The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-03-25


after dark y
Joe was so sober he began to think.
ssCome back here bit. See if there
amt holler in this tree. Is, too And
it's. topable sized trunk. Crawl IN
there, and it'll kind o'shield ye from the
wet Powerful watery spell That's
conf table, hey -
sIt's wet in here; but faint SO chilly.
ssThat's better Now yoI1 just take 1t
easy. sissy !; Miss Smith or none O them
poor-house red-tapes is going to lay
finger on We. She never put We IN the
crazyhouse, did she %
s.Yes-oh-h-h! ~ shuddered the
child.
.sWhat for and did it skeer ye?"
ssShe said it was for sassin' her. She
was teilin' man what my father was,
and T said he qcas3et neither And
She
ssWhat's your fathers name!'
''Joe Trestle.
Toe orlped a throat full of air.
"And she ketched me by the arm, and
put me right in their hall. Oh, you
don't know how awful It's They're
behind iron windows butthey look into
the hall and veil and make faces, and
grab like they'd tear you to pieces L
got down in a corner, with my dress over
NV head. and said over and over to
myself what grandma Lane teached me.
"What is that? %
ssFor we look for a better country
It's in a big book she calls the Bible. 1t
tells heap of things, but she says that
over the most. So, says I've look for
better country---a better country = and
II made me think of another kind of
place
ssWhat's YOUR name % asked Joe,
TREMENDOUSLY.
s'Sylvie Trestle.
ssIm your father, amt q put in Joe
humbly.
eyes, [ knowed 1t.
The storm was at full height. It was
the autulnnal equinox, and full OF fury.
The little girl shivered. Joe crouched
nearer, and felt her shabby head. He
got it against his shoulder, and cooed
softly to his child.
''Do you hate me ?"
'sNo,' said Sylvie, 'I like ye!' cud-
ding her hands under his neck, thus
reaching and wringing Joe Trestle's
heart.
ssAnd I've got little girl ! And that
woman buses her! And [ might be put
tin as good house as any OF 'em over
her this minute, instead of bein' like
pig There's nothin' and nowheres for
us now!' he muttered to himself; the
child caught his last words, and answer
ed, turning up quick face
eyes, there's the better country =
The better country had seized strong
~ on her imagination.
''Oh that ain t for. nobody but relig-
ious folks, and they've got to die on
the square to get in. That's nowhere
for me %
s'Grandma Lane said,'' propounded
Sylvie, rising to her subject and her
parents ear, ''that the better country's
for the people of God, and them's who
ever come to Him.
eyes, I know, church folks. They've
had me up and tried to religious me.
But it comes on me to drink, and drink
[ must +! Wish there was place where
I could do better I think thoughts,
but that didn't mend me. Amt clean
enough for this world, and what show
IS that for gettin' into better one?''
Joe Trestle saw himself sneaking be-
fore the Lord of Worlds.
Sylvie laid out her simple creed. It
was rope of only two strands: Owe
look for better country through Him
who died for us. And though no I'M
clean thing may enter there, He washes
the unclean, making it fit to enter
1t penetrated Joe Trestle to the
quick. And the deluge penetrated to
his bones.
'.Seems to me we're gittin' swamped,
Sylviel Don't you feel as if you was
sittin' in water?'
eyes, and with quick perception,
'sit's the Rum it's over the banks'
'sAnd we're hived here on the low
side, with an arm Of the stream 'twixt us
and the bluff. [ was so drunk [ forgot!
Oh Lord, child, we're hemmed III by
water -
Sylvie began to cry fearingly; Joe
fondled her and felt courageous. Hold
ing hands they CROPPED round the tree;
such a current washed their ankles
they dare not venture far. Lightning
showed them they were in the midst of
a muddy sea, the voice of which filed
their ears.
''We've got to climb for it p said Joe.
1t seemed hours before he got his lit
tie girl above the gathering wave, and
hours again before his lax muscles drag
eed him after her They sat on syca
more limb, he gripping her to him, and
watched the waves through flashes, like
two refugees from Noah's flood.
"What is it about your better coun-
try % asked Joe.
''We look for a better country -
It was long night. His child was
very heavy on his arm They were
both stupetied with chills, and Joe was
no wiser, no stronger than Sylvie. He
had weakened his flesh and softened his
courage; but he held on, and the strong
| desire to save his child cleared the mists
of drink away.
''Wake up, grille ~ begged Joe of the
little one nestled under his wing; ''fraid
this holler trunk is going to be swept
OIL Did ye say We didn't like your
good-for-n othin' father %
Liked hIm.' corrected Sylvie, cling
ing feebly.
"Lord bless nay little an, e,ad took at
ne!"