The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-02-29

I
ing for Lauful through the lePer When
on earth. He was always going about
/ picking up the unfortunate, and since he
! has left the earth he sends for them by
messengers they cannot help knowing.
Men should respect in me that spark
which the boy respected. l would show
him what a grand and overmastering
thing is that soul which the God of glory
| values.
Don't cry, father" requested Billy,
while he ceased not to paint bloody sun
rise on his face. His eyes looked bluer
and more heaven-like than the sky.
"Don't you love your father +" asked
holding to him Ike a woman.
eyes, sir, III lick anybody that calls
you names,'' the bright tender armament
in his face gushing with another shower.
A horizontal hail of mud and pebbles hit
US while he was speaking. Billy reared
up Ike charger snufing the battle afa- off.
| But | made him retreat from the enemy ;
| lines.
When the boy and | were laid at night
in a low tavern which was our only home,
/ asked, with my face turned from him:
" Billy, will you help your father to try
| once more?" Upon which he bounded up
and pumped my arm with all the yigor and
familiarity that the street had put in him.
Yes, stree. | VIII, that you bet, )"
vowed Billy.
\ few minutes after he hal subsided, |
heard his soft breath going in and out the
doors of his lips in regular cadence. While
he slept and started up to his skirmishc-
over again. l fogged my cak brain to
work, and planned and planned and
planned.
When l look back to that wretch in soil
ed tavern sheets, glaring into darkness
with watery eyes, my legs tremble under
me; though they have grown stou.ly these
many years. 1t was such a very straight
path up from that place, and l came SO
near falling, time after time.
The next day l got work on the railroad.
From the gutter | could not go directly
back to the bar, since drunkenness is one
of the vices which is not tolerated in law
yers 1t was hard to shovel dirt in the hot
sun. l sat down half fainting \ good
natured Patrick came slvlv with q bottle,
will to do--like weak beaSt-whcn Billy
and babe me whist at it," winch / put
forth the swooped down from passing
freight and squared himself before that
Irishman while the very tattcrs at his
elbow bristled with wrath.
+" Look here, now threatened he, send
ing the bottle far over the track "If YOU
get my father to drinking again, I'll kick
you"
1t would have been so very hard for the
boy to fulfill his threat with his baby less
on Patrick high brooches, that my Irish
! man took jolly Compassion him, and
roared vow never more to put his Shiny
temptation to my face.
After had dclved IA while, Billy had a
new suit of clothes, set of books and
school privileges. Then situation as
! copyist was open to me. The boy and
fell into the habit of striking hands and
going to church on Sunday. Some of my
old friends began to notice me. Oh, tell
you it makes a mans heart swell like a
great bulb to have an honest hand come
seeking his
Finally | got into practice. Sometimes
the thirst came on me, and stormed up
and down in my Office, and twisted out
little locks of hair, as if the curse hung to
the roots Of that Once | locked the door
and threw out the key, and was prisoner
| till my associate came.
Passing saloon one evil time, the clnk-
ing of glasses and the breath of mine enc
my penetrated my senses. The saloon
door sucked me just half in, when l was
shocked through my coat skirts and quick
| lv knocked into the street.
Here, father, pleaded Billy charging
me with another jerk, "come out of this
come out of this-were going to make
men of ourselves, father
" Yes, men, Billy l subscribed. SO l
didn't run into that side track, because |
had such a faithful tender
Coming up socially often does much for
a man morally. Cases multiplied, aud |
seemed to grow with my trust. The boy
and | had smart lodgings up town. lie
rose in school. l was proud of him.
| have heard how women love their
children with close, peculiar devotion. |
think | must have loved him with moth.
ers love. There's no other way of express
ing how near the boy is to me-
When he came from school and met me
| on the street he wa, often carving the
satehel of smooth-haired, dark eyed girl
to whom he would excaim AS ne LOYALTY
touched his cap: That's my father "
with such proud accent that the blood
leaped in my veins.
On, my good fellow,its glorious day fol
you when your child is proud of you
We live all together now-Billy, his
| dark-haired Flora, the little rowdies and
in a home wish no end of verandas and
vines. The respectable handle of judge is
set to my name; but Billy's children, who
give the echo TO his former street trainings
stand in no more awe of ii than they do tc
| the venerable Roman handle TO my counte
nance. We tumble ike wild colts in the
grass; but they have no idea that their an.
cestor ever lay in a lower bed
Blessed be enduring love-
l think often-I am in my dotage-fo1
quite matron Flora often looks up from her
oaby in surprise at my walking the veran-
lab and muttering in sort of secret costa