Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-12

don't know where all the money -
coming from. It's enough to run a man
crazy"
John was now seated on the edge OF
the wood box near the stove, staring
straight in front of him, apparently al
nothing. BY this time Mary had finished
carving the last joint of the huge bird
and placed the dish and it's contents on
the top shelf of the cupboard Taking
her seat near John she continued:
THE good Lord has prospered us this
year as never before. our crops have
been bountiful and the prices good. Tho
children are all well fed and clothed, ant
all in school. Miss Janet told me yester-
day that they were all doing nicely IN
their work. Hunter is happy now thai
he has a new Sunday suit with long
trousers, and his yoke of calves, which
he bought with his cotton patch. And
Ruth and Amy are very much pleased
with their new clothes and their chick
ems, and the doll house which Hunter
built for them. And, John, we can't
expect so much in one year. We must
be satisfied with what we have and try
to do just a little more next year So
many more things than we had year
ago. But John, the most we have to be
thankful for is the great change that
has come into your life. How did it all
happen? | know l have been praying
for YOU since the first time you came
nome drunk. That was when Amy was
a baby. Everything is so different now
You never come home drunk any more.
You work so hard now and stay at home
at night. You go to church on Sunday
and take such a great interest in home
and the children. You are better to me.
/ feel like getting right down here on
my knees and thanking God for all
these good things. Tell me, John, how il
all happened and what made you change
So"
John Brady leaned forward and, taking
his wife's hands in his, began. He talk
ed more eloquently and "more fluently
than she had ever heard. While he talk
ed the tears trickled down his manly
cheeks He told her the incident which
occurred on their front porch one year
ago. How he had been an unobserved
spectator at his own trial. He was charg'
ed and accused, among other things,
with the offense of infidelity to his wife
and children failing to provide for them
the neceSsaries of life, vagrancy, diSpos-
ing of property which did not belong to
him, being a parasite upon his family.
disloyalty and habitual intoxication. He
was arraigned before the bar of justice,
and tried, not in a Juvenile court which
would have been so appropriate in his
case, but before a juvenile tribunal COM
posed of three of his own children. II
sat mute throughout the whole of thu
trial, listening to his own flesh and blood
charge and surcharge, prosecute and de-
fend, and finally convict and pass JudS-
ment upon him. 1t had not been sem
sational trial, as judged by the standards
of a court of law. But it was altogether
lacking in its emotional effect, for when
his twelve-year-old daughter, who haC
assisted in his prosecution and convic-
ton appealed to the others to suspend
his entence and place him on probation
it touched his hardened heart and caused
his eyes to overflow for the first time
in years. Let us give father another
chance. Let's join hands and ask God
to make him ashamed of the way NJ
treats mother and abuses us, and if he is
not better at the end of next year, Bud
can tell him to hike
These were the words of his daughter
the living picture OF that true and good
woman, who had been more than a wife
to him, when she was Ruth's age.
These words have been constantly in
my mind since that. eventful afternoon
one year ago. And may God help me
to live according to the terms of my
probation.
Warne n. c. PEARL SWANSON.
AFTER FIFTEEN XEAES.
Dear Miss Thomas: The piece l saw
in regard to the three children and their
thoughts about Thanksgiving day is
much like my home has been for fifteen
years My education is limited and this
is the tirst.time L ever tried to write for
a paper, but the piece impressed me so,
thought / would give my views on
the matter. My opinion is that he will
never quit the dreadful habit. ] have
children, girls and boys, about grown
and we have prayed and plead for bet
ter times, but to no avail. He will
make fair promises, but they won't last
We will get in good heart and he will
go up town and get with the old crowd
and they will talk and plan and the
temptation is too great to resist ana he
comes home and all our hopes are shat
tered again.
After fifteen years experience my
hopes are all gone. The only hope for
them is to shun bad company. which
they won't do.
May the good Lord send a change on
those little children's father and may
they have a happy Christmas, is my
wish. MRS. HOPELESS.
GIVE CARD SHOWER.
Dear Mrs. Thomas: