The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-07-09

windows rattle, continuing HI
abuse all the time. The childre
terrified, stood still at the door unit;
the voice ceased. Then Lizzi
Iopened the door and both childre
entered. The farmer sat in a
armchair by the fire.
: "Well, what do you want.?" h
harshly asked the children, VIII
were too frightened to utter a wor
and tell their erraud. ''Can't 20
speak?" he asked more roughly.
Lizzie at last took courage an
said gently, ooh, if you will be g
good as to give US the least littl
bit to eat-a small piece Of brea'
or a few potatoes. - #
s'Ithought so, shouted the far
mer; II was sure you were moth
ing but beggars, although you d.
not seem to belong to this neigh
borhood. We have plenty Of thos'
here, and we do not want them tc
come from other parts. We have
not bread for ourselves in these
hard times. You will get nothing
here. Be off, this moment %
The children both terribly fright
ened, began to cry bitterly.
"That viii! not do you any good,
continued the man; ''that kind o.
whining is nothing new to me, and
won't move me-. Let your parents
feed you; but they, no doubt, pre-
fer idling rather than get their hv'
ing by honest labor
"Our parents are both dead,'''
said lizzie.
II thought so,'' replied the far.
mer. "Whenever children are
sent out to beg, their father and
mother are always dead, or, at least
their father. This is mere -ex-
cuse for begging. Be off this min
ute p
1--WE have not eaten morsel OF
bread the whole day. pleaded Liz
zie. eve are so tired that we
cannot move a step. If you would
but give US the least bit to eat, we
are so hungry"
81 have told you I would not.
beggars get nothing here !,
The farmer got up with a threat
ening look. Lizzie quickly open
ed the the door and drew her sister
with her. The children again
stood in the farmyard, but knew
not what to do. Suddenly little
Mary drew her hand from her sis
ter's clasp and went off to the 9th
er side of the yard; there was a
fierce dog chained; his dinner
stood before him in a wooden ba-
sin. Mary. pnt. her hand in the
basin and began to eat with the
dog. Lizzie went nearer, and saw
that in the, basin there was some
liquor in which a few pieces of
bread and a few potatoes were
floating. She. likewise, could not
resist; she had but one feeling
that of the most gnawing hunger;
she took some bread and potatoes
and ate the greedily.
The dog not accustomed to such
guests, looked at the children full
Of astoniahment; he drew back,
and then left them at his dinner, OF
which he had eaten very little. At
this moment the farmer stepped
into the yard; he wished to see it
the children had really left, and
then he saw this. singular scene.
The dog was noted for its ferceness
and feared alike by old and young.
He was obliged to be constantly
chained, and no one dared to come
near him except his master. Even
the servant put his food before him
in the most cautious manner. In
the first moment the man thought
of nothing but the fearful danger
in which. the children were, and
walking quickly toward them, he
exclaimed:
"Don'.tyou see the dog? He will
tear you to pieces p :,
But. suddenly he stopped as if
rooted to the ground; the dog had
got.up again and gone near the
children; then he looked at his
master and wagged his tail. 1t
seemed as if had wished to say:
"Don't drive my guests away!'
At that sight a great change came
over the man; the spectacle before
him acted like an electric shock,
and feelings such as never before
seemed to stir within him.
The children had risen, terrified
at the. call of the man, fearful Of
punishment for having eaten, with
downcast eyes. At last. after sev.
eral minutes silence, the farmer
said:
care you really SO fearfully hun
CRY that you do not even despise
the dogs food? Come in, then
YOU shall have something to eat
and as much as you like" Ane
then taking them by the hand he
lied them into the house, calling
to the servant, "Biddy. get some
hot bread and. milk, and be quick
tor these children.
The dog had shamed his master
the brute had shamed tn man
Tornhad hv what he mad seen. tn,