The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-10-27

son to desist, to stop a business that
spreads desolation, ruin, poverty
and starvation. Think n moment
OF your own loved ones and then
imagine them in the situation | am
In, | appeal to your better nature,
L appeal to your heart, for | know
you possess a kind one, to retire
rom u business rGiu0uS to your pa
irons. DO you know the money
you take across the bar is the same
Az taking the bread out of the
mouths Of the furnishing, that it
strips clothing from their backs,
deprives them of their comforts of
this life, and throws unhappincsS,
misery, crime and d~eSOlation in
their once happy homes. Oh, Sir,
| impl0re, beseech and pray you to
retire from u business you blush to
own you are engaged in before
your fellow men, and enter II
that will not only be profitable to
yourself but to your fellow creatur-
cs also. You will excuse me if |
have spoken too plainly, but [
could not help it when | thought OF
the misery, the unhal piness and
the sutferinl it has caused me-"
"Madam, am not offended, he
answered, in u voice husky with
emotion, but | thank you from the
bottom of my heart for what you
have said.
"Mnmmn, said the little girl, who
in the meantime had been spoken
to by some of the gentlemen pres
cut, taking hold of her mothers
hand, these gentlemen want me to
sing Little Bessie" before them,
shall do 81 =" they all joined in
the request. Placing her in achair
she sang i'm Il sweet, childish voice
the following beautiful song;
out in the gloomy night | sadly roam,
| have ne mother dear, no pleasant
home;
No one cares for me, no one would cry
Even if poor little BESSIE should die.
Weary and tired | have been wander
ing all day
Aud asking for work, but | AIN too
small they say;
Ton the damp:gr"und I must not lay my
head,
And fathers - drnnkard and mother is
dead.
We were so happy TIL father drank
Then all our troubles and aorr, ws be-
gum;
Slowly they faded till ono summer
night
Found their dead fsccs all silent and
white.
Thcu with big tears slowly dropping
said.
Father is a drunkard and mother Il
dead;
oh if the temperance mon could only
find
Poor wretchcd father and talk very
kind,
Its late tamncranrn mon plaase try
Or poor little Bessie will soon atarvc
and die.
All The day long I have been hcgginH
bread,
Father il a drnaknrl ani mother IL
dead.
Then IL" game OF billiards u.os
icf. IL finished, tn" cards t',rO n
aside anI the un"mpt"d glass r.
manned on the counter, all hal prcs-
sedncar, some with pity h"nmiup
ewes cntrancnd with the musical
voice and beauty Of the chill J. who
seemed better fitted To b" with ~
YrlSnbovr thanin such n place. Tn"
scene | shall never forget to my
diving day and the sweet cadence
Of her musical voice still rings i'm
my ears, and from her liDS sunk
deep into thu hearts OF those gH'h-
cred around h.r With her yolje"
hair falling cnreIcA~lv about n har,
the beautiful eyes illuminated with
a liyht that seemed not Of THIS
earth, she formed n picture ofpuTitv
and innocence worthv OF the GO
Mus Of Il poet or pMintcc. At the
close Of the song many w"r" wrrn-
ing, men who had not she'd II tea"
for wears went lik" children. ON"
Young man, who hal resisted with
scOrnthe plcadinGa fnlnving moth
or, cntreaties0f friends toa:rivr and
lead q better life, to dcsist from u
course that was wasting his fortune
and running his health, APP
preached the child and taking botl
her hands i'm his, while tears stream
ed down his checks, exclaimed i'm
deep emotion, "God bless you my
little angel, you have saved me
from ruin and disgrace, from pow
erty and a Grunkards grave. If
there are angels on earth, you arc
one, God bless you, God bless YOU"
And putting II note INTO the hand
Of the mother, he said,
"Pleasc accept this trifle az n to-
ken OF my regard and esteem for
your little girl. She has done me
a. kindness | can never repay and
remember, whenever you are in
want you will find me Il true friend"
at the same time giving her his
name and address.
Taking her child by the hand she
TUNED to go, but paused at tn" door,
and said,
"God bless you gentlemen, accept
the heartfelt thanks OF a poor,
fricudlcss, woman for the kindness
and courtesy you have shown her"
Before any me could reply she
was gone. a silence Of several
minutes cnsucd. which was broken
by the proprietor, who exclaimed,