Year: 1872

irritable, and nearly always happy. Lucia
was not quite so strong as formerly anxiety
for her husband, aud a feeling Of dread, sell.
dom absent from her, had worn somewhat
upon her health bat she did her work as
usual, was cheerful aud good-tcmpercd never
calling herself sick Once in a while Harvey
came home much the worse for drink, but his
wife never reproachcd him. She saw plainly
that the habit grew upon him, but she did not
see how to stay or prevent the fearful end
She held herself in torturing silence, praying
constantly, bearing bravcly.


AT length, one rainy winter night, as 81 Q
sat alone, working upon some tiny garments,
Tor God was sending them another child. she
was startled by the heavy tread Of many feet
upon the porch. There was no knock, only
d heavy thud on the porch and the quick
sculiling Of feet down the gravel walk. Then
the gate slammed aud all was still, until she
heard low groan just outside the door.


10 horror Of fear aud dread she throw il
open, to iiud Harvey sitting 10 heap upon
the sill, dreuched with the rain aud help
essly drunk. Shuddering aud sobbing at the
sight she somehow managed to drag him in-
to the sitting room, aud thrust a sofa cushion
under his head Then she saw that his face
was gashed and swollen aud the handsome
brown curls she loved 30 well all dabbled
with blood For a moment the sight sickened
her, aud she sank swooning beside him on
the floor, hut presently by a superhuman effort
recalling herself, she arose aud went noise
lessly absut the room, obtaining water aud
I l.u. .l..t 4 .ff IL Il 1
neediul for his comfort and safety, while the
stupor should last. After all was done that
could be, she mended the FIRE, and sat down
upon her desolate hearth to await the day.
She kept her poor face turned away from
him, aud sat there weeping bitterly the whole
night long AT dawn she crept ghostlike
from the room, and fastened the door that the
children might not wander in aud see.


There was an aunt Of Harveys, Martha
Rose, staj ing with them that winter, thor
oughly good aud helpful woman. When she
came down in the gray Of the morning to help
as usual with the breakfast, she found poor
Lucia stretched upon the bed, stiff and cold,
aud perfectly iuseusblc with the key Of the
sitting-room in her hand Following this
cew she soon knew all, and something more
than Lucia did namely, that the wife herself
was iu great danger from having received
terrible fright.


As soon as possible she called physician,
Who after doing his best, could give her very
little hope. Wher, late in the afternoon,
Harvey, having slept himself sober, came out
OF the sitting room, it was to fnd his wife
raving with delrium. aud the doctor and two
or three Of his neighbors with Martha watch
ing over her with such intense anxiety that
nobody thought of noticing him. Then, as
he gradually realized the truth, he went up
and down like one dared, calling upon God to
pardon him, and not to let his darling suffer
for bis sin But there it is, the strongest Of
all arguments against evil doing we can
never tell upon what beloved aud innocent
head the consequences Of our fault may fall
Sure we may always be, that we shall not
suffer alone


The next day Lucia was suffering less
pain, and rapidly nearing the end Of all sor.
row. Her anxiety about her children was
terrible; the thought that she was leaving
them with an incorporate father made bitter
her last moments. Gladly and willingly the
repentant man promised never again TO touch
q hipl VI IplHOu Nulcu udu wrought MS
ruin " But oh, my darling!" groaned the
wretched husband, that it should have cost
your precious life to teach me this | am
not worthy Of it, o God am not
worthy"


No, Harvey, dearest" murmured Lucia,
".grieve not so bitterly for it is well with me
at last Christ died to save Us all, and shall
not most gladly give my life to win you
from your enemy, if so it may be done Do
not think me gone dear husband will be
your freside angel still | will cutreat God
constantly to strengthen you in your resolve
BE you but a man, and our home will not be
desolate, even though | leave it." Aud SO,
comlorted by his promises, and believing IN
his reform, she died, and Harvey was alone.


They accounted for her death by some
medical term suitable to the case, hut the
husband knew in his heart, that Lucia Rose
died, slain as surely and as cruelty by drink,
as if he had let her life out with a dagger


Harvey never drank again; he was thor
oughly cured Of his love for it, by the grief
and remorse which covered him after his
wiles death In time he became calmer, but
he never ceased to miss her, never wished to
see another in her place. He found his com.
fort in the careful rearing of his children
and his strength against temptation in the
memory Of his wiie's last words-M f.
Bird, IN Christian Weekly.