The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1879-09-17
UNDER THE CRUST.

The reporter was passing down
North Commercial street, last
evening, looking out, as usual, for
bits of news. Across the street, sit
ting on the edge of the sidewalk,
with tattered dress, bare head and
shoeless feet, was little girl
about nine years old, crying as
though her heart would break if
the bitter tears did not o'erhow.
Attracted by anythingunusual.she
reporter paused a moment, in
doubt whether TO 60 to her or
not. But in that brief lapse Of
time entered another man upon
the stage, and his coming, as it
proved, rendered the scene all the.
more complete. His face, eyes,
garments, betokened the drunk
ard-one who thirsted after drink,
and whose lips and tongue were
always parched. Rough looking
though he was, close observer
might detect a something that
bore a faint resemblance to the
man he used to be. Staggering
along, scarcely able to keep on the
walk, he approached the spot
where sat the child. His dull ears
caught the sound of sobs, his foot
steps were arrested, and, fixing
his eyes upon the still weeping
| girl, be reeled toward her side,
bent over her, and with thick tom
que asked why she. wept. The
reporter stood near, and watched
the contact of these two wretched
beings with no little interest. In
answer to that rough mans in
quiry tho child replied that her
mother had driven her cut Of
home-had followed her with curses
and blows out of the only door
that had ever opened to her, and
that she was afraid to 60 back.
sHav you a fatber?' he asked.
No, sir; but, oh I wished papa
was here; he was so good and
kind!' :.- ~
when did he die p %"
"A good while ago, sir; and
mother says he died a drunkard;
but be was always kind to me, and
I loved him. ...... ..
| What was there in that child's
voice that moved this man to
soberness 5? He sat down at her
side, put around her his great
strong arm, pressed her pinched
face to his breast, and wno can
tell what he thought or what he
suffered as the scalding tears burst
from his eyes and rolled down his
bloated cheeks He treated that
feeble girl with all tenderness, he
reeled no more; her story had re-
stored the man within him. His
home was near little village on
the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and
Northern railway. He was far
mer, but his love for liquor
had ruined his body, absorbed
his property, and his own wife
and little ones were to-day in
destitute circumstances as this
child he sat beside. Died a
drunkard!' Who can tell with
what saving weight those words
fell upon his ears, or how far that
poor waits influence has gone to-
ward his redemption ? He took
the child across the street to a
bakery, and saw that she was fed.
| He gave her some pieces of silver
for future use, and then was seen
to recross the street and go with
the girl toward her home. The
reporter was willing to grant that,
| with such a mediator, reconcilia-
tion would surely follow, and.
more than this, he felt sure that
the angel in that man was so
much larger and naturally stron-
ger than the evil one, that some
holy influences would yet COM
bine to save him. Nobility of
heart and soul. belongs to God,
wherever it may be found; and it
is frequently discovered-just un-
der the crust.-Cedar Rapids (La.)
Republican. }
| A bypocrite may spin so fair a