The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-01-26
CHAPTER II.

Little Bill was i'll, in fact had been
i'll for some time, but no one had noticed
it; the other dodgers thought his cough
a nuisance, as it often awokc them mt
night. but it never entered their heads
that there was anything the matter with
little Bills lungs. However, some days
after his ducking in the fountain pond
In Tratal gar square little Bill found, to
his utter anazemcnt, one morning that
1T was impossible to movc from his mat
trcsS; it had been a trouble often, but at
last he really could not get up.
Sid, " nc said, giving his brother n
push, Sid, amt it queer can't get up7"
Sid awoke from his slumbcrs SLOWLY
and rubbed his ewes.
Cant get up, Billy" he said, "why
not?"
"Well, I don't know; it's mighty
queer, but it's because l can't, l suppose.
l 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 APP
pearance. Sid ran to his fathers bed
and shook him.
Gather" he said, "fathcr, Billy
can't get up"
Father opened his eyes.
"What2" he said.
"Billy can't sc: up"
"Why can't hcY"
""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
boy2 he said.
81 don't know, father; but 1 feel so
weak and strange"
. He coughed violently as he spoke,
and then a 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. q doc
tor."
Sid paused a 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
a doctor. and probably would have run
on forever, or at least till he dropped
had q policeman not stopped him.
where are you going, boy?" he said.
Sid looked up, and III bis agitation
did not rotice the mans uniform.
"Oh please, sir" he said. ''arc you a
doctor2"
"No, my boy; d'you want once"
"Oh yes. sir, please, sir, Bills cut his
mouth without a knife, md its bleeding
frightful."
The policeman took the boys hand,
and hurried him along till he came to q
chemists shop;i it was early in the morn
ing md the shutters had o yet been
taken down, so the policeman rang the
bell.
In a few moments one of the upper
windows was raised, and a head came
out.
WANTED, SIR" said the policeman.
The window was shut, and in a few
moments the door of the shop was un-
fastened.
"Wherc tor 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 ut little Bills mattress.
"Father" moved away, 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.
"Nothlng can save him." he said.
Gather" threw himself down by
Bills side.
Little Bill, " he said, 'little Bill"
Bill opened his eyes. the blood had
ceased to flow, and only the dark stain
showed what had happened. Poor lit.