The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-03-30

doings, and. alas, heard the sayings of
the customers. One winter evening a
shoemaker's boy came with an assort-
ment of children's shoes, and the land
lady of the "Fox and Geese" who had
a most marvellous shrill voice, began
calling to little, dirty slave of nurse
girl to bring 'Addlehead'-as she pro-
Dounced Adelaide, to have her new shoes
tried on. could see the little creature
who was at once fine and filthy, sitting
under gas-light in the bar, and kicking
and screaming as the shoes were coaxed
on her feet. At last pair fitted, and
the spoiled pet was lifted up triumph
antly in her mothers arms. Here, do
look at her! The darling has let me get
a pair of the very best ones on Look,
Dad, do J" Just then a tall man, very
thinly clad, came out of the tap-room,
passed the bar. and saw the child
stretching out her feet for her father to
see. Now poor woman had been hov-
ering about at the corner, peeping now
and then timidly into the bar window.
and then creeping to the door /; she had
a child in her arms, aid looked ready
to drop with cold and weariness. Ihad
seen that woman on many Saturday
night, waiting and watching for her hus-
band to come out. All, there he is,
riveted for a moment looking at the child
showing her shoes: with start he
rouses himself and rushes out. what,
Bill. going so soon 2 bawls the landlady.
Bill pulls his hat down over his eyes
with one hand, clutches his old jacket
tight over his chest, an! answers the
words with sort Of grunt. He is out
side-there is his wife and little ONE
For a moment the woman looks at him
timorously, and half swerves aside, as
if she feared-what I will not write,
lest the manhood Of my readers should
be wounded. Something in Bills look
re-assures her, and she goes close to him,
feebly but coaxingly. He took the child
from her tired arms--the little creature
gave short quick cry of Highland,
as he lifted it. I saw that its little feet
Xsrs pobs bsfg }aoi drew rev then swiftly under
saw them. wish his hat had been off,
so that l might have seen his face as
those two blue, chilled feet met his ewes,
noticed he put them in his bosom, and
buttoned his jacket over them, and held
the child close, and went on his way
with heavy stamp, as if he beat his
thoughts down on the ground his wife,
slip-shod and tottering, had hard work
to keep up with him.
had faint suspicion of what was
passing in the mans mind. From that
night was glad that saw him no more
among the frequenters of the "Fox and
Geese" He and his wife and child, for
veal or woe. had dropped out of my ken
and almost out Of my mind.
Some months after there was a meet
ing at the Temperance Hall of the dis
trict, and many working-men were pres
ent. and gave their testimony to the
good effects of perfect sobriety; now
and then they told little bits Of their
history, about the reasons that lead them
to give up the public house. One tall,
well dressed, respectable looking man
listened earnestly, till one, who sat near
him. said "Say word, William Tur-
ner. you've known as much about the
mischief as any one here or any where
come. and tell US. for never heard how
it was that you changed right about face,
from the mouth of hell to the field of
hope. Come, man, out with it, it will.
maybe. do good"
The young man, thus urged arose at
the first word. and looked. for a moment.
very confused : all he could say was :
The little shoes. they did it, With a
thick voice, as if his heart was in his
throat. he kept repeating this. There
was stare of perplexity on every face,
and at length. some thoughtless young
people began to litter. The man in ali
his embarrassment, heard this sound,
and rallied at once. The light came in
his eyes with fash. he drew himself
up and looked at the audience, the chok-
ing went from his throat. Yes, friends 7
he said in voice that cut it's way clear
as deep toned bell, whatever you may
think OF it, I've told you the truth-the
little shoes did it. l was a brute and
fool strong drink had made me both,
and starved me into the bargain. Isue-
fered; deserved to suffer, but didn't
suffer alone--no man does who has q
wife and child. for the woman gets the
worst share. But l am no speaker to
enlarge on that: I'll stick to the little
shoes. saw ons night, when l was all
but done for, the publican's child hold.
ing out her feet for her father to see her
fine new shoes it was simple thing,
but, friends, no fist ever struck me such
a blow as those little shoes. They
kicked reason into me. What business
have ! TO clothe others and let my own 90
bare said l !; and there outside was nv
wife and child-in bitter night. /
took hold Of my little one with q grip.
and l saw her chilled feet men faith
ers I! If the shoes smote me, what did
the feet do? Iput them. cold as ice,
to my breast they pierced me through.
Yes ! the little feet walked right into my
heart. and washed away my sel6shness.
| had triae of money left; boughta
loaf and pair Of little shoes. / never
tasted anything but bit of that bread
all the Sabbath day, and went to work
like q man on Monday, and from that
l spent no more money at the public
house. That's all I've got to say--it
was the little shoes that did British
Workman.