The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-07-08

'Out in the gloomy night, sadly I roam,
l have no mother dear, no pleasant home: S
No one cares for me, no one would cry,
Even if poor little Bessie should die.
Weary and tired I've been wandering all day,
Asking for work, but I'm too small, they say
On the damp ground 1 must now lay my head
Fathers drunkard and mother is dead.
'We were so happy till father drank rum, :.
Then all our sorrow and trouble begun;
Mother grew pale, and wept every day, :.
Baby and were too hungry to play;
Slowly they faded, till one summer night
Found their dead faces all silent and white;
Then with tears slowly dropping I said,
Fathers drunkard and mother is dead. ~,
E"ol.if the temperance mon only coiifd md y
Poor, wretched father, and talk very kind;
If they would stop him from drinking, then
I should be so very happy again.
Is it too late, temperance men? Please try,
Or loor little Bessie must soon starve and die,
All day long I've been begging for bread,
Fathers drunkard and mother is dead"
The game Of billiards was left unfin.
ishcd, the cards thrown aside, aud the
unemptied glass remained on the Coun.
ter; all bad pressed near, some with pity.
beaming eyes, entranced with the musi
cal voice and beauty of the child, who
seemed better fitted to be with the angels
above than in such place.
The scene l shall never forget to my
dying day, and the sweet cadence of her
musical voice still rings in my ears, and
every word of the song as it dropped
from her lips sank deep into the hearts
of those gathered around her.
With her golden hair falling carelessly
around her little shoulders. and looking
so trustingly and confdingly upon the
gentlemen around her,her beautiful eyes
Illuminated with light that seemed not
of this earth, she formed picture of
purity and innocence worth the genius
of poet or q painter.
At the close of the song many were
weeping men who had not shed teal
for years now wept like children. One
Young man who had resisted with scorr
the pleadings of a loving mother and the
entreaties of loving friends to lead bet
ter life, to desist from course that was
wasting his fortune and running his
health, now approached the child land ta-
king both hands in his, while tears
streamed down his cheeks, exclaimed:
"God bless you,my little angel. You
have saved me from ruin and disgrace
from poverty and drunkard's grave
If there are angels on earthly you are one
God bless youw and putting note into
the hands of the mother, said:
"Please accept this trife as token o
my regard and esteem, for your little
girl has done me kindness / can never
repay; and, remember, whenever yor
are in want. you will find me- a TIM
| friend" at the same time giving his name
and address.
Taking. her child by the hand, sht
turned to 60, but, pausing at the door
said:
"God bless you, gentlemen! Accep
the heartfelt thanks of a poor, ,friendles
woman, for the kindness and courtesy
you have shown her."
Before auy one could reply, she wal
gone
A silence of several minutes ensue,.
which was broken by the proprietor, wht
said:
Gentlemen, that lady was right, ant
have sold my last glass of whisky; i
any of you want more you will have tt
go elsewhere"
"And have drank my last glass o
whisky" ssid young man, who hat
long been given up as utterly beyont
the reach of those who had deep inter
est in his welfare, as sunk too low eve
to reform.