The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-07-21
A TRUE STORY OF FOUR TEETH.
A REAL INCIDENT.

A REAL INCIDENT. q
.Elsie!'' @
Yes, papa;' aud the child dashed
away her tears and sprang to the bed
where her father lay bandaged and
helpless.
That day an explosion had happened
IN the mill where he worked, and he
was badly hurt.
.'Waterr' he said. feebly.
She gave it to him, and he went on
speaking: J.
Where's the money, Elsiep''
8" Here, papa. putting her hand on
the bosom of her dress. III
That's right. Take good care of
it. God only knows when we shall
have any more. Poor childr'. he add
ed, fondly. Haa ssil j.
mot a bit OF it," she answered
gaily. g Your be at home all the time
now. and we'll have such good time
together "a sss
Her father gave her a loving smile,
and closed his eyes YEARLY. Elsie
began to stroke his hand, and he soon
1ell into an uneasy slumber. 81
~ WV "oip Oil Ill oil W GetCu Ollcr,
They came from England and had been
IN America but few months. Elsie
was plain, delicate child of thirteen.
but her father called her his dove of
comfort, and now she was proving her
right to the name. She tended him day
and night. with CHEEKY, skillful
patience that made everybody love her.
But the weeks went by, the money
was spent, and still he Law on his bed.
The wolf was at the door. How could
they keep him out?
Then it was that her father said:
Elsie, where are the silver spoonsp',
..In mammals little trunk. with the
ring and the jacket" she answered.
You must get them out and carry
them to Mr.. Black
'Oh, papa, no! It's al the silver
we have, and mamma Thought every-
thing of Them" she cried. inipulsively
The sick man made no answer. bnt
he put his hands over his ewes. and
soon Elsie saw the tears steal slowly
through his fingers.
Papa, dear papa! / didn't mean it.
How cruel of me!'' she exclaimed.
throwing her arms about him. ..PH
take them this minute, and when YOU
get well and earn money We'll have
them back again."
When | get well! I wonder when
that will beP' he said, despairingIy.
Before long-slow and sure, you
Know" she answered, brightly, and in
lew minutes she set out on her first
visit to the pawnbroker. But it was
not her last. Time and again she went,
till every possible thing had been car
rled; and, meantime, she was learning
cheersully to bear hunger and cold for
"papa's sake" go
He, too. poor man, must see his dar-
ling grow hollow-cheeked and big-eved.
with no power to save her. What
could they do but lie down together and
diep
AS Elsie went home from her last
visit to the pawnbroker she stopped at
grocery TO buy a little coal, and,
while she waited for other customers,
she looked listlessly at the morning
paper lying on the counter. AS she did
SO. these words caught her eye:
WANTED-Four perfect front teeth, for
which will give forty dollars.
No. X Street.
The poor little face flushed scarlet
with a sudden hope. PERHAPS he
would take mine,,r she thought:
Mother Savage said yesterday She
wondered how such homely child
came to have such handsome teeth
She seemed to, herself to be dream
ing. = Forty dollars,n Forty dol
lars" kept saying itself over in her
BRAIN. and when the shopman turned to
wait on her she was gone. A few Minis
utes after she stood in the dentists
office. f4gsFe -
Please, will you see if nv teeth are
good enough to buyP'' she asked, tim.
idly.
The doctor was engaged in delicate.
operation, but he stopped to give the
teeth hurried examination. IN
How beautiful! They are inst what
want. Come Tomorrow he said.
going back to his work. :
!, The rest of the day Elsie's father
thought her wonderfully CAV, but he
could not think why, for she said moth
ing OF her plan, about which she began
TO lose courage when the first excite
ment of it subsidized Hard things look
easier in the morning than they do at
night; and as she sat in the twilight.
studying herself in a bit of looking
glass. she thought sorrowfully: "Ishall
be homelierthan ever when they are
gone; but then how silly OF me to care
about that. Papa will love me just the
same. But it will hurt SO to have them
out," she went on thinking, and every
nerve in her body quvered at the pros
pect. IF 1t wasn't for the rent, and
the medicine for papa, and ever SO many
other things l never could beo.
aever. Yes. Elsie Benson. it's got to be
done, if it kills YOUR
The next morning she entered the
dentists Office by the mere force of
viii Her courage was all gone. DR..
Dow was alone, and said GOOD morn