The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-13

tEVG1s SASWSy movt0& Wtkn the 009, 0t1t sat in the shade of the tapping jih and argued with himself, and the general con- clusions arrived at were by no means dattesing to himself.
 !" The beginning and the ending of this here is rum. I've wasted nigh onto twenty-five years of my hfe- Way hasn't the boom of that mainSail knocked the stupid brains out ot me before this What have got to show for forty yeaTS ot hfei JGst SASSc here ragged ard brick sciled clothes stands in. Came near murdering a child, did you, you good-tor-nothing beaStl Didn't have no better sense nor thatl A herdinE with drunken sailors, you big blackguar1, l, and not moving nothing oetterf last 6tten to toss bricks from on aud oil a sloop. That's the best you kin do, You took drink this morning, and you feel sharp set for another, just this blessed minute, You can't get it because yon are on the river where grog shops aint floating round, Aint you man enough to go 10 Hsversuaw and no matter what happens, say, Bill Forster, don't you take another drink no matter if another fellow does stand treatl There's lots ot things that kid wants. There's a whip, likewise a pair ot shoes, and when winter comes flannel petticoats and wool seeks, like wise Chnstmas presents. Now, you loaf CT of Bill Forster, every time you see the bottom of glass ain't you guszling down something tn at little shaver wants Maybe it's just like you, you white liv. cred purp you'll be letting your sister be taking the victuals out of her mouth so as to feed 'em to that child, and 1t was you as showed the kid oH her. Maybe you'll be hunting around for more babies to knock over with bricks, you good-fo'- nothing loungiae Porruguee."
 When Bill had called himself Portu- guese he had poured the last drop from his private vial of wrath on his own head Bill helped to load the sloop with brick at Haverstraw, and, although 1t WAS a hot, sultry day and the work was heavy. be never took drink. The other hands might come back smacking their lips and bantering him, but he stood firm.
 "No use, boys" said Bill. al didthe business for that baby-and once is enough. have got to take keer of him IL stands to reason. None of you is fam, fly men like me. kin stand as much running as the best of you, but don't you try and rub 1t in too steep. hsint the reputation of being sweet-tempered, and mebbe kin teach some of you man. ners"
 It must be stated that there really was no necessity for Bills exciting words, for the hands on the sloop seemed to take in the situation at once, and rather re- spected the way Bill assumed his selk imposed duties.
 Down the river Bill was thinking wh at name the child ought to have. Should it be George Washington, Ulysses Grant, or Moses2 He knew all the names of the steamboa ats going up to Albany, and to call the child "Albany or Vibbard was suggested to him. At last he made up his mind that Molly should have the naming of the child. "She's got most rights to him, anyways"
 Then he felt kind of melancholy with the idea that somebody might come later and claim the child. Bill had never read a story book la his life, so no romance of a rich father and mother coming in a carriage to demand their lost baby pre- sented itself to his imagin alton.
 Gth OSNoAhS RAASAaA0otWuSR anu MI al week saved almost every cent of his wages. He begrudged himself even the tobacco he chewed. He only kept suffi cient money for his most meagre wants. He never took a drink and declined being treated, To Molly he gave his money.
 Sure enough the little boy, when Bill next saw him. had on a new frock, and with what pride Molly exhibited him to her brother
 He just looks like a daisy, Molly. i:n,, he Prestyl K'nd oi sleepy, ain, he,
 "He does sleep a good deal, but that s natural Bill. Much you know about ba- bies Bat Bill. what's this pile of money for? amt spent all you give me yet. don't want it and the child don't His cost for keep is so little. It's mighty good of you Bill and now and then you can give him a nit of clothes As you say, when winter comes the poor little lamb will want thicker things, and they cos, more money Here. ain | going to take this, deprivtng you of your hard earned wages and Molly made mott on as fl to return the handful of silver.
 But, Moll, just hold hard a minute He uayn't want 1t nov. Sapposin' work was slack and didn't rn nothing. You have got to keep the cash for the time the boy grows. He's so: % go to school. and has got to look as nice as any other boy. He's to be heddicatea-know SO me thing more nor handling bricks Don't he do lot of sleeping, Molly7" inquired Bill anxiously.
 "Oh! don't you keep worrying abou, him. He's been playing ever so sweet. NJ .ybe he's one Of them children what talks late in life, and they, SO hear tell, is always the smartest in the long run Fact Is. Bill. have . surprise for you He never said word before yesterday. I was afraid myself he was kind of dumb |" B,ll averted his face and then looked out on the water, for the brother and sister were talking on the dock.
 :" Bu,-bus, to-day, Bill, he said mud der so sweet, and then he said it over and over again, and held ou. hts pretty Al A II