1t you and God alone
know. l have violated every obliga-
tion OF manhood and bitterly wrong
ed you and the little ones you have
brought me. From pretty, young
girl you have become haggard and
worn, all by my hear5lessuess and
neglect.
"As 1 came by the saloonkeeper's
home this evening, saw his wife and
children dressed 10 their silks and furs
while comfort, elegance and mirth
was within their home. Then / real
ized our misery and what caused IL.
Kittie, this night is the turning point
10 nv life. No more of NV wages
shall ever go TO enrich the dealer in
strong drink. No more shall INV wife
and children be allowed to suffer 10
poverty and want thai the saloon
keepers may reyel in luxury.
"My vow is taken and nothing
can ever cause me TO break it, Kit
tie raised fearful face TO his in
,yl,tch ha still saw a Olimmer of the