The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-12-26

AID lis true. We are going Aims
ley's way-severy one of us'-but
for me this is truly 'wake-nigbt.'
Never will | be one at another
wine-party, for know that was the
way poor Arthur began. aud | am
no smarter than be was. Do 1
want to risk bringing my little girl
10 that r pointing to the inaninafe
form in rags. "This surely ends to
nights earousal-every one 20 or
stay, as be pleases will settle for
everything here tonight, but il
will be the last bill of the kind, and
Harry will help me TO see to this
child till she is so / Can take her
home with me.'
Most OF the men departed in So
Der silence, which they would not
have doue two hours later, had no
interruption to their festiyity ocenr-
red. Ouly two, besides Amsden
and the young doctor, remained.
The latter soon spoke-bis tiugers
on the feeble wrist
"You'll never take her home with
you, Charlie,-she is almost gone !;
she was nearly dead Of consump-
tion, l should say; aud the expos.
ure AID excitement OF to night will
end her miseries very s0on.'
But after a time she revived, aud
remembered where she was, aud
smiled at the men so kindly attend
ing her. In faltering words, and
with many pauses tor breath, she
told then, the story OF her life siuce
"Papa was brought home Killed.
They were very poor, aud living 10
u wretched place then; and mama
was sick, aud soon after died very
suddenly as neither parent had
near relatives living, there was no
one to care for little Girtie, aud she
had stayed with one and another
Of the poor people among whom
her mother died they would keep
her in turns for awhile, out of pity
as much as for what she could get
by errands and by begging; but
When she tell sick no Que wanted
her. Teddy's granny had been the
last to house her; but being that
day herself turned out Il her mis-
cradle quarters, she had told Girtie
that she must "sIirk Tor herself"
All day she had wandered in the
STREETS, aud all the evening, till she
saw Teddy aud learned about the
New Year that people were watch.
ing for. 'An,l when | saw iu
through your window said the
poor little one, 81 thought you were
doing ii in here, and if could get
in | might find it too; but Teddy
said you wonl'l not let me in, NO |
slyed in!' Her breathing was very
labored, aud she dozed between
her sentences, holding AmsdeL's
hand.
Tears, of which he was not
ashamed, were on the young doc
tors checks, as he pointed to the
clock on the mantel and answered
her when she family asked il the
Happy New Year would soon come.
"ies, little one, when the clock
strikes next tune il will be here.'
She smiled and closed her eyes
coLtentedly, while her flnttering
breath grew shorter and shorter.
In a tew minutes the clock struck
twelve. Gir:ie opened Ter eyes aud
seemed to be listening, but she
looked tar away beyond them as
she whispered
"Oh, see-how light! 1t has
come-tho Happy
New-Ycar-she would have said
but the faint breat failed ; she lay
quite still, with a smile upon her
wasted face, and spoke no more.
"Charlie,' said DR.. Bingham,
s:she has met the New Year upon
the threshold, aud is happier than
you or could ever make her. Do
you 60 home at once; you are uu-
nerved, and l will sec that all Is
done that should DO done. l know
a woman who will take charge OF
everything
A few minutes past twelve,
Louise Ams,lsn, who was waiting |
up for her husband, although he
had told her she need not, was
aroused from q half.sleep IN her
chair by his quiet entrance. iHe was
pale--and what was this new look
In his face I Not the 'sexhiIeration"
she had feared, certainly;
"Oh, Charlie, wish you Happy |
New. Year," she said, going forward
half timidly, to meet him.
He pat bis arms about her with
a close clasp, aud kissed her ferv.
emily, saying to her surprise:
''God bless you, my precious
Louise and may He help me to
make all your years happy! Come
with me to see Alice. l want to
look at her.n
BY the side Of the rosy, sleeping |
child, he related to his wife what
the reader already knows, adding |
coutritely,
~ have known for some time
that you regretted gatherings for
drinking purposes; aud fool that l /
was, resented the fear that showed
in yonr looks, even when you did
not speak. But the sight Of that
child and the tale she told, was q
lesson / shall never forget. Here
after we will divide our joys as
well as cares. Happy Louise smil.
ell through tears, as she said "And