The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-06
own frail human strength to depend

upon.
Come, don't hesitate. Drink it,"
said the older man. you have been
listening to some OF those fanatics,
who trace every evil OF humanity to
a glass of beer or a drink OF whiskey.
One glass never hurts any one"
"Only as medicine, then" said
William as he drained the glass.
| After few words upon the bust
ness that caused him to call, he
started for home. He was at a point
of utter exhaustion. He had eaten
nothing since morning. The strong
whiskey affected him strangely; his
old craving came back; without fully
realizing what he was doing, he STEP
ped into saloon.
Eleanor waited long for him that
night. In the dim light of the early
morning, he came home. He was
badly intoxicated
We will mercifully draw a curtain
over the years that followed. While
this man, with his skill, with his
splendid talents, with the keen ap-
probation of all things good and
beautiful, was drifting over the preci-
pice of drunkenness with open eyes
and passive will William Leanard S
downward course began when his
friend urged upon him that fatal
glass. In time his practice fell away
Patients came only to find him out
or in no condition to meet them. His
income diminished with his practice.
Eleanor, even with the most careful
economy, could no longer meet the
family expenses. There were two
more mouths to feed now; tiny bit
of baby girl, and sturdy boy.
Eleanor saw that if her children were
to have food and clothes she must
become the bread winner She easily
found music pupils and while her
mother cared for the little ones, she
went out, day by day, to earn the
family support.
In the course of a few years, Will
liam had become a confirmed drunk
ard, seldom perfectly sober. He was
often ugly when drinking and Eleanor
was urged to leave him. She hoped
|
see the condition into which he had
fallen and by the very horror of it, be
reused to assert his manhood.
Eleanor sat mending one of the
children's dresses one evening when
the door bell rang. She had changed
sadly; she had felt the keen touch
Eof' sorrows finger What she had suf-
1I@ 81
she had given her deepest affections,
grow into common drunkard, only
the Searcher of Hearts, could ever
measure. YEARLY she laid down her
work and answered the bell.
Good evening. Is this Mrs. Lean
ard?" asked a man in the uniform of
police officer.
Eyes. What can l do for your
Her tone was even enough, but
Eleanor had grown so deadly white
that the man was frightened.
May I come in?' he said II have
news for you. / am sorry, but I have
warrant for your husbands arrest
"What has he done?' she asked.
Es'Tell me the truth! I can bear any
thing except suspense she added, as
the man hesitated and glanced with
pity and admiration into her white
face
"There was some kind of a row in
the saloon at the corner" replied the
officer "a bottle was thrown and
killed man. A fight over a game of
cards. They accuse the Doctor of
Throwing it. You know he has been
drinking pretty heavy lately.'
"Are they sure he threw it?"
+ Eyes"
'The man died instantly"
eyes"
Without a sound Eleanor dropped
to the floor. The family was aroused
and a doctor called. After a hasty
examination, he advised sending for
a priest. Eleanor gained conscious
ness for time. Father Burke admin
istered the last sacraments, and in the
grey of the early morning Eleanor
Leanard's soul returned to the hands
of it's Maker.
'She has had heart trouble for a
;, long time" said the doctor. Months
ago I warned her that any sudden
shock would prove fatal"
Goods will be DONE" said Father
Burke. "She has fought the good
fight. She has been true to her God,
to her marriage vows, and to her chill
dren. May God be merciful to her
poor little children now"
The thread of our story leads us to
a western mining camp, Christmas
eve. Outside, white mantle Of snow
has covered all nature, in preparation
for the Holy night; within one Of the
rude camps dance is in noisy prog.
ress. Men and women, in jest and
song, dance and the foaming glass, are
! trying to hush the memories that clus-
ter around the blessed night.
4 One there is who heeds them not.
, Lying upon pile of blankets, he looks