Nevada County picayune., 1886-10-20
4 Bale of Cotton.

hau gathered one bale Of cotton, with which he was to start to mar ket next morn. The family were assembled around the fire. The tired care worn wife looked a little more cheerful than usual; the two little boys, Frank and Tommy, ten ard twelve years old, who had each been promised dollar to 'Spend just as they pleased,' were planning how they would spend the money. Little Maggie, who had been promised new doll with real hair, was arranging the scraps of calico out of which she design ed making dollie's new dresses.
 "Mother what do you want?" said the husband. II can get along with my old clothes, John; but you have to be out in the cold so much you had better get you a pair of good boots, some warm stuff for me to make you a pair of trousers and q coat. Frank will need some shoes and a pair of trousers; Tommie wants coat; l can make him some trousers out of your old ones. Get some dark cal. leo for dress for the baby, and some flannel to make him a petit coat. Maggie needs some shoes and dress and some aprons. and you had better get dollars worth of quinine.
 "Yes; then I'll get a barrel of flour, five gallons of molasses, two dollars, wolth of sugar, and the same in coffee; that will take aOout all the money 1 get for the bale of cotton-so you will not get thing, Bette.p
 "I don't need anything John. I can turn my last years dress; and besides, the weather will be cold and I'll not go out mnch.' And she kissed her sleeping babe, while a tear trickled down her face. In her unselfishness she had arrang- ed to provide for all the family ex. cept herself. She did not tell her husband that her shoes were worn through the sole, and that the dress she proposed to turn had been turned before.
 Next morning John and his two boys were seated on the bale of cotton and on their way to town by daylight. Papa was in fine humor and the little boys were in high glee in anticipation of the good time they were to have and the nice things they were to buy with their dollar. About noon the wag- on drove up to d warehouse, where the cotton Was sold, the team was unhitched and fed, and the boys left to "watch the things while 'papa" went to the bank to get the check cashed. The check was paid, and John put the money in his pocket, and started back to his wagon, when he met a friend, @ who sad: John let's go and get drink" After they had drank at the friends expense, John ordered the drinks" then another friend came in and they drank again and again. By this time John was pretty drunk. He sat down by the stove to sober up before he went back to where he had left his little boys, preparatory to making his purchases. But the effects of the warm fire soon putting him to sleep, he forgot his hard summers work; he forgot his tired wife at home; he forgot his two little boys, shivering in the cold; he forgot his manhood as he sat for hours in drunken stupor. When he awoke it was night! He staggered up and out ill the darkness-when he remembered his money. Putting his hand inrnto his pocket, he found it was gone! Half dazed with drink and sense of loss. he went to his wagon. The mules were asleep on their feet; the little boys had wrapped themselves in an old quIlt and were asleep under the wagon.
 John hitched up the mules, woke the hoys and told them to get in; then he started homeward. The little ones knew.by the wicked oaths their father swore at the mules that he was drunk. So they nestled to- gether, and during the long weary ride home they never once said: I