The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-01-04

time, ana, lnPclAeu "
lowed her in 10 see what would ensue.
Stepping up at the bar and addressing
the proprietor, who happened to be pre-
sent, she said: -,
"oIr, can you assist meg have no
home. no friends, and am unable 70
work ~,
He glanced at her, and then at the
child. With a mingled look OF curiosity
and pity. Evidently he was somewhat
surprised 10 see a woman in such a place
begging, but without asking any ques-
tons, gave her some change; then turning
TO those present, he said;
Gentlemen, here is lady in distress.
Can't some of you assist her little!
They ali cheerfully acceded 10 this re-
quest. and soon a purse of two dollars
was raised and put in her hand.
MADAM" said the gentleman who
gave her the money, why do you come
to a saloon? 1t isn't very proper place
for a lady; and why are yau driven to
such a step|
"Slr. know it isn't a proper place
for me to be in, and you ask why ! am
driven 10 such step. l will tell you III
one short word" pointing to bottle be-
| hind the door labeled whisky, that
| is what has driven me to this-wHIsKY.
[ was once happy and surrounded by
all the luxuries that wealth could procure,
with fond and indulgent husband.
| But in an evil ho1r he was tempted, and
not possessing the will 10 resist that
| temptation fell, and in one short year
my dream of happiness was over, my
home forever broken and desolated, ana
the kind husband and the wealth some
called mine, lost, lost, never 10 return;
and all by the accursed wine cup.
"You see before pou only wreck Of
my former self, homeless and friendless,
with nothing left me in this world but
this little child" and weeping bitterly,
she affectionately caressed the golden
curls that shaded face Of exquisite
loneliness. Regaining her composure,
and turning to the proprietor, she con
tinued:
"Sir, the reason occasionally enter a
place like this is 10 implore those who
deal in the deadly poison to desist, to
stop a business that spread desOlation,
ruin, poverty and starvation. Think
one moment of your own loved ones, and
then imagine them in the situation i am
in. appeal TO your better nature, ]
appeal to your heart, for ! know you
possess kind one, to retire from a busi-
ness so ruinous TO your patrons.
"Did you know that the money you
receive across this bar is the same as ta-
king the bread from out Of the mouths OF
the famished wives and children Of your
customers that itstrips the clothes from
their backs, deprives them of all the
- III lus,
misery, crime and desolation into their
once happy homes? Oh sir, implore,
beseech and pray you 10 retire from a
business you blush 10 own you are en-
gagged in before your fellow men, and
enter one that will not only be profitable
to yourself, but 10 your fellow creatures
also. You will excuse me if have spo-
ken too plainly, but l could not help it
when | thought Of the misery and I'M
happiness it has caused me-.
Madam, | am not offended" he ans
wered, in voice tremulous with emo |
ton, "but thank YOU from my heart for |
what you have said"
Mamma, said the child-who in the
meantime had been spoken to by some Of
the gentlemen present-takIng hold of
her mothers hand, "thcse gentlemen
wish me to sing Little Bessie for them.
Shall / do 50 ?"
Eyes, darling, if they wish you to-
They all joined in the request, and
placing her i'm a chair, she sang in a
sweet, childish voice the following beau
tiful song;
out In the gloomy night sadly / roam,
nave no mother dear. no pleasant home;
NJ "A ftr mn as.fts Il
Even If poor little Bessie would die.
Weary and tired I've been wandering all
day,
Asking for work. but rm too small, they
On the damp ground must lay my head,
Fathers drunkard, and mother i dead!
We were so happy till father drank rum,
Then all our sorrow aud trouble begun;
Mother grew pale and wept every day
Baby aud / were too hungry TO play;
slowly they faded. till one summer night
round their dead faces all silent and white /
Then with big tears slowly dropping, /
said,
Fathers drunkard, aud mother is dead
Oh! If the temperance men would only
find
Poor wretched father. and talk very kind; +,
4 they would stop him from drinking, why J
should be SO very happy again.
: 1t too late, temperance menY Please try. 1
)r poor little Bessie must soon starve and
die:
All the day long I've been begging for =
Fathers drunkard, and mother is dead :
The games of billiards wero left I'M 4
inished, the cards were thrown aside 4
pon the counter; all had pressed near. u
ONE with curiosity, some with sadness. s
nd some with pity beaming from their L
yes, entranced with the musical voice C
nd beauty Of the child, who seemed bet
er fitted to he with angels above than i'm
UGH place.
The scene | shall never forget to my
ying day, and the sweet cadence of her D
MUSICAL voice still rings in my ears, and Z
very word of the song, as it dropped "
rom her lips, sank deep in the hearts of b
II those gathered around her. "
With her golden hair falling carelessly p
round her little shoulders, her face Of "
Imost ETHEREAL beauty, and looking so al
-ustlngly and confidingly upon the men u
round, her beautiful blue eyes illumi- N
ated with light that seemed not of p
nth, formed picture of purity and "
innocence worthy the genius Of poet or
ainterl
AT the close Of the song many were IN
eeping; men, who had not shed a tear NJ
II years, now wept like children. One 81
)ung man, who had resisted with scorn ~
e pleadings Of a loving mother and the m
ltreaties Of friends 10 strive 10 lead a pa
'tter life, to desist from a course that y
as wasting his fortune and running his - =,
,alth, now approached the child, and al
king both her little hands in his, while pI
airs streamed down his pale checks, ex 81