A Fathers Curse.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4308, 31 December 1892, Page 3

A Fathers Curse.

A few months ago I was present in Dr farmer's consulting room, saye a t writor, watching the prisoners from the depot filing past. We were informed that a child bad been brought by its parents to be examined, These people were Bhown in; they belonged to the respectable working class, and were quiet and well-mannered. Tbe man was tbe driver of a dray belonging to one of the railway stations, and had all the appearance of a stalwart working man. The boy was only nix years old; he had an intelligent, rather pretty face, and was neatly dressed. 1 See here, M. le Dooteur,' said the father, 1 we have brought you your boy; be alarms lis. He is no fool; he begins to read j they are satisfied with him at bis school, but we oannot help thinking be must be insane, for he wants to murder his little brother, i child two years old, The other day he nearly succeeded in doing so, I arrived just in time to snatch my fazor fiorn his bands.'

Tbe boy stood listening with indifference and without hanging his b&L Tbe doctor drew tbe child Huffily toward him and inquired: "Is it true that you wish to hurt your little brother ?" Witb peifect composure, the little one replied: "I will kill bim—yes, yea—l will -kill himl" The doctor glanc d at the father and asked in a low voice: " Do you drink 1" Bis wife exolaimed indignantly; "He,sirl Why, he never enters apuhliohooHe, and 1m never cow*' bone drunk." They were quite sincere. Nevertbe i less, tbe dootur said: •' Stretch out your arm," The man obeyed] bis hand trembled Had these people told lies, then, in stating that tbe mun had never come borne tbe worse for drink? No; bnt all through tho day, wherever he had oalled to leave a package, the people had given him something to drink for his tronble. He had become a drunkard without knowing it; and tbe poiStbat bad entered bis blood was at t moment filling the head of tbe utcie child with tho dreams of an assassin.—Fortnightly Keview, Yffll PKOPLE GET CRUSH, " Well, it 1b because a certain man, who professes to be a Christian, owes me but will not pay," said a man who seemed convinced in his own mind that such a course gave him full satisfaction. ' "When my old woman jumps upon me about anything I go and get as drunk as a biled owl, just to show her who is boss," was the statement of a weazen-faced man with one eye and a broken nose, " For the exhilaration there is in it, The .happiest times there are in my life are due to this seeming fault" But the swollen and blood-shot eyes and the blooming nose did not tend to corroborate this olaim, " For the reason that l am only paid one dollar fifty cents a day for my work when I should have two dollars and fifty cents/' was the lament of one who ■<JM rks three and drinks the other four week, "My mother-in-law won't give me a minute's rest; she's fully up to the standard of the proverbial mother-in-law, she is." This man bad a oowed appearanoe, a sore ear, a dislooated jajv, and a bald spot on his bead. He < dodged every time one made a move, which auggQßted the probability of rolling-pinß, flat«iornsr etc;, having been thrown more 'effectively than affectionately, " Just beoauße my girl hae gone baok on me,,and leans on some other fellow," stammerdd a love-sick'youtb, with a tremour in his voioa, "Well, I will acknowledge I havo no exouso to offer, except that I am euoh a weak • minded, easily - influenced •chump,' .that never knows when to say 'No,' and refuse an invi'ation to drink. There's no exouße for it," This wsß the most honest,—MlM" unitr-Lyne Stporkr,