News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-01-21
CHAPTER II.

| Little bill was Ill, ID Iact had been
i'll for some time, but no one had noticed
it; the other dodgers thought his cough
a nuisance, as it often awoke them at
night, but it never entered their heads
that there was anythiF he matter with
little Bill's lungs<e some days
after his duckin ge1r@Tk -. Tin pond
in Trafalgar square lifgsBi3ill found, to
his utter amaZement, one morning that
it was impossible to move from his mat
tress; it had been trouble often, but at
last he really could not get up.
'Sid, " he said, giving his brother a
push, Sid, amt it queer = can't get upi'
Sid awoke from his slumbers slowly
and rubbed his eyes.
Cant get up, Billy" he said, "why
notg"
"Well, I don't know; it's mighty
queer, but it's because can't, suppose.
feel SO strange, and faint like, that
you'll best wake father, perhaps"
''Father, strange to say, had stuck to
beer for the last two or three DAYS, and
come home each night only moderately,
almost respectfully, drunk; consequently
the snakes and rats, not attracted by
the spirit smell, had not put in an ap-
pearance Sid ran to his fathers bed
and shook him,
Father" he said, ''father, Billy
can't get up"
Father opened his eyes.
"What2' he said.
'Billy can't get up"
"Why can't he2'
''He don't know, but he can't"
Father rolled out of bed, and across
to the children's mattress.
why can't you get up, Bill, my
boy9" he said.
81 don't know, father; but I feel SO
weak and strange"
He coughe1 violently as he spoke,
and then crimson stream flowed from
his mouth, and over the dirty coverings;
fathers face turned very white, and he
raised the boys head.
"Run, Sid, - he said, run for doc
tor"
Sid paused moment in horror, then
left the room, fell rather than walked
down the stairs, scampered through the
court, on as fast as his little legs could
carry him; he had no idea where to find
doctor, and probably would have run
on forever, or at least till he dropped
had policeman not stopped him.
'Where are you going, boy2" he said.
Sid looked up, and in his agitation
did not notice the mans uniform
''Oh please, sir, +" he said, ''are you q
doctor2"
''No, my boy; d's Sas2t one9"
ooh yes, sir, .pIEs1 ssill's cut his
mo.49ttIh--s<1ba o.9tIh esg
Mr.. and sadY Yera~u
and R,sfFeesssAs past -, - a
chemists shop ;ft tSsbeloEsipS the morn
ING and the shutters tshe Inot yet been
taken down, so the policeman rang the
bell.
In few moments one of the upper
windows was raised, and head came
out.
''Wanted, SIR" said the policeman.
The window was shut and in a few
the door of the shop was un-
fastened.
"Where to2" said the policeman,
speaking to Sid.
"Oh please, sir, I'll show you"
He ran on in front of them, and they
followed quickly; at length they reached
the court; Sid rushed into the house,
up the stairs and soon the doctor and
policeman stood at little Bills mattress.
Gather moved awsy, and the doc
tor knelt, took the thin hand in his,
felt the pulse, lifted the boys head,
looked into the white face, then shook
his head sadly.
Nothing can save him." he said.
''Fathern threw himself down by
Bills side
t.T 80 D:l1 - vl:y fu.I4I. D:I1 -
Bill opened his eyes the blood had
ceased to flow, and only the dark stain
showed what had happened. Poor lit
tie Bill, he had never had much blood
in his week, thin body; it could not |
long supply such stream.
'You don't see no rats, father" he |
whispered.
"No, Bill, my child my darling"
''Nor snakes, father"
mo, no."
'Nor-nor nothing, father2"
Nothing, Bill-butyou."
''It's all along of beer, said the child |
family; ''they don't smell nothing now.
But father dear, deaf father-promise
me you won't 90 back to the spirits
Sid can't see as | see, and you have to
lOOh Ut IuCm dlOu0, tOI III -3OluS,
he paused a moment, and his eyes halt |
closed, then he opened them again and
looked up.
"The little ones woald be frightened |
if they saw them, father," he said,
"stinging ones might come in time, and
kill you all; so promise me, father, that
you'll not go back TO spirits; promise
little Bill"
Round little Bhr~s~y-ners arms were |
clasped and he dres .daim close, close
to his side -~si
81 promise" he saiI, t'and l will keep |
my word, SO help me God"
A smile fitted across the child's face,
his eyes closed slowly, till his lashes
rested upon his white cheeks, one sigh |
broke from his lips saen all was still.
For a moment his father looked at |
him silently, then cried aloud:
Little Bill, little Bill, speak to me-
But little Bills work was done, and |
God had taken him Tinsley's Maya
zine.