The Dreaded Footstep!

Francis Bourdillon, 1873

Whose footstep is that on the stairs? Why does the poor, pale woman tremble—and why do the children shrink into a corner? Who can it be? Is it some cruel enemy that is coming to hurt them? Is it someone whom they have offended and who is coming to punish them? No, it is the husband of that poor wife, the father of those little children. He ought to be their best friend, their defender from harm, their help, support, and comfort. He said once, and said it in a solemn way before God, that he would love that woman, that he would comfort her, that he would keep her in sickness and in health, and that he would keep himself to her as long as they should live.

Yet now he treats her as if he hated her! She can hear any other step on the stairs, and feel no fear. But once let her hear the sound of her husband coming, and the poor wife looks uneasy and anxious, and the voices of the children cease, and all is still and sad and fearful. Alas, not without a cause. Too well they know what to expect.

I was called some time ago to see a sick child. As I went up the stairs I heard a loud and angry voice, and as I put my hand on the door a brutal curse met my ear. It was suddenly broken off as I entered the room; and the drunken man, who had been storming at his wife while the sick child, frightened, cowered in a corner, not waiting to hear my reproof, slunk out of the room, muttering angrily still. I said what I could to comfort the woman. But she sobbed and cried and said it was almost more than she could bear. It put good thoughts out of her head, she said; she could not be as she wished, with such a home. "He gets worse and worse! He treats me like a dog! Every time something has gone wrong—I am to bear the blame, and I had nothing at all to do with it; I'm sure I dread the sound of his step!"

Poor woman! I well knew the man's character, but it was not from his wife that I had learned it. Never until now had she breathed a word against him. She kept her house tidy; she clothed her children decently, though not always warmly enough, I fear. She suffered in silence. But now she could not restrain herself. I had come in when her feelings were excited. And so she told me somewhat of her troubles—how hard a time she had with her husband, how unkindly he treated her, how her children escaped from home as early as they could, and how she and those who were left had often hardly enough to eat, while his wages (and he earned a great deal at times) went almost entirely in drink.

Why do I mention this case? Because it is anything strange, or rare? Alas, no! Does not almost every lane and court in our towns, does not many a country village furnish such cases? I mention it because it is both true and common and because, if any such man as this sees his own conduct thus put down in print, it may perhaps strike him in a new light. Ah, my friend, do you ever think? Do you ever stop in your course, and consider what a man, what a husband, what a father—you are. Yes, and what a God you have to face, and what an account you will have to give Him?

"Ah, but the women are just as bad!" Alas, I know that is often true. But it was not true in this case. This woman was a meek, patient, industrious person; there are many like her. As bad as her husband's conduct was, I never saw her room look otherwise than clean and tidy. I know too well that all wives are not such. Perhaps I may have a word to say to women some day.

She said, poor thing, in her distress, that she thought nothing would ever change her husband now. But it is because I will not let myself think so of any man, that I write this.

Man, husband, father! If you go on as you do, you will not only bring misery on your family, but you will bring ruin upon your own soul, surely and certainly. Stop and think. Come, now; in a sober moment, go down on your knees. Confess to God what a wicked sinner you are; beg Him to forgive you for Jesus' sake and to give you a new heart by His Holy Spirit. God is very merciful. Jesus died for sinners. Sinners, yes, even the worst of sinners, are invited to seek Him. There is yet hope, if you will but repent and turn to God and believe with all your heart on that blessed Savior who is the Friend of sinners.