The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-19
"THR LITTLE MOTHER"

Translated from the German, by Alex E. Sweet.
 Sac was only little girl, living in a < small attic room in tall building in the uoyery stricken portion of a great city. She had had no particular ability. Sae vs not even good looking but she was neat, industrious and unselhsh. She was ! 4 child of the people. The poor little girl never thought of herself, or of her 3 own comfort. She was beautiful flower \ goWing in the mire, a pearl of the purest water in a cheap setting. Her mother s had died early, worn out by the cares and struggles of a hard life. The little daugh~ ter filled her place. Tnere were two smaller children whose care, together with that of the eotire household, de < yolved on little Mary, or "the little mother,' as she was called by the neigh \ bors. It was her title of honor, aud well S did she deserve it, for she filled mothers place. And her father. What about him, do you ask ? He was common workman, with hu l. dreds of others in large factory, no bet ter and no worse than many others He was not absolutely htar es', but he had no appreciation of the treasure that he had in the hard-working, selt- ! sacri6cing little creature. He was strodg, gray-haired man. He had un- dergone much in his struggle with want Not only grinding p>verty, but strong drink, h 3d left their traces in hls face Although comparatively young in years, he was au old m ln, inside aud outside. 50 to speak. When he m arried, he hoped for great things in the future. but all that had vanished as the transient brilliancy ota meteor vanishes in nothingness. He hated the rich, aud be sought to drown hs troubles in drink.
 Little Mary had hard time meetin the daily expenses of the househ old from the scanty portion of her fathers weekly wages and what she could earn with her needle. It was task that might have tested the courage, skill aud endurance sf an older person. When her father came home at nit ht, and saw the neat little room. aud little Mary's tidy figure bending over her needle work by the dim light of lamp that still voIce of con. silence troubled him. It told him that he should lead better life and do more to brighten the daily lite of the child, for she was nothing but child in years and form. Aud yet "the little mother" had her bright moments, such as they were. When she got paid for her needle work mall as the sum was, she almost felt rch. She put aside as much oi the sm all sam as possible, not for herself, but for "the little ones," as she called her young ah ha oird, and few flowers, which were a great source of comfort to her.
 And so they lived on, It was once more Saturday night. Her father would not be home early. He never did come home early on Saturday night, for tn 1t vas the night he went to the tavern aud spent most of his money on drink. Sae leaned out of the window. There was not much to be seen except cnimueys attic windows and tin roofs, but above all were the marvelously glorious stars and eonstellations. The small children were .seep in their trundle bed. She was dreaming of the future, hoping perhaps hat it would be brighter and happier taan her past had been.
 Suddenly she started. She heard a door close, and well ll-known footstep was ca the stairs. Her father had come home earlier than usual. Perhaps he would gve her ali his weeks wages, and talk and and good to her, as he did in times sone by.
 The door opened, and the burly man saggered into the room.
 No lamp lit yeti Well, never mind ; icu need not light it on my account. l sant to tell you something, and then an going right away again"
 There was pause, an awkward pause. nssinctively she felt that there was some aing wrong. and she pressed her hands nher beating heart. She had never seen sz father act so peculiarly. Even in the Partial darkness she could see his shining ges, and she could smell the fumes of aquor. For the first time in her life she sas afraid of her father.
 You must give me money" he said in eruff voice.
 She did not understand what he meant. sae expected that he would give her noney to help keep away the grim wolf oat was growing at the door.
 Money from me, pa 7" she queried.
 "Yes, and be quick about it."
 She ssammered something about Sat- eday night.
 Eve lost my weeks wages. There e some frien as of mine at the tavern. IAey have got sort of bank. tried sy luck, but it was bad luck," and he sashed ;n silly sort of way at his at
 apted ~it.
 The little mother shivered as she said ::
 You have lost all the wages. pal
 .Yes, and what of it? Everybody s.es at first. but I'n win it all bAck," he sd, excitedly, for the magnitude of the
 - to the small family began 10 dawn pon him.
 Nary said nothing.
 What are you blubbering about sise me the money he said gr. fly.
 Poor little motherl If she gives him
 \ money the little ones will have to