The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-12-02

waShwoman. 1t was one OF those
weeks when nobody had any change;
it was Friday morning, and We had
had very little to eat on Thursday,
and on Friday morning there was
only a pint of corn meal and about
two spoonfuis of molasse'. Mother
baked the meal into bread, and told
me to feed the baby when she woke,
and to keep sharp lookout for fath-
! er; he was in town on big spree /;
he was awful cross when he was
drinking, and it was not safe for
him to get his hands on us, SO we
always hid when we saw him com
ing, if mother was not at home Lit
tie Bess would nearly go into fits
when she saw him coming home
drunk. "Don't let Bess cry if you
can help it, Willie; I'm afraid that
/ won't get home until after dark to-
night, Mrs. Gray always has such
large washings, but will come as
soon az | can, and will bring nome
some provisions, for | must have
some money tonight, or we starve.'
She kissed baby Bess as she lay in
the cradle, and then kissed me at
the door. BE a good boy, Willie.
and take care of little sister Bessie
slept a long time that morning, and
| passed the time in sitting by her
and going to the door to watch for
father. When she woke up she said
the first thing, Baby is so hungry,
Willie, get something to eat' Get
up, Bessie" | said, land let me put
your dress on, and then we will eat
breakfast | had not eaten a bite,
nor had mother tasted food before
leaving home, and | was awful hun
Cry myself. She got up, and dress
ed, washed and combed her; but
when we sat down to the table, and
then she just dropped her curly head
right down on the table and sobbed
out: oh, Willie, I'n SO tired of
corn bread and molasses, | can't eat
it. / want some butter and meat"
Don't cry, Baby | said, stroking
her curly head, mother will bring
home something tonight Try to
eat said, and / put a spoonful of
molasses on her plate, and she did
try, but she only swallowed a few
and then she left the ia
bic. l ate small piece of day corn
bread | thought maybe she would
eat the molasses, so did not touch |
it. All day she kept saying she was
hungry, but refused to eat what we
had. 1t was a long day to both of
us. Father had not come home,
and it was nearly dark We were
sitting on the door step and Bessie |
began TO cry, I'm SO hungry, VIII |
lie. mother stays SO late tonight
Don't cry, Baby, mother will soon |
be home OF course she will, ex-
claimed George Anderson; he lived |
a mile beyond us, and as he spoke |
be tossed a bunch of blue bells into
Bessie's lap. 'Oh, how pretty she /
exclaimed, while the tears dropped |
from her sweet blue eyes down on
the pretty blue bells. Come, Bes-
Sic | said, let me fasten them
among your curls.' She got up and |
stood on the doors ep with her face
towards the house. / stood behind |
her and tied the blue bells in her
golden curls. | had Just fastened
the last one when some one jerked
NE off the bottom step. 1t was faith
sr ; he was drunk; and / knew by
his looks that he was almost crazy
with drink. He pushed me aside,
and stood between little Bessie and
me. Bessie turned to run, but he
caught her and said, You have been
;rving; what did Willie do to your
She was so white and scared that |
thought she would faint. Willie
iidn't do anything she gasped out.
You rascal. what did you do to
Bessie? Tell me, or | will shake
he breath out of YOU He shook
ne so | could not answer. Then
title Bessie caught him by the arm,
Please, father, don't hurt Willie; |
vas SO hungry it made me cry He
ooked in at the table and saw the
bread and molasses. You little
yhite-faced liar. you are not hun
,ry look at that table; there is
,lenty 10 eat, and good enough. too,
or such trat as you. and he shook
Ter roughly. She began to cry and |
tried to put my arm around her.
,ut he pushed me away. If you
ant eat anything, | will give you
TO drink, and he caught
Ter up in his arms and started down
he path that led to the pond where
We got our wash-water. 1t was a
ovely place in summer, and splen
lid place for skating in the winter;
he water was as clear as lake, and
was surrounded by green grass,
nd several large trees grew near the
'ank. 1t was only short distance
rom the house. Bessie hushed her
obs, but she looked awful scared.
followed close behind father. 'I1l !
i've you something to drink, he ex-
:laimed, as he reached the edge of
he pond, and ne walked right into
he water, and | followed, scarcely
moving what | was doing, was so ,
He waded about knee ,
leep. Then he took Bessie, and +.
,utting her feet under one arm, he ,
,ut her little curly head down under
he water. She threw up her little /
White hsdns and cried out, oh. !
Willie, take baby just as the curly Z
lead went down. | begged father :
o take her out, but he would not
isten to me. | waded around, and |
ried with all my strength to raise
ier head out ofthe water, but father
Ield it down. She threw up her
lands wildly, there was a gurgling
ound, and then all was still. | 1
legged father TO take her out. / I
,rayed God to save Bessie's life. but 7
II in vain; God was far away, and c
lid not hear me cry, at least it SEEM !
d 10 me so. 1t seemed hours to me l
Then father at last lifted up Bessle's t
'bite, dripping face. / called her I
ame franticaliy, but the blue lips {
id not move; she was dead. Faith |