THE DRUNKARD'S WIFE.

A TRUE STORY.
{"newspaper_name": "The Columbian fountain.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
{"character_count": 2142, "word_count": 399, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9790999889373779], "ccnet_perplexity": [1154.9000244140625], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
The gray morning was already dawning
when miserable wreth turned into dirty
alley, and entering low, ruinous door,
grouped through narrow entry, and paus-
ed at the entrance of the room within. That
degraded being had once been wealthy
man, respected by his neighbors, and sur
rounded by friends. But alas the social
glass had first lured him to indulgence, and
then to inebriety, until he was now COM
mon drunkard. H5Ga aag


The noise Of his footsteps had been heard
within, for the creaking door was timidly
opened, and pale emacialed boy about 9
years old, stepped out on the landing, and
asked in mingling anxiety and dread,


is that you, father ~ a


yes, wet to the skin--curse il, said the
man, 'why amt you abed and asleep, you
brat p


The little fellow shrunk back at this
coarse salutation, but still, though shaking
with fear, he did not quit his stalion before
the door. #a.s 0ul


sWhat are you standing there gaping for''
said the wretch slt's bad enough to have
wife grumbing all day, without having
you kept up at night to chime in the morn
ing. Get to bed, you imp Do you hear.


The little fellow did not answer; fear
seemed to have deprived him of speech; but
still holding on to the door latch, with an
imporing look, he stood right in the way
by which his parent would have to enter
the room. ~


'Ain't you going to mind" said the man
with an oath, breaking into a fury, give
me The lamp and go to bed, or III break ev.
cry bone in your body saaa ... =.


'Oh father, don't talk so loud said the
little fellow bursting into tears; 'you'll
wake mother; she's been worse all day, and
hasn't had any sleep till now


And as the man made an effort TO snatch
the candle, the boy, losing all fear in anX-
iety for his sick mother, stood firmly across
the drunkards path, and said,


you musnpt-you mustn't 60 in =


eWhat does the brat mean = broke ou
the inebriate angrily; this comes Of learn
ing you to be as obstinate as mule, vii
YOU disobey me Take that--and that
you imp and raising his hand hestruck tn,
little sickly being TO the floor, kicked asid,
his body, and strobe into the dilapidatec
Iroom. a.ma .aE a..H.H