The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-12

ALI the vicor and familiarity that the
street had put in him.,
ayes, stree. / will that, you bet"'
vowed Billy.
few minutes after he subsidized I
heard his soft breath going in and out
the doors of his lips in regular cadenees. /
While he slept and started up TO fight
his skirmishes over, / flOgged my weak
brain 10 work and plan.
When look back at that wretch in
soiled tavern sheets glaring into the
darkness with watery eyes my legs
tremble under me, though they have
gone stOutly these many years. 1t was
such very straight path up from that
place, and ! come so near falling time
after time.
The next day ! got work on the rail-
road. From the gutter / could not go
directly back TO the bar, since drunken
ness is one of the vices which is not toll
Grated in lawyers. 1t was hard to shovel
dirt in the hot sun. ] sat down half
fainting. a good natured Patrick came
slowly with bottle and bade me whist
at it" which l put forth the will to do
like wild beast-when Billy swooped
down from passing freight and squared
himself before that Irishman, while the
very tatters at his elbow bristled with
/ wrath.
"Look here, now,n threatened he,
sending the bottle over the track, ''if
you get my father to drinkin' again I'll
kick you.n
After / had delved awhile Billy had a
[ new suit, set of books and school priv
, ileges. Then a situation as copyist was
opened TO me. The boy and fell into
the habit of striking hands and going
q to church on Sunday. Some Of my
r old friends began to notice me. Oh,
tell yOu, il makes a mans heart swell
like green bulb to have an honest
hand come seeking his.
= Finally l got into practice. Some
times the thirst came on me, and
r stormed up and down in my Office, and
twisted little locks of hair, as If the
curse hung TO the roots of that. Once
locked the door and threw out the key
1 and was q prisoner till my associates
- came.
Passing a saloon, one evil time, tho
clinking of glasses and the breath o.
j mine enemy penetrated my senses
II That saloon door sucked me just hal
way in, when / was shocked through
my coat-skirts and quite Knocked int
the street.
"Here, father" pleaded Billy, charg
. Of this, come out Of this; we're going I,
4 make men of ourselves, father"
= Yes, men, Billy" ] subscribed. =
: / did not run into the side track because
/ had such faithful tender.
/ Coming up socially, often does mucl
for a man morally. Causes multiplied
, and ! seemed to grow with my trust
! The boy and / had smart lodgings VI
p town. He rose in school. ] was 81
/ proud of him.
q I've heard how women love theil
Q children with close, peculiar devotion
4 / think l must have loved him with :
q mothers love. There is 10 other way
5 of expressing how near the boy was t
n me.
= When he came from school and me
n me on the streets he was often carrying
II the satchel of smOoth-haired, dark
II eyed girl, TO whom he would eXclain
le as he loyalty touched his cap, "rhat'
Il my father!' with such a proud accen
n that the blood leaped in my veins.
Oh, my good fellow, it is a glOriOu
Y day for you when your child is proud c
Y yOui
,e We live altogether now-Billy, hi
re- dark-haired Nora, the little rowdies an
,e lin house with no end of veranda
and vines. The respectable handle {
Id Judge i set to my name, but Billy
n. children, who give the echo to hi
: former street training, stand in no mOT
awe of it than they do of the venerabl
y Roman handle to my countenancC
! We tumble like wild colts on the gras.
But they have no idea that their ances
p. tor ever lay in n lower bed.
y Blessed be enduring loveI
- | think often may be i'm my dotagC
u, for quiet matrOn Nora often looks N
,. from her baby in surprise at my walk
7. ing the veranda and maundering i'm
sort of ecstacy: "The boyi the boyr'
II Nary Hart,reH, ia Woods Household
n Maga-iHc.