South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-03-05
sweet childish voice, the following beau

hare nc mother desr, uopIeasant home;
Nobody cares fuy u!s, NO one would cry,
Even if roor little Bessls should die.
Weary and tired Ire been wandering all taT, O.,
Asking for woik. but I'm too .nall they say;
On the damp ground mus! COW lay my head
Fathers drunkard, and mother IS dead.
We were so happy till father drank rum
Then ali our sorrows aud troubles begun.
Mother grew pale and wep, every day
Baby and were too hungry to play
Slowly they faded till Que summ0r night
Found their dead faces all silent and white
Then with big tears slowly dropping, said,
Fathers drunkard, aad mother is dead.
Oh, if The temperance moa would only find
Poo. wretchca father endstalf very kind
If they would stop him fromdf1xi why thon
Eshoull Le!so very happy ar &.
Is it too la!e, temperance men? >Please Try,
Or poor little Bessie must soon starre and die ::
All the day long I've boea begging for bread,
Fathers drunkard, ard mother is dead.
The scene | shall never forget to my
dying day, and the sweet cadence other
musical voice still rings in my ears. and
every word Of the song rs it dropped
from her lips, sunk deep into the ears OF
those gathered around her.
With her golden hair falling careless
" around her little shoulders. her face OF
almost ethereal beauty, and looking so
trustingly and comtortingly upon the
men around. her beautiful blue eyes
lighted with q light that seemed not Of
this earth, formed Il picture worthy Of
the pen OF poet Or painter, although
g statue of purity and innocence.
The unfinished games of billiards were
laid By, and cards thrown aside. The
unemptied glass remained upon the
counter, and all pressed near. some with
pity bcaming from their eyes, entranced
with the musical voice and beauty OF the
child. who seemed better fit to be with
the angels above than in such place.
1T the close Of the song many were
weeping; men who had not shed tear
for years, now wept like child. One
Young man who had resisted with scorn
the plcadings Of a loving mother and
dear friends to lead better life, to de-
sist from course that was wasting his
fortune, and running his health, now ap-
,,roached the child, and taking her hands,
while tears streame;as ::!loWn his pale check.
exclaimed with deep emotion!
God bless YOU, my little angel, you
have saved me from ruin and disgrace,
from poverty and . drunkard's grave
II there we're ever angels on earth you
are one; God bless you, God bless you,
and pla9ing-a BIZ y i;.t tie hand Of the
mother, said. ''ple%se a6Ucpr rnts -tritic as
q token of my regard and esteem, for
your little girl has done me kindness
no wealth can ever repay. And rcmem.
ber whenever you arc i'll want, you will
ever find Inc true friend" ct the same
time giving her his name and address.
Taking her child by the hand she
turned to so, hut pausing at the door,
said:
Gotl biess yor. gentlemen, and accept
the heartfelt thanks ola poor and friend
less woman, for the kindness and cour-
tesy YOU have shown her." and before
any one could reply, she was gone.
A silence of several minutes cnsued,
which was ut last broken by the propri-
etor cxclaiming:
Gentlemen, that lady is>right, and l
have sold my last glass of fwbiskey, and
if any Of you want any more you will
have to 60 elsewhere
"And / have drank my last glass Of
whiskcy," said young man who lad
long been given up rs utterly beyond
the reach of those who had q deep inter-
est in his welfarc-that he had sunk too
low to ever reform. "Thcre is 4 tenn
parancc organization in this city called
the Temple Of Honor. and at their next
meeting I shall send up my name to be
admitted. Who will go with mc::'
81" "Ir' q" and "I!' several
exclaimed in q chorus, and fifteen names
were added 10 his.
True to his word tue owner Of the sa.
loon where this strange scene was en-
acted, disposed Of his entire stock the
next day, and is now engaged in an hon
orable business. Would to heaven that
lady could have gone into every hamlet
and town and city throughout our coun.
trv. and met with the same result.