Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-11-28
by messengers they cannot help

Men should respect in me that
spark which they respected. I
would show him what a grand
and overmastering thing is that
soul which the God Of glory
values.
Don't cry, father" requested
Billy, while he ceased not to paint
bloody sunrise on his face. Bet
ter than a sunrise was that little
face to me. His eyes looked
bluer and more heaven-like than
the sky.
"Do you love your father?" 1
asked, holding to him like wo.
man.
Eyes. sir; I'll lick any ybody that
calls you Names" the bright,
tender firmaments in his face
gushing with another shower
/ A horizontal hail OF mud and
pebbles hit us while he was speak
ing. Billy reared up like a
charger snuffing the battle afar
Oft. But l made him retreat from
the enemy's lines.
When the boy and 1 we're laid
at night in a low tavern which
was our only home, I asked with
my face turned from him: "Billy,
viii you help your father to try
once more?" Upon which he
bounded up and pumped my arm
with all the vigor and familiarity
that the street had put in him.
"Yes-sir-ee! l will that, you
bet" vowed Billy.
A very few minutes after he
subsidized, ! heard his soft breath
going in and out the doors of his
lips in regular cadences. While
be slept aud started u. to fight
his sklrmishes over, l logged my
weak brain to work, and planned
and planned and planned.
When I look back at that
wretch in soiled tavern sheets,
glaring into darkness with watery
eyes, my legs tromble under me
though they have gone stoutly
these many years. 1t was such q
straight path up from that place,
and ! came SO near falling, time
after time.
The next day l got work on the
railroad. From the gutter / could
not 60 directly back to the bar.
since drunkenness is one of the
vices which is not tolerated in
lawyers. It was hard to shovel
dirt in the hot sun. / sat down,
bali fainting. A good natured
Patrick came slyly with a bottle,
and bade me "whisht at it, which
l put forth the will to do--like a
weak beast-when Billy swooped
down from passing freight and
squared himself before that Irish
man. while the very tatters at his
elbows bristled with wrath,
''Look here, nowp' threatened
he, sending the bottle far over
a track, "if you get my father to
drinkin' again, IN kick you."
1t would have been SO vsry
hard for the boy to fulfill the
l treat with his baby legs. on Pat
rick's high breeches, that my
Irishman took jolly compassion
on him, and roared vow never
more to put his Shiny temptation
to my face,
After / had delved awhile.
Billy had a new suit, a set Of
books and school privileges.
Thep situation as copyist was
orenR to me. The boy and /
fell into the habit of striking
hands and going to church on a
Sunday. Some Of my old friends
began to notice me. Oh, I tell
you, it makes q mans heart sweet
Ike a green bulb to have an
honest hand come seeking his.
Finally ! got into practice
Sometimes the thirst came ON me
and | stormed up and down my
office, and twisted out little looks
OF hair, as il The curse hung to
the roots OF that. Once 1 locked
tine door and threw out the kew,
and was a prisoner till my ass, :
cists canies
When he oama out Of school
and met me on the stseets. be was
often carrying the stchel OF a
smooth haired, dark-eyed gill, to
whom he would exclaim,> as he
loyalty touched bis cap: "Tbat's
my fatherl' with such proud ac.
cent that the blood leaped in my
veins.
Oh, my good fellow, it's glor-
ious day for you when your child
is proud OF you.
We live altogether now; Billy,
his dark-haired Nora, the littl-
children and I. in o home with ro
end OF verandas and vines. The
respectable handle OF Judge is set