The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-04
Temperance Reading.
WHAT CAME TO DILLY'S HOUSE.

shoes were red also, for the autumn day
was cold; but billy was used to such
trites Toodles, the baby, who could
not climb the fence, contented himself
with looking through He was bundled
up-in an odd fashion of Dilly's own
an old shawl; and, if the
round face that peered between the
fence rails was roughened by the chill
wind, he, like Oily, had grown accus-
toned to such discomforts.
1t occurred to Freddy Burr. in the
next yard, however, that their situation
was scarcely agreeable. He looked up
from the stick he was trying to split with
his new Ratchet, and asked: " What
makes yousit up there such day as this?
Why don't you go into the house and
keep warm?"
"Cause I'd rather stay here and
watch YOU" said Oily. faint no
fun in the house"
"Well, wouldn't think it was any
fun out here, can tell you, if | didn't
thick boots" remarked Freddy, display
ing the pair of red tops that were his
pAde.
billy looked at them, and an old,
vague wonder awole as she did so, and
grew more and more distinct, until,
presently, it took shape in words:
"Why don't have such things, too,
Freddy Burr--shoes and new clothes,
and something TO wear on my head?'
"Cause your father drinks 'em up"
answered Freddy, promptly, and with
out the slightest hesitation in disclosing
the truth.
billy pondered a moment, and as
promptly denied.
mo he don't, either. Folks can't
drink such things. Where do you get
yours?"
my father buys EN- for me; and the
reason yours don't get any for you is
cause they all 90 into old Barney S
rum barrels. down at the corner. That S
the way of it, true as you live, Oily
Keene, and its awful mean, too,' de-
clared Freddy, growing indignant as he
explained.
Then voice from the pretty house
beyond called Freddy, and he ran in,
while billy and Toddles, with their
amusement of watching ended, turned
slowly away.
billy surveyed the baby and herself
thoughtfully, and sat down upon an old
log to mediate.
If what Freddy Burr had told her
was true, something ought to be done
about it.
And the longer she pondered the
more fully she became convinced that
she had heard the truth.
'Cause other folks has things and
we don't, and it must be ours 90 some
where else" she reasoned. "Thev
can't be any good there, either. I'm
just sure they cant. Mebby I've got
a hood-mebby it would be nice red
one, pretty and warm. Wish l had il
now. Wish Toddes had"
She stopped, as brilliant plan flashed
suddenly through her brain. Wouldn' t
her mother be surprised if she could do
that-poor mother who was out wash
ing, and who would be so tired when she
came home at night.
Toddles, let's do itr' she said,
springing up, eXcitedly. Lets &C
and see if we can't get some of 'em."
"Yahn answered Toddes, content
eddy; and taking his hand Oily opened
the creaking gate and led the way down
the street.
There was a number of men in the
store at the corner-a queer store, with
a curtain across the lower half of the
front window. billy saw them when
the door opened, but she was de-
termined little body when once she had
decided upon the proper thing to do Sc
she only clasped Toddles' hand closer,
and walked in and up to the counter,
making an extra effort to speak distinct.
ly, because her heart beat so fast.
"Please, sir, have you got anything
of ours a-soak here?"
There was an instant's silence, and
then shout of laughter from the men
"Well, now, that's neat way OF
putting it, Hey, Keene, these young.
sters OF yours wants to know if Barney
has you in soak here"
An old slouched hat behind the stove
was raised little, but there was nc
other sign that the man heard. billy
shrank back abashed.
"Oh, didn't mean him.
"What did you mean. them" asked
coarse, red-fa ed man, advancing
from behind the bar and speaking in
tones not at all gentle and amable.
"Shoes and coats and such things
faltered billy. Hoods-rm 'fraid it S
spoiled with the whisky; but mebby ma
could wash it out. Wouldn't YOU take
some of 'em out of your barrel, Mr..
Barney? We need 'em awfully bad. -
Il should think as much" muttered
one of the bystanders, surveying the
two dilapidated figures; but Mr.. Bar
ney's wrath was rising.
"What barrel? Who sent you here?''
he demanded, angrily.
Your rum barrel,n answered Oily,
standing her ground desperately
though with little catch in her breath
that was just ready to break into a sob.
MA works all the time, and she looks
so sorry; and we don't have any nice
dinners at our house, like Freddy
Burr S; and no new shoes, nor caps,
nor anything. | asked Freddy where
our good things went to, cause they
don't come to our house, and he said
you had 'em down here in your barrels.
Please do take some of 'em out, Mr..
Barney. Pm sure it can't make any
body's drink taste bit better to have a
poor little boys and girl S new shoes and
dresses and everything in the barrel.n
"You are right there, Sissy; it's nigh
about spoiled the taste of mine,n said
one of the group at the coun'er, putting
down his glass with queer, perpleXed