The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-28
OLD IoHN DEMPSEY.
What the noya Heard While the Noon
 He'll Was Ringing.

Rsll Wsa Ringing. Nick and Abe Potter, Tohe GvaleS and the Meyer boys were standing on tho street, when old IoAn Dempsey came along. "The old fellow dossnt seem to he very eoosy this morning." said Ahs Potter. Politics must be running low indeed when he can't make flank move- men. on bowl os two h the course cf forenoon"
 "Give me a pin. somebody" whls. pered Tobe Graler. "i'li hitch this piece Of paper to his coat tail as he passes, Stop him. Nick, and talk to him while work the game"
 Hello, old man," said Nick whsn Dempsey came up. "You must bs out os luck this morning. see the weather people have hung out the cold wave dag. but it's a cold day sure enough when you can't woEk the harlendess, eh ?"
 "Don't pin that thing 10 me, l" remarked the old man, h a tIemulous voice. look ing round aud addressing Graler. Don't play jokes on mo this morning, boys. Yesterday wouldn't have cared. 1 wouldn't have minded going through the streets for the amusement of ,he crowd, but to-day, boys, caat ssasd l."
 "Why, what's the matter, old man v
 "Ma.ter enough 10 crush ;Ae !=ss Aese even in the breas, ot sn old esaakasd.s
 Don't give up," responded Csslsr. "Ws all have our hours of deptsssloa. see you have fifty esnss in yosr haad. Go get drink and yoa'lI feel better"
 The old man looked al the money and shook his head. "This goes foF fowers boys"
 To: howers they all sxclaipnsd.
 "Yes. Let me tell you," seating him- self on q stairway. "Last night, as you boys know, went home rather late. was drunk whea 1 les you. ha. hy the time l reached home, was strangely sober. My wife snd little boy had goas to bed. The lamp was burning low, and when entered the room, the little fellow, who was lying beside his mother, looked up and said
 ." Want to stay with papa
 |" john ? called my vile, take the iiule man for a minute os two. Ne has been asking about you all night and as ] stopped over the bed to liit him, my vile pu, her arms around my neck and bseathed, rather than sald 'oh, an SO glad you have come home sebsr.'
 "I took the littis fellow and sas down by the 6rs. His lsss were cold aad held them near the bisss. For . mo. mens he gsIsd ia.sntly on my face ssA then closed hts eyes. He breathing seemed to be diAleuh snd called my vie. She arose, and when she Q. preached, he opened hIs syes ssd sx. tending hts arms, said; Nov 1 vast to stay with mamma Great God, ssw dsa,hly pslIor spread over his face. sprang to my wifs's side. Want to ssay with his eyes stared $. me, hts hands clutched his gown and-he vas dead. Ny God, wbas anguish seized me whsn gazed upon his marble face. Died with a half.iormsd word on his lips. No, 70, so,s, don't play any jokes on me to-day. Poor, miserable, broken dows drunkasd--- with mind and body impoverished bat with sensibiiisses strongly alive and taanting. There is no hope for sueh man as am. There shoaid not bs. Boys, the money wklch yoa were % eager to help me wasis should have bought clothes for thsl iitfis sna1i. No. do not reprosch yos. It wss my fault. am going nov to get soms Howss. Goodbye said the old mas asisiag wiih difficulty. You may hear ef my dying sooa, bat you vill not hsG thst l disd drunk"
 While the city hail bell was toiDisg he hour of sooa, the eosonss, mestisg Nick ssd Abs PottE, Tots Csaiw and he Meyer boys, stopped shsn sn1 sail,
 Eve just hsld a isqusst evw tke sody of old Johs Dempsey. Ha uas Iousd in n alley scar his hosse, si1afng with his back sgainst vslL Me hol1 banch of AowsS h his hanA.s (