Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-07-08
JACK,-A TRUE STORY.

Il don't know how to turn don't
know what to do. IF should lose my
senses, it seems to me [ could be happier
If could die-if-but no; the child
tren-the poor children"
"Mammy,' cried a sweet voice.
The woman started, put down her rag
ged apron and glanced up. A little face,
exceedingly fair through the dirt, looked
appealingly.
Black Dicks got my shoe; he is sail
ing it down the gutter.
If it didn't go that way, child, 'twould
the other, said the woman gloomily; but
nevertheless, she arose to go in the filthy
street to reclaim the shoe, which was not
worn out.
Black Dick, however, was nowhere to
be seen; so she returned with slow, dis
pirited step, back into the place she call
ed home. There another child awaited
her-a boy, looking down from the perch
he had mounted.
I can't find any bread, he cried.
There is no bread there to find
But you said you would buy some this
morning
Your father took the money }or gin,'
said the woman bitterly
L am hungry said the boy kicking
his feet sullenly.
'Thou'lt have to 90 hungry, my lad,'
replied the woman, 'unless-oh! how
can [ how can p"
But vent out even as she spoke, and
pawned her wedding ring. 1t brought
her three shillings, every cent she spent
in feed, that was hidden the moment she
got into the house, save the portion she
gave the children.
Poor Molly Wainright-hers had been
hard life. Poverty and drunkenness
twin evils, had always hovered about her
path, since the very first year of her mar
riage. None at that time ever mistrusted
that Jack, fine straight young fellow
would become that hideous thing, drunk
ard. But he had fallen every year low
er and lower till now, when little Bert
was seven, and Mary five he was despised
by everybody in town.
Molly had done her wifely best.
Everybody had advised her to leave
him; but she had worked till her fingers
were bent and brown, to keep her poor little
family together. Now, however, it seem
ed as if the last straw had been placed
upon her shrinking shoulders. He had
been gone two days, she knew not where,
only report said he had been ragi
about the streets, drunk, of course, and
perhaps had gone to the river side and
fallen in.
Poor Molly's shrunken face looked
ghastly as she sat considering. Two peo
pie who liked and respected her had wish
ed to take her children; but how could
she give them up? On the other hand
how could she see them living under such
corrupting influences as that old court
fostered; her fair haired May--her beauti-
full, dark eyed Bert ? No wonder she felt
that day, as if some dicision must be
made, no wonder she longed for death.
so YOU have turned reformer, [ hear,
said one gentleman to another, as they
walked along together in a by street in
Aberdeen.
There was three Of them; two tall slen-
der men; the other, a merchant from
! America on visit in Scotland.
Well, they give me that name,' replied
the other smiling, his dark, dreamy face
lighting strangely as he spoke. 4 trust
that / am trying in my way to save some
of my poor fellow beings
DO you work on such material as that?
The speaker touched with his foot sin
gular looking bundle that lay in niche