Year: 1877

| "
Tramp, tramp again went the weary feet
pausing at each saloon, the man begging
| just glass; but ne was known, and he was
refused. The barkeepers kindly tried 10 get
him to go home, some of them remembering
him in better days; but home was not the
place Bill Curry wanted to go now. He
could see his wife-her tear-stained face. the
sad look that hovered around her lips the
pitiful eyes, the gray hairs brushed back
from her brow. He did not want to meet
her. and he looked behind him at every
crossing, expecting to find her following
him, for when the nights grew cold and bad
she would slip after him and keep him
from lying down in the rain
being arrested. She was once pretty,
eighteen years ago, but now she was wan
and thin. She was a drunkard's wife, and
her heart was breaking. o, il the woman
who bears proudly a husbands name; who
waits in a comfortable, happy home for that
husbands coming; whose children are shell
tered by loving fathers care, could but for
one day know what the wife Of q drundard,
the mother of drunkard's children suffers
from her heart would go up a prayer of
gratitude that would never cease. III she
could but know what it is to shrink from the
brutal blows OF a man crazed with liquor;
to have railing and curses for her daily por-
ton, pity and sympathy would thrill the
heart of the wife whose lips are pressed.by
kisses and whose every trouble is shared by
a tender, attentive husband.


1t was half past o'clock and the rain beat
colder, the gas of the street lamp fiickered
lower and the darkness closed down thicker
and blacker, but still in the shadow crouched
the man who was fighting the raging passion
in his breast. "Tll freeze here, 1 am so
cold; but swear will not go home. l am
going to have some whisky tonight il l
steal to get the money to buy it. With all
the whisky there is in this city it is pity
they can not give poor fellow a glassful;
but curse them, they would see me die at
their doors first Who is that woman there?
l believe it is Annie What makes her fol-
low me? l don't care if they do arrest me;
but she hangs on to me and gets me home as
if were worth saving. Where has she
gone? l can't see her now. Supposing
something should happen to her some night,
I'd be to blame. I'll make her stay at home
after this if 1 have to beat her. am
not a baby for her to be eternally at
my heels. Say, hello Jack: wait minute.
Where are you going? | want to borrow
quarter; 1 will pay you in day or two.
Don't refuse me, have given you money
many time. Well, a dime then. No
| -, N
nickel, or come treat me. / am sick TONIGHT
and dead broke, and / want to get some
whisky to keep off cold and this chill that
is coming on. Well, go on then, ! never
thought, Jack Kelly, that you would go
back on friend" and slowly he walked
away.


'Wait minute Bill. Here, / want to
ell you something; I've taken the pledge"
That's good. like that, ha! hal hal Yes,
know you have. You have been drinking
whisky for ten years, Jack, and you don't
come none of your pledge game on me;
don't believe you" "Step here, Bill"
and they walked to a light. There's
my ribbon "There is more red on
your nose than there is in that rag. You
are pretty temperance fellow, wearing a
red ribbon, putting on airs and making be-
lieve you are highly moral. Well, you are
| too high toned to talk TO me, but when you
get down to the old level, and can. give a
friend a nickel, I'll call. helped you when
you were poor and sick, but you turn away
from me now. If that's what your temper
ance movement means, do not believe
want any"


Jack Kelly was busy thinking. This man
had been his friend when no one else would
assist him; he had given him employment
and money; he had been generous and kind
and yet he had refused to give him nickel
''But that means glass of whisky; 1T means
| curses for his wife, a sad night
and a dreary tomorrow; it means a
step nearer destruction. No, 1 will not
give it to him. 1t may seem cruel but l
can not. will not do it. But I'll get him
TO go into the hall and maybe that will do
him some good. 81 say, Bill, / have business
up here and il you will go along I'll see
about the whisky afterward. 1t is warm and
nice up there" The prospect OF drink
captured poor Curry and he went along will
lingly until he got to the door, and then he
said quickly, isn't this the temperance
meeting2r Eyes, but come go in, you can
sit by the door and it will be all right"
He was too cold to demur, and they went in
Bill slipped into a chair and tried to believe
he was out OF sight. He brushed his hair
the best he could with his hand, and then
pulled his coat close about his
throat TO hide his soiled shirt.
He felt out of place until he
saw others as ragged, as wretched