no
matter what he does when he's drunk, I'll stay with him while life
lasts.'

"Milly said Sam give a gasp and looked up at her as if he couldn't
believe his ears, and then he burst out cryin' and fell on his knees
and threw his arms around her and held on to her like a drownin' man
tryin' to save himself. And says he, 'O Milly! Milly! I didn't know
you cared that much for me! I've asked God to help me,' says he, 'and
He didn't seem to care, but if you care enough to stay with me, Milly,
I'll have to quit! I'll have to quit!' says he.

"Milly said if it had been little Sam holdin' on to her and beggin'
her to stay she couldn't 'a' felt sorrier for him, and she patted him
on the head and says she, 'Don't you worry, Sam; Father may take the
children if he wants to, but he'll never take me. Of course, you're
goin' to quit drinkin',' says she, 'but whether you quit or not I'll
stand by you, for that's what a wife's for.'

"Milly said Sam cried still harder, and her father, he wiped his eyes
and says he, 'Well, daughter, maybe you're right. Meddlin' with
married folks' affairs is a poor business, anyhow, and I'm more than
willin' to give Samuel another chance.'

"So the old man got in his wagon and drove off, and Milly said all
that day Sam stayed around the house and follered her about like a dog
follerin' its master, and every now and then he'd say, 'I've got to
quit, Milly, and I will quit now.' Milly said she'd heard him promise
that so often and break his promise that she didn't have a bit of
faith that he'd keep it now, but of course she didn't let him know it.
She'd say, 'Why, of course you will, Sam, I've always believed you'd
quit sometime.' And Sam says, 'Keep on believin' in me, Milly, and
your faith'll save me.'

"Well, the very next Monday was county court day, and all day Sunday
Milly told me she was prayin' that Sam would be kept from goin' to
town. But right after supper Sam says, 'I'm goin' to town to-morrow,
Milly. Make your arrangements for goin' with me--you and the
children--and we'll get an early start.'

[Illustration: "'THE GLASS BROKE INTO A HUNDRED PIECES.'"
_Page 229._]

"Milly said she couldn't sleep much that night, and she prayed that it
might pour down rain, or somethin' would happen to keep Sam at home.
But the sun come up clear, and there was nothin' to do but dress and
go to town with Sam. She said Sam took particular pains with himself,
put on his Sunday clothes, and shav