The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-03
Under the Crust.
The reporter was passing down

The reporter was passing down North
Commercial street, last evening, looking
out, rs usual, for bits OF news. Across
the street, sitting on the edge of the side
walk, with tattered dress, bare head and
shoeless feet. was little CIR. about nine
years old, crying as though her heart
would break if the bitter tears did not
o'erhow. Attracted by anything un-
usual, the reporter paused moment, in
doubt whether to 60 to her or not. But
in that brief lapse of time entered an
other man upon the stage, and his COM
ing, as it proved, rendered the scene all
the more complete. His face, eyes, gar
ments, betokened the drunkard-one
who thirsted after drink, and whose lips
and tongue were always parched. Rough
looking though he was. close observer
might detect something that bore =
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 footsteps
were arrested, and, fixing his eyes upon
the still weeping girl, he reeled toward
her side, bent over her, and with thick
tongue asked why she wept. The re-
porter stood near, and watched the con-
tact of these two wretched beings with
no little interest. In. answer to that
rough mans inquiry the child replied
that her mother had driven her out of
home followed her with curses and
blows out of the only door that had ever
opened to her, and that she was afraid
to 20 back. o.,
"No, sir; but, oh! I wished papa was
here; he was so good and kind!"
"When did he die?"
"a good while ago, sir; and mother
says he died drunkard: but he was
always kind to me. and loved him."
What was there in that child's voice
that moved this man to soberness? He
sat down ut her side, put around her his
great strong arm, pressed her pinched
face to his breast, and who 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 tender
ness, he reeled no more; her story had
restored the man within him. His home
was near little village on the Burling-
ton, Cedar Rapids and Northern rail-
way. lie was farmer, but his love for
liquor had ruined his body, absorbed his
property, and his own wife and little
ones were to-day in destitute circum-
stances rs. 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 in
fuence has gone toward his redemption?
Hc took the child across the street to
bakery, and saw that she was fed. He
gave her some pieces of silver tor 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 mediator, recon-
citation would surely follow. and, more
than this, he felt sure that the angel in
that man was so much larger and nat
urally stronger than the evil one. that
some holy influences would yet combine
to save him. Nobility Of heart and soul
belongs to God, wherever it may be
found and it is frequently discovered
Just under the crust. - Cedar Rapids
1M) ReDzlblicG1.