Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-10

Doctor Bangs was just the man they
would like to have tell it.
about twelve years ago." he began,
"a bright little girl was born. Her mother
was one of those dissatisfied women whom
no one could please. The father OF the
little girl was just the opposite. He was
easy in his manners and agreeable to all
the wife's whims and fancies. and popular
with all classes. His occupation was that
of a sailor, but for several years before the
little girls advent he had given up his
calling and with snug little sum accum-
ulated started in business. The wife was
ever complaining, and the father, COM
pletely discouraged. sold out, and giving
the larger portion of the proceeds to his
wife, embarked again on vessel for
long cruise. The little girl was three
years old when her father kissed her
goodbye, and from that time the two
never saw one another. The father cruised
| across the ocean many times, and al
| though he did not come home, he
often thought of his little darling.
The money he sent to the mother from
time to time was spent foolishly. and
for rum. and the gay lady of but a
| few years before became a confirmed sot
AbC bttiC Sll was sCut vi tlit StTetb 10
earn her own living. and had to turn the
| money she made over to her mother. The
father had stopped his remittances. The
| mother had gone from bad to worse, and
was stupid with drink continually The
father was taken with fever in one OF
| the Mediterranean countries. and after
| lingering sickness died An old friend
| remained with him to the last, and to him
| tha J,,tx nf IL
was entrusted. By will the little money
he had saved the father bequeathed his
daughter. The old sailor began bis search
| for the little girl. The task was a hard
| one. He would gain a trace, then lose it,
| only to run afoul of it again. At last the
old tar happened to meet an old doctor
who was well acquainted with the family
| during their prosperity. By chance the
old doctor gained Information about the
mother and daughter. whom he had lost
track of few years previous. The doc
| tor made inquiries and found how the child
was treated and the debased condition of
her mother. The old tar told the doctor
that the girls father had made a will. ap-
pointing the doctor guardian of his child.
and leaving several thousand dollars for
her support and schooling. which were
oudu W efc uoctor Inc doctor IN
question happened to be Dr. Bangs. and
who do you suppose the little girl tsp
The children looked at one another
askance, and one relied upon The other to
furnish the name. A long pause ensued
and then the doctor broke the silence:
at was Sallyf' The trio was dumb
founded. None spoke for another short
interval, then Garry ventured:
sally will be a fine lady now, an won
have no business with u.s.
mo. she won't" said the doctsr. .Sal.
ly is not the kind of girl to 60 back on
an old friend. No; I'll vouch that she
will always be the same girl toward
you.-
Gleefully the children broke away from
the table, and that afternoon thew devised
plans tor getting rid of the Sl5 divided
between them. In the evening the doctor
told them stories as they sat in front OF the
glowing CRATE fire. Sally was taken to a
respectable boarding house near by, and
the boys returned to their room. and af-
ter slowing away in the inner man some
oil the remnants of the dinner, went to bed
the happiest of mortals.
There's gold in almost every one. and
there's no truer gold to be found than that
l stumbled upon in these fellows in tia
snow-drift three weeks ago. After All
life is worth living even for such old fell
lows as am, reflected DIR. Bangs as he
finished his tumbler Of hot Scotch. turned
out The gas, and went to bed.