42. ‘HE FIRST GLASS OF WINE 5 |

 

as they could, while the boy whispered to
his sister —

‘‘ «Father has come, sure enough Pees

‘¢¢ Hather has come! ’ How often have I :
heard that joyful ery from some happy child
who was running to its father’s arms. But
_ how differently the same words sound now, —
whispered in tones of fear among those
shrinking children. What is the reason of
this difference? Ah, the man who has just
entered is a miserable drunkard. He gives
up everything for the sake of satisfying his
taste for strong drink, and does ‘not care
what becomes of his family, so long as he
can get that. And so when he comes home
to them he is always half crazed, and does
“not know what he ; is about. This is all the
father that those poor children have ever

known. No wonder they fear bim, and try