(2 THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE;

 

_ 6¢« The end of all our comfort soon came:
First, he carried the silver to the pawn-
brokers, — that silver, marked with mye:
mother’s maiden name; then the linen
went; then what little furniture we had;
then my nice clothes.

«So it has gone on from bad to worse,

_ till we are on the point of starving. He
gets a job sometimes; but I always dread
those times, for he never rests till he has
drank his earnings all away. He does not
seem to care for me or the children any
more; but he beats us, and gives us hard
words, till we dread the very sight of him.
_ And yet he was such a likely man, ma’am, | |
if he had only behaved himself. I wish you
could hear him read. I wish you could see
the lovely letters he will write if he has a -
mind.’ ae

‘< It was touching to see her pride in his”