The Red Cloud chief., 1885-06-12
TEMPERANCE READING.
PINK BOOTS.

A drunken man came staggering
along a village street As he reached q
corner he saw a group of boys watch
ing something across the way. He had
not entirely lost his senses. so he won
dered what they found SO interesting.
"Wha-a-ar-yer-yer lookin' a-at?'
"Well, old fellow" answered Billy
Door. "we'rc looking for a beauty to
come out o that store ovcr there"
a beau-tie9"
"Yes. a beauty; but 90 on, there's
no use o your lingerin' to see Pink
Boots; your old. red eyes can't see half
ACROSS the street"
But the rude boy was mistaken; the
"red eyes We're not quite SO blood
shot a usual. and they were looking
with a. much interest as the younger
eyes at Pink Boots, who just then
opened the door of the store opposite
them and came out Pink Boots was a
beautiful girl Of ten years. and her
hands full of fiowers-roses, lilies and
carnations. She walked a half-doZcn
or more steps down the walk. and was
just stepping into a handsome carriage
when another little girl came in sight.
For a brief moment the two children
stood in strong contrast - Florence
Burr, with glowing, happy face, and
Celia Hunt, with her pale, distressed
one. Florence was dressed in an
deliberately embroidered pink cash
mere and her feet were incased III
beautiful pink kid buttoned boots; for
Florence was going 10 a tea party. She
wore also a broad-brimmed hat with
nodding pink pluIpes. As for Celia.
she wore an old faded dress. SO shabby
that il revealed her bruised ankles.
which were Dare like her feet. An old
veil ted about her pinched face did
duty as hcad-protector. but no wrap
covered her thin shoulders, although
one Was much needed this chilly day.
The carriage drove away with Flor
ence. and Celia stood gazing after it.
OF course the drunken man saw the
poor child. so did the boys. The latter
laughed, and Billy Dorr said: Il tell
you il pays better to sell liquor than it
does to drink it. What's YOU opinion.
Daddy Hunt"
DADDY Hunt did not answer; he
stood stupidity gazing nj his barcfooted,
weary-faced child.
Il saw, old fellow. did you buy
Cclia's fall outfit al the SANE store that
Fink Boots father bought hers"
..Shut mp, now, will you? If you
don't I'll knock the breath out of you. !"
The drunkard spoke savagely and
raised his hand to execute his threat,
when suddenly a little arm touched his.
and a voice said cOaNingly: Come,
father"
The man suffered himself to be led
away from the heartless group; cruel
Billy singing after them: 80 father,
dear father. come home.
Ii was "A long walk 1 @ the drunkard'
home. Before he reached 1t he Was
sober. Celia" lie said. ''wouldn't you
like some pink boots''
No. father. / would not want them"
.'Why not?'
They wouldn't correspond with my
RAGS" the child said. bitterly; land !
wouldn't wear Florence Burr's PINK
boots if ] had silk dresses To wear with
them" she added. savagely.
Again her father questioned: "Why
not?'
..Recause they were bought with
money that ought to have bought bread
and meat for poor starving children
and their crying mothers.
WHO told you SOP"
Nobody told me. / found out fol-
myself
You're a strange child. Celia"
Yes. perhaps l am. but l love you
father"
And Celia put her cold hand within
her fathers
Il don't see how you can." he said
chokin-ly.
Il guess it because you're my IN
ther." was the innocent answer.
As father and daughter entered thu
house the mother arose. rut the sleep
ing babe in its wre,chcd cradle. ant
said: Come to supper.
Such a supper for n family of six
Only a part Of "A stale loaf of bread an,
some weak tea The patient. Wear,
wife would not have been surprised 4
her husband had he thrown the brea.
across the room ut the wall and hurle'
the teapot after il. cursing her al tn
same time, rs he had done often before
but she was surprised when he ros'
from TIC sttit- JUST utCf SCAMP min
self-and said. huskily: Eat this mis-
cradle stuff if you can poor things
must be gone"
He started for the door. weak an
faint. but determined. His wife fol
lowed him. beseeching: On. don
go out again tonight Fred, don't; tn
baby is sick. and"
She said no more. for, with the words
"The little fellow is sick. il he?' III
father went back to the cradle. stoope
and kissed his infant child for the firs
time. and arose with tears g~listenin
upon his evelashes-
I'm not going out TO drink. Mary
Don't be worried; I'll be hack by min
O'Clock. and if the child should e
worse Celia will find me At Sergean
Wright's-"
b "What do you suppose it all means
mcthcr?" asked Celia. as soon rs he
father was gone.
Il don't know. child; but perhap
it means there is q blessing coming O
us all. PRAY to God that it may be SO.
Mother" said Celia. father aske
me this afternoon If / wanted pin
boots. What do you think Of that"
1T was 3 strange question. child
I'd be thankful if he'd save enoug
money to buy Won some black one;
Your feet are blue with cold"
At nine o'clock face peeped throug
the little curtainless window of tn
kitchen. The eyes saw q desolate picl
ure. 1t was this: . bare. cold lookin
room; q haggard woman bending owe
sick babe; q little sad-faced girl fall