The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-08

Oh, sir, as l shut my eyes o. night.
and see the sweet the sweet angel
our mother, stoop over our pillow
and say a prayer, it seems as if
was peepin' with both eyes into
heaven. Papa was a handsome
good man, but remember when b,
would be brought home by sonat
men, and then l wondered why
mamma kneeled down and prayed SC
hard to God to help her keep papa
from that bad wicked drink. Well
sir, it was but little while after.
wards when we moved intoa cheap
er house, then we moved again
pooty soon into a poorer house, and
at last Papa lost his place, and then
We moved into a house just on the
street over there. Poor mamma be.
gan to grow sick and she cried and
cried and cried lots, and one day
two policemen brought papa into
the house. Oh, sir, it was awful,
fer he was all covered with blood
aud when mamma saw him she
Just tumbled over on the floor and
1 thought she was dead. Don't cry
Alex, darling, that's a good boy
Nettie must tell the kind gentleman
although it almost breaks my heart
to do it. Don't cry cheer up and be
a man. Excuse Aleck, sir, the poor
boy is SO weak like, and he's sick.
Well, papa laid like one dead all
that day, and next morning, when
Alock and me got up mamma was
come to again-but = but-'scuse
me, sir-oh, | can't keep back the
great big tears-but papa lay in
the front room with a white sheet
over him, and mamma said he was
dead-oh, dear deary? deary me \
and the two children sobbed togeth-
er, while the reporter wiped tear
from his own eye.
The kind man soothed them both,
and promised them that he would
see that they should be moved away
from the dreadful place, and then
Nettie resumed her story:
You see, sir, the next day a big
back wagon came and several
friends of papa's put the coffin into
1t, and we were put in a carriage,
which the friends hired and then
papa was taken to the graveyard.
We'll, it was awful-awful-
when we got back to our house poor
mamma cried and cried, but | re-
member she used to say-'Oh, il
father and mother only knew, but
no, they turned me away because
would live with George which was
papa's name.
What was his other name, Net
til .' asked the kind friend.
"Oh, it was Simon's, George
Simons. Did you know him, sir?"
George tSimons, Yes, | knew
him, Nettie, and | also knew his
wife and you are their children
Well, it is lucky that | found you
both-cheer up little ones, this very
day you shall both leave this hole
of filth. But your mother what be-
came of her?"
''Oh, sir, | can't tell it. 1t is like
a { reat naughty dream-I wake up
and cry lots o. times in the night
W, en- ! think of it. She was oblig-
ed 20 move out of her other house
ami we all come to great nasty
room next floor in the hall, and in
a weeks Aleck and l stood be-
sio her death bed, for she did not
live long. Old Nanny then took
US ard when me and Aleck saw or
dear, sweet mamma lowered away
down in the cold ground we both
cried rs if we had everything we had.
Oh, dear, deary, deary me! Oh
dear oh dearm and the child could
restrain her pent up grief no longer,
and while she sobbed, little Aleck
joined too, and the room was filled
with such tones as only burst out
from hearts surcharged with woe,
bitter and CALLING.
"Well, SIR" said Nettie, after a few
we have sold papers and
kept close to each other. Old
Nanny has given us what we had
to eat and when me and Aleck
have kneeled down and said our
prayers, we have prayed to mamma
to ask God to take us to her. Now,
Aleck is awful sick, and sir do you
think he will die? Look at himl
Look at him! See how poor he is
growing. Oh, | cannot live without
him"
Now, children you must trust
me, and we will soon find out what
can be done for Aleck. This very
day you both shall be taken from
thi; filthy place. Then we will
have Aleck examined and cured up
if possible. Old Nanny, as you
call her, viii be here soon, and you
must both say that friend of your
father and mother has come for you.
Dry up your tears, both of you.
Those little eyes are going where
they will see sunshine hereafter.
Take your last look at the old place,
for the children of George Simons
will never suffer again as they have.
The old woman will be here soon,
for | think l can hear her voice, and
nov both of you must remember
til It you are going away. No, no,
t It will not do. Get up, Nettic,
y must not fall down at my feet
Tat way; wipe away you tears, and
cheer up your poor sick brother.
All, here comes the woman"
The old hag entered the room and
il required only a few words to tell
her Of the programme. She at first
persisted in saying that the child
rem were her own, but the reporter
was firm and decided, and a few
words. threatening her with the
stern arm of the law, and she soon
consented to part with the two little
waits peaceably. | will not dwell
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