The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-02

or asleep. was never IOF moment out Vi
Bills mind He had never thought much
about anything before, and il was hard work
for him TO think at all. Maybe because Tor
more than one-half his life his brain had
been n uddled with liquor he had never set
il working. As the empty slO0p hOated up
the broad river. slowly moving with the
tide. Bill sat in the shade Of the Tapping iib
and argued with himself. and the general
conclusions arrived at were by no means
hattering to himself.
'eThe beginning and the ending of this
here is rum. I've wasted nigh on to twenty
five years 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 for forty years of life? Just these here
ragged and brick--oiled clothes | stand in.
Came near numbering child, did you, you
good-fornOthing beast? Didn't have no
better sense nor that? A herding with
drunken sailors you big backguard,
and not knowing nothing bet
ter? Just fifteen to toss bricks from
on and off a sloop. That's the best you kin
do. You took a drink this morning. and
you feel sharp set for another just this bless
ed minute. You can't get il because you are
on the river where grog shops amt floating
round. Amt you man enough to go to
HaYerStraw and no matter what happens
say, Bill Forster 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. Likewise a pair of shoes,
and when winter comes flannel petticoats
and wool socks likewise Christmas presents.
Now, YOU lOafer of a Bill Forster, every
time you see the bottom of glass amt you
guZZllng down something that little shaver
wants? Maybe its Just like you. you white
livered purp You'll be letting your sister be
a taking of the victualS out of her own
mouth so as to feed em to that child, and it
was YOU as showed the kid on her; Maybe
no for ha 10
knock over with bricks, you good for moth
ing Portugee."
When Bill had called himself a Portuguese
he had poured the last drop from his private
vial of wrath on his own head. Bill helped
to load the slOop with brick ut Haverstraw,
and although il was a 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.
''No use, boys" said Bill II did the bust
ness for that baby-and once is enough. l
have got to take keer of him. 1t stands to
reason None of YOU is family men like me-
l kin stand much running the best of
you. but don't YOU try and rub ii in too
steep. | hahn got the reputation of being
sweet-tempered, and mebbe kin teach some
of you manners"
Ii must be stated that there really was no
necessity for Bills excited words, for the
uation at once, and rather respected the way
Bill assumed his self-imposed duties.
Down the river Bill was thinking what
name the child ought to have. Should it be
George Washington, Ulysses Grant. or Moses?
He knew all the names of the steamboats,
going up TO Albany. and TO call toe child Al
bany' or "Nlbbard was suggested to him. AT
last he made up his mind that Molly should
have the naming of the child. ''She's got
most rights to him, anyways Then he felt
kind Of melancholy with the idea that some
body might come later and claim the child.
Bill had never read story book in his life,
so 10 romance of a rich father and mother
coming in a carriage to demand their lost
baby presented itself to his Imagination.
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
his most meager wants. He never took a
drink and declined being treated. To Molly
he gave his money.
Sure enough the little boy. when Bill next
saw him, had on a new frock, and with what
pride Molly presented him to her brother
HE just looks like daisy, Molly Isn't
he pretty? Kind of sleepy, amt he, Molly
HE does sleep a good deal. but that's nat
ural. Bill Much YOU know about babies
But, Bill, what's this pile of money for? |
amt spent all you gave me yet. don't
need 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 a
bit of clothes. As you say. when winter
comes the poor little lamb will want thicker
things. and they will cost more money.
Here | amt going TO take this depriving
you of your hard-earned wages" and Molly
made motion as if to return the handful of
silver.
"But, Mol. gust hold hard a minute
He mayn't want it now. SuppOsin' work
was slack and | didn't earn nothing
You have got to keep the cash for the
time the boy grows. He's got to go to school,
and has got to look as nice as any other boy.
He's to be heddicated,-kno something
more nor handling bricks. Don't he do a
lot Of sleeping, Molly" inquired Bill, anx-
iOusly
oh. don't you keep worrying about him.
He's been playing ever so sweet Maybe he's
one of them children what talks late in life,
and they, 50 | hear tell. is always the smart
est i'm the long run. Fact is. Bill | have
fore yesterday. | was afraid myself he was
kind OF dumb" Bill ayerted his face and
then looked out on the water, for the brother
and sister were talking on the dock.
"But-but to-day. Bill, he said mudder
so sweet, and then he said it over and over
again and held out his pretty mouth TO be
kissed Oh, Bill, his senses is coming back
to him, slow, but sure" And Molly cud-
died the sleeping child closer to her breast.
Bill kept right on in the good way he had
planned for himself. and never swerved a
nair's breadth. Molly was his savings bank
Brother and sister contributed to the chld's
support. In a month Bill was richer than he
had ever been in his life Then lie insisted
that Molly should rent better room. The
one she lived in. he said, looked out on
dingy, dTeary back ward. Stands to reason. +"
said Bill that baby should see horses and
trucks and things a moving about in the
streets. 1t makes them lively
Little BIZ they called him. Molly
insisting that her brothers name should
serve for the child-improved, but too slow
ly for big Bill. The Police Surgeon was
CALLED in. Bill Forster insisting on paying
him fee. The opinion the doctor gave was
a guarded one There is manifest improve
ment-not perhaps as rapid as 1 should
wish. You are a capital nurse ma'am, and
! am sure your kindness and attention will
help the child He will come round, be-
lieYe.'
The cool weather came, and with lowering
temperatures the doctor hoped the child
would gain strength. The cicatrice on the
head had quite healed. Slowly the little
boy seemed to acquire new words. Molly
wondered at them at times, and thought that
she had taught them TO the child; but then