The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-10-22

1.-The beginning and the ending Of
ms here IS rum. I've wasted nig n on
to twenty-five year of my life. Why
hasn' t the boom of that mainsail
knocked the stupid brains out of me
before this? What have got to show
Tor forty years of life? Just these here
ragged and brick-soiled clothes stand
IN. Came near numbering a child, did
you, you good-for-nothing beast? A
herding with drunken sailors, YOU
blackguard. and not knowing anything
better Just fifteen to toss bricks on
and off sloop. That's the best YOU
kin do. You took drink this morn
ing and you feel sharp set for another,
just this blessed minute. You can't
get it because you are on the river
where grogshops amt floating round.
Amt you man enough to go to Haver-
straw and no matter what happens
say Bill Foster. don't you take another
drink. no matter if another fellow does
stand treat? There's lots of things
that kid wants. There's whip, like
wise pair of shoes, and when winter
comes flannel petticoats and wool
socks, likewise Christmas presents.
Now, you loafer of Bill Foster.
every time you SEQ the bottom of
a glass amt you guzzling down some
thing that little shaver wants? Maybe
it's just like you, you white-livered
purp, you'll be letting your sister be a
taking of the victuals out of her own
mouth 50 as to feed 'em to that child,
and it was me as showed the kid on her.
Maybe you'll be hunting for more
babies to knock over with bricks, YOU
good-for-nothing lounging Portu-
When Bill had called himself a Portu-
guese he had poured the last drop from
his private vial of wrath on his own
head. Bill helped to load the sloop at
Haverstraw, and although it was hot,
sultry day and the work was heavy, he
never took drink. The other hands
might come back, smacking their lips
and bantering him but he stood firm.
mo use. boys" said Bill. Il did
the business for that baby-and once is
enough: | have got to take keer of
him. 1t stands to reason. None of
you is family men like me. I kin stand
as much running as the best of YOU,
but don t you try it in too steep.
hain't the reputation of being sweet
tempered, and maybe can teach some
OF you manners"
1t must be stated that there really
was no necessity for Bills excited
words, for the hands of the sloop seem
ed to take in the situation at once, and
rather respected the way Bill assumed
his self-imposed duties.
Bill became parsimonious, and that
week saved almost every cent of his
wages. He begrudged himself even
the tobacco he chewed. He only kept
sufficient money for the most meage1
wants. He never took drink and dc.
clined being treated. 10 Molly be
gave his money.
Sure enough, the little boy, when
Bill next saw him, had on new fl ock,
and with what pride Molly exhibited
him to her brother!
He just looks like daisy, Molly
Isn't he pretty! Kind of sleepy. ain
he, Molly?''
"He does sleep good deal, but that's
natural, Bill. Much you know about
babies! But, Bill, what's this pile Of
money for? I ain spent all you gave
me yet. l don't want it and the child
don't. His cost for keep is so little.
It's mighty good of you, Bill; and now
and then You can give him bit o.
clothes. AS you say, when winter comes
the poor little lamb will want thicker
things, and they cost more money
Here, ain t gong to take this, depriv
ing you of your hard-earned wages
| and Molly made motion as if to return
a handful of silver.
''But. Moll. just hold hard minute
He maynt want it now. Supposin
work was slack and I didn't earn moth
ing. You have got to keep the casf
for the time the boy grows. He's go
to go to school, and has got to look az
nice as any other boy. He's to bt
hedicated-know something more thar
handling bricks. Don't he do a lot O
sleeping, Molly?" inquired Bill anx
iously.
"Oh! don't you keep worrying abou
him. He's been playing ever 50 sweet
Maybe he's one of them children wha
talks late in life, and they, so 1 hea,
tell, is always the smartest in the LONG
run. Fact is. Bill, have surprise
for you. He never said a word before
yesterday. was afraid myself he was
kind of dumb Bill averted his tace
and then looked out on the water, TO,
the brother and sister were talking on
the dock.
''But-but, to-day, Bill he said mud
der SO sweet, and then he said it over
and over again, and held out his pretty
little mouth to be kissed. Oh, Bill his
senses is coming back to him, slow
but sure and Molly cuddled the sleep
ing child closer to her breast.
Bill kept right on in the good way
he had planned for himself, and never
swervcd hair breadth. Molly was
his savings bank. Brother and sister
contributed to the child's support. In
month Bill was richer than he had
ever been in his life. Then he insisted
that Molly should rent better room.
The one she lived in, he said, looked
out on a dingy, dreary back yard
Islands to reason said Bill that a
baby should see horses and trucks and
things a-moving about in the streets.
1t makes EN- lively'
Little Bill''-so they called him
molly insisted that her brothers name
should serve for the d)-improved,
but too slowly for Big Bill. The police
surgeon was called in. Bill Foster in.
sisting on paying him fee. The opin.
ion the doctor gave was a guarded
one. There is manifest improvement,
not. perhaps, as rapid as should wish.
You are a capital nurse, ma'am, and
l am sure your kindness and attention
will help the child. He will come
round, l believe
The cool weather came, and with
lowering temperature the doctor
hoped the child would gain strength.
So it went on for another week or
two. Bill, who was always coming
and going, when he left New York for a
trip up the river was happy, for the
child was lettering fast, SO he believed.
1t was an October evening when, at
wharf. Bill saw Molly leaning against
one of the big wooden posts of the
dock. Bill was busy with the hawser,
but at once he saw that his sister did
not have the child in her arms; more
IA