The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-06-24
DAME sPooNER's APPEAL.

through several narrow streets in the poorest
quarter of the city In one of these, when
opposite the door of a drinking saloon, he
heard an appealing voice crying:
''SIister please stop; oh. please do stop
Looking back he saw bare-footed, bare
headed boy running toward him, apparently
unable to utter another word.
did you wish to speak with me-" he asked
'.Yes. SIR" answered the boy making a
great effort to speak.
''No mare talking until you have recovered
breath said the gentleman. Il will wait
until you are able to tell me-. And a. he
waited he observed the thin. threadbare gar
ments. the pale face and sunken eyes of one
who was a mere child, and yet who carried a
heavy burden of grief and care.
At length an explanation was given.
81 went to your Sunday-school two sun
days, ana you said if any of your scholars got
into trouble you'd help them ii you could
Ny name Is Hamlet Lear The teacher wrote
il down. but couldn't 60 any more, because
/ didn't have anything To wear. | wanted to.
ana mother wanted me To. hut father said il
was no good Would be one of your schO-
arS, nov am in trouble?'
Certainly Tell me your trouble and we
will try and find way out OF it
ut i my mothers dress Mister: one she
and earned and she set up nights 10 make
it, She hid il away. where she thought faith
er couldn't lind it; bat he did. and he's going
To sell il for liquor. He carried IL int. that
saloon: ard won't you help me To- get il back
again. Mother said it wOuldn't do any good
to- try but you said we must pray for what
we wanted. and then try AZ hard a. We can
To eet IT, Father viii about Kill me. but
don't care il can only get mothers dfe>s.
oh. Mister never. never will drink drop
OF liquor a long a. live.
II ;m glad To hear that. my boy. Wait
IIere-ss q moment. and when come hack
think we can get your mother dre>>
Hamlet Lear shrunk into corner-where
he could watch the door of the saloon with
out being seen by anyone passing i'm or out;
but it was not long before his name was
called, and ne sprarg To meet the friend. who
was now accompanied by policeman.
''Une OF the worst places on my beat, the
latter was saying ''.rhe keeper pays his Ii
cenSe fee. and expects to go clear; but
have had my eve on him. n woman he
calls his wife has room i'm the same build
ing. where she sells secondhand clothing and
i am watching her Come. my boy he
added. turning to Hamlet Lear Come in
and II we can find your mothers dress you
shall have il Ia take home with you. Keep
close to me and no one shall hurt YOU
Within two men were disputing over a
bundle, which had been partly unrOlled that
. contents might be examined. A cheap print
dress neatly made, was 10 be exchanged for
LIQUOR which the customer craVed The price
to be allowed had not been agreed upon al
though in the end the salOon-keeper was sure
To dictate his own terms
The entrance of the policemen interrupted
the sale, and the bundle was hastily brushed
aside; not. however until a quick eve had
caught sight of it and eager voice ex-
claimed
THAT Is my mothers dress and father has
no business with il. He stole H. liz don't
belong to him. Give il to me for mother"
The wretched looking man standing outside
the counter sprang forward, threatening the
boy with terrible punishment, and empaSiZ-
in his threats with more terrible oaths.
Enough OF that said the officer, Selling
him with firm grasp; adding To the pro-
prietOr
"PaSs that bundle this way"
What bundle2'' was asked in reply
Enough of that, Bounce. None of your
nonsense with me- Hand over that bundle"
There il was: the precious dress which had
been - nearly lost. But this not enough
for the boy. Now that the dress was i'm his
possession he began to think of his father.
What will | dor ne asked after seeking to
win from his father some expression of kind
nes, II will be dreadful at home when he
comes"
Il viii go home with you. and we will leave
your father with the officer. said Mr.. Bryant
10 whom the first appeal for help had been
made
Trust me To take care OF him 20 he will not
trouble you again at present" was respond
ed. And Hamlet Lear left the saloon. fol-
lowed ny his friend who had decided that
business could wait for the stronger claims Of
charity.
They walked on in silence. turning one
corner after another until they stood at the
entrance OF an alley. when the boy said
I'VE go in here It i awful dark at first but
petty soon we shall come Ia some light
Mr.. Bryant had supposed that he knew
something OF the squalor and discomfort
amid which many OF the poverty-stricken
drink-cur,cd inhabitants our cities maintain
an existence. but a he groped his way
through the filthy alley leading to a grim.
.dilapidaie,t tenement house of the very
lowest type. all previous experiences were
.caSt in the shade.
Be careful now" said his guide when
they had passed through the open door and
begun to ascend narrow winding stairway
The crying Of children. the profane wrang-
ling OF men. with the Sbrill voices OF women.
pleading complaining or cur>ing. made the
place seem ike a very pandemOnium.
Up up. they went 10 the attic Of the house.
where were two large, roughly-finished
rooms. each Of which was lighted by windows
reashing to the floor, and through which the
warm rays Of the sun sometimes found their
way. The room into which Mr. Bryant was
ushered contained only the most indis-
pensabie articles Of furniture hut il was
clean a. II could be made with the means at
command
II am sorry, but guess mother has gone
out ] viii ask Dame Spooner. She viii
know; and. mister, | hope she will let you
20 into her room. She i real good. and she
says she used TO go 10 Sunday-schOol when
She lived with her mother She is awful poor.
but she helps everybody. Mother and
coufdn'f live without her
Dame Spoonef a she was called was will
ing to see the gentleman, who found her en-
gagged in making patchwork for quilts and
tomfoTferS-
My neighbor and ] work together" she
said after they had made some progress to-
ward acquaintance 'sShe does what must be
done outside, and then we go from one room
to another 70 catch the warmth OF the sun
Airs. Lear would be thankful 10 see you; but
our patches were most used up, and il was the
day for her rounds. Hamlet goes with her
and gets more than she does but he was wild