The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-21
over win bricks you gooa-for-noshIns 6

ae work was heavy, he never took
rink The other hands might come
aek. smacking their lips and banter
az him. but he stood firm.
No use, boys said Bill 81 did
he business for that baby-and once is
nough- / have got to take keer of
lln- IL stands to reason None of
lou 3 family men like me. kin stand
IS much running as the best of you.
,ai don you try and rub it in too
'teep' hain't the reputation of being
and mebbe kin teach
some of you Manners
1t must be stated that there really
was no necessity for BnPs excited
words, for the hands on the sloop seem
ed to take in the situation 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 1t be George Washington, Ulys-
ses Grant, or Moses7 He knew all the
names Vi the steamboats, going up to
Albany, and to call the child Albany
or ''Vibbard' was suggested to him.
AT last he made up his mind that Molly
should have the naming of the child
s'She's got most rights to him, any
ways Then he felt kind of melan-
eholy with the idea that somebody
might come later and claim the child.
Bill had never read a story book in his
life. SO no romance of rich father and
mother coming in 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 meagre
wants. He never took drink and de-
clined 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 exhibited
him to her brotheri
He just looks like daisy. Molly.
Isn't he pretty! Kind OF sleepy, ain't
he, Molly?"
'.He does sleep a good deal, but
that's natural. Bill. Much you know
about babiesi But, Bill, what's this
pile of money forP l amt spent all
you gave me yet. l don't want it and
so little. It's mighty good OF you, Bill;
and now and then you can give him
bit of clothes. As you say. when Win
| lOA GOAhNS tGS pun A1ttAC AaAnO III W eAht
thicker things, and they cost moro
this, depriving you of your hardearned
wages"-and Molly made motion as
if To return the handful of silver.
But, Mol, just hold hard a minute.
He mayn't want it now. Supposin'
work was slack and didn't earn moth
ing. 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 he'd
dicated-know something more nor
handling bricks. Don't he do lot of
, sleeping, Molly?" inquired Bill anx-
; iously.
s'Ohl 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. so hear
tell, is always the smartest in the long
run. Fact is, Bill, have surprise
| for YOU He never said word before
i Yesterday. was afraid myself he was
kind of dumb.
a Bill ayerted his face and then looked
out on the water. for the brother and
r sister were talking on the dock.
I ..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
g sure;" and Molly cuddled the sleeping
/. child closer to her breast
Bill kept right on in the good way
he had planned for himself, and nevel
: swerved a hairs breadth. Molly wa
his savings bank. Brother and sistel
! contributed to the child's support. Ii
), a month Bill was richer than he ha'
y ever been in his life. Then he insiste'
: that Molly should rent a better room
= The one she lived in, he said. locke,
:, out on Il dingy, dreary back yard
- Islands to reason, said Bill, THAT
baby should see horses and trucks an
things a-moving about in the street:
:. 1t makes 'em lively"
. Little Bill''--so they called hil
: Molly insisting that her brother
y name should serve for the child lin
s proved, but too slowly for big Bill
- The police surgeon was called in. Bi
y Forster insisting on paying him fe
- The opinion the doctor gave was
- guarded one. There is manifest in
~ provement-not, perhaps, as rapid
.. / should wish. You are capital nurs
- ma am, and am sure your kindne
"a and attention will help the child.
- will come round. l believe" :"
- The cool weather came, and Wi
~ lowering temperatures the doctor hops
~ the child would gain strength. III
>" cicatrice on the head had quite heale'
=, Slowly the little boy seemed to acqui
n Ln new words. Molly wondered at the
no at times, and thought that she hi
80 taught them to the child; but then aga
,s "S the little fellows adopted mother w
~ -. startled by words she felt quite certa
20 20 the child had picked up somewhe
else. These new words came to t
a a. child at first vaguely. He would I
- peat them over and over again, at III
1n ,no hesitatingly, then giving them slig
"a emphasis, as if to fix them on his mi
i"d d something like little bird that pip
IN IN the first faint tune it has heard.
'M M The child was more awake no
1"' This change delighted Molly. 1t new
- was fretful The child would lay qui
q, with its blue eyes wide open for hou
ha without a whimper.
So it went on for another week
a.u two. Bill, who was always comi
~" W. and going, when he left New York
,s .o~, a trip up the river, was happy, for
g child was bettering fast, so ne beii
-, ed.
ion 1t was an October evening when,
~ the brick sloop was being brought
Is, e. to the wharf, Bill saw Molly leani
AAo . against one of the big wooden posts
80 20 the dock. Bill was busy with
hawser. but at once he saw that
sister did not have tho child in
arms; more than that, she was cryi
NJ NJ Bill choked down his grief-he see
- ed to know at once what had happ
ID ed. One last hope there was Ma
it was so cool that Molly had b'
80 afraid to bring the child with her.
70 BILL" said Molly, sobbing. .
poor little fellow has gone to-to he
uios en-. 1t was last night. He called
me and said Goodnight, mud-d
anu .- goodnight, far-der-now l am go
'"h walking in garden-good-good nigl
Oh, Bill, he had never spoken SO Il
wei wei a string of words before-then he pl
'sei ed for moment with ring on my
e.n- ger, and then he added. God bl
'1G ~ far-der and mud-der, and then he 10
10 ed so lovingly at me, and around
ny room as if searching for you-and Il
ioi he died-so quietl Bill! Bill! do
luse YOU take on sol 1t was an accide
al ald and God and his little child have
- fault to find with you.
Iow- Z
the A colored man died in Chestert
med County last week, '1eaying his t
'clu- teeuth wife to mourn his loss.
aana hat+ar evidence could possibly be