The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-08-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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weather she would have lacked cour-
age to adhere to her resolution. But
to take her delicate darling from his
early morning and leave him to the in
different care of an old woman during
the long working hours of the day
was something she shrank from with
all the force of her affectionate ma
ture. She had not belonged to the
Rock Street Recreation Club and at
tended the debates on popular and
practical subjects which were held
there twice week to no purpose;
she knew something of the high death
rate of her own town and the chief
cause of 1t, and her little Tom was not
going to be added to the great num-
Der of weakly children in Loomshire
If she could help it,.
my place is at home, and at home
I'll bide." she reiterated doggedly to
all her husbands vituperations, but a
| sullen expression, hitherto unknown,
| gradually crept over her pleasant,
open countenance
After that only God knew what she
endured for her lips were dumb con-
| corning her humiliation. There were
days when her purse was empty. and
her cupboard bid fair to outvie that of
| Mother Hubbard, so scantily were its
| shelves supplied by the man CD of
the house. But Margaret Alice. thrift
ty by nature, had the knack of max
| ing really appetiZing meal out of
very little, and always there was tie
child to bring comfort to her heart
when even her brave spirit faltered.
! 1t is marvellous how cruel a man may
he without striking a single blow
The tongue, an unruly member at
| best, is apt to lacerate its victumes
| numerically when let loose in un-
goyernable fury.
The trying winter passed and de-
lightfully balmy spring followed, but
the girls physical strength had sunk
to very low ebb, and at last there
came a day when she felt too crushed
and weary to battle any longer with
the forces of evil which had risen up
against her.
Little Tom was ailing, too, for
sheer want of the care which had
been his from his birth until now;
and when his grandmother-who had
obtained a slight inkling of the true
state of things through a kindly, in
quisitive ieghbor-insisted upon
their coming home to her, the hus-
band, more ashamed than he would
have owned even to himself, but
fiercely resenting his mother-in-law'
interference, declared that he would
emigrate to Canada, and his wife
could go or stay. as best pleased her.
After a few weeks at home Mar
garet Alice went back to uer looms,
while little Tom ran great danger
maiden aunts, who bickered vigor-
ously among themselves for the priv
ilege of nursing his small highness.
In Loomshire the great cotton
mills close for week during the hot
weather, and the busy workers mi
CRATE to the sea or country, as their
wills incline, to refresh themselves
and gather strength for the coming
winter. Margaret Alice's youthful sis
ters were no exception to this wise
rule, and great were their prepara-
tions as the time approached for the
annual exodus. The worse than hus-
bandless wife pleaded earnestly to be
allowed to remain quietly at home
with her hoy, but her not unnatural
desire was met with loud voiced op-
position.
The child needed sea breezes more
than anybody, and Peg would just
spoil the outing altogether if she re-
fused to go with them. Afford it,
indeed, when they had been paying
into the holiday fund the whole year
long, and everybody knew quite well
that what would keep five could be
made to do the same for six.
After that Margaret Alice could
do nothing less than pack her scanty
wardrobe; and baby Tom crowed de-
lightfully at sight Of the big waves
which came dashing over the prom
enade at Slverport.
Margaret Alice was not what would
be termed religious woman-her
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