Year: 1871

leaped once more up the wide chimney
she resumed her seat !; and for some
minutes no further words were spoken


Finally, Ellen drew more closely tc
her mothers side, and taking one OF
her hands she said:


Mother, if / must leave you in the
morning you must tell me the story
which you promised I should hear be
fore l went away. ..


Mrs. Anderson clasped her hands
upon her bosom, and bowed her head
till her face was hidden in the shadow
stDear mother, I do not mean to
pain you; but, o, must know some
thing about nay father before I go out
in the world. The doubt of uncer.
iainty are more burthensome than. q
knowledge of the truth can possi-
bly, be If he--even-wasg guilty Of


Hush, my child And as the
mother thus spoke, she put forth her
hand andrested it upon her daughters
head. Il will tell you, this story. II
I knew that your father was dead ]
would let the grave hide the sad rec
ord but I do not know it,


The storm was increasing in fury,
and as the driving snow came piling
about tie Windows and the chill wind
come creeping in through cracks and
crannies, the mother and child drew
nearer to the fire, and shuddered as
some giant blast hurled its load OF
snow upon the quivering panes.


%, Ellen-it was 80 on such night
as this, thirteen years ago. The
storm was riding in the heavens, and
the white snow was driving upon the
earth It was on such a night that
your father left ust i'5 s4-s 'l'L.i'' s'Ssz
Elfens you are to go away tomor-
row and as we don't know what may
happen beyond that. T shall tell you
all about your father 1t won't be in
many words, darling; and if it is
dark you will find that it might have
been worse. Five and twenty years
ago there was not another young man
in all this section so generally liked,
his social and generous qualities, as
was Thomas anderson. He was the
very picture of manly beauty, and a
type of all that was devoted. When
1 became his wife / was envied by my
friends; and I certainly felt proud and
happy. For two years our lite passed
in joy and sunshine, and not a cloud
rested upon us. A little cher.;b had
come to bless us, whom we named
Freddy; and think Thomas held
that little one in his heart as some
thing heavenly and sacred. But the
boy died and sorrow came npon U.s.
My husband had always been free to
drink wine when he pleased, though
until now I had never seen him dis
guised with liquor.


Freddy died in June and in Sep
tember following, Thomas was thrown
out of work by the failure of the com
pany who employed him-not only
thrown out of work but he lost much
n onev which he had invested in the
concern. The long. cold winter pass
ed, and he had no work to do; and
during the winter you were born. In
the spring he had work again on a
large mill, Which was being built in
an adjoining town, and through the
warm months he was steady at his
work, though could see that the hab-
it Of dram drinking was growing upon
him. When the mill was done he
was out of work again, through the
long winter, he was out of employ
ment. He sank very low-very low !!
Summer came again, and he worked
some; but the evil habit was upon him
so strong that he became wholly its
slave. One night-just such a night
as this-when tie &ind Dlew and the
driving snow filled and chilled the air
he came home sadly Intoxicated. =
Rum had made your father crazy,
and he .swore because you were not in
bed and when you began to cry he
snatched YOU from my arms l started
forward to grasp you from him, and
he struck me blow that fe)led me to
the foor-how long remained so 1
do not know. When l returned to
consciousness Twas upon my bed |;
you were upon my pillow by my side,
and some of my neighbors were bend
ing over me. The story was soon told:
Our neighbors heard the cries. of my
child, and came in, finding me on the
floor, with my husband bending over
me, trying 10 revive me, whilo the
babe lay crying upon, the hearth
Other hell. .was called. and when it
was known that was out of danger
Thomas left the house. They told me,
darling that he bent over ME and
kissed me-kissed twice-kissed, and
groaned as though in pain and anguish,
and then he went away-he went out
into the storm Ellen out into just
such a storm as this-thirtccn years
ago-and ! have never seen him since


And you have never heard from
himP


Never q word my child


Don't cry so, mother


%, ] cannot help it. Alas. my pre-
oious child, tears are my only solace
when this sad story occupies my mind


But you have forgiven him?'


Forgiven him o, how could I re-
frain He kissed me when he went
away! He was broken down and
lost. He struck his wife, and he dar-
ed not meet her again. .


Perhaps whispered Ellen, he died
in the stcrm.'


4 have thought it might be SO, dar-
ling but his body was never found
Hark what was that?'


4 heard nothing, mother


There it is again! Did you not
hear that p


1t was the bowling of the blast;
you are frightened


No, no Ellen, 1 am not frightened;
butt may have been deceived. 1t
Is very cold. .s