The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-03

was rising. "What barrel? Who sent
you here?" he demanded angrily. "Your
rum barrel" answered Oily, standing
her ground desperately, though with q
little catch in her breath that was inst
ready to break into sob. Ma works
hard all the time, and she looks SO sorry;
and we don't have any nice dinners at
our house, like Freddy Burr's, and no
new shoes, nor caps, nor anything.
asked Freddy where our good things
went to, cause they don't come to our
house. and he said you had 'em down
here in your barrel. Please do take
some of 'em out, Mr.. Barney. Pm sure
if can't make snybody's drink taste bit
better to have poor little boys and girls
new shoes and dresses and everything in
the barrel" "You're right there, sissy.
It's nigh about spoiled the taste of mine"
said one of the group at the counter,
putting down his glass with a queer, per-
picked look.
But there was no perplexity in the bar
keepers look. That was wrathful. We've
had enough of this nonsense. Now you
leave, you young lagamuffins, as fast as
your feet will carry you, and never let me
catch you inside these doors again." He
stepped toward them as If to drive them
but, but the man behind the stove sud-
denly rose. "Take care, Barney! You'd
better not touch them. You've knocked
me about often enough, but you'd best
let them alone" There was a fire in the
eyes under the old slouched hat, before
which Mr.. Barney drew back. Both
children were crying by that time, but
the father took a hand Of each, "Come,
Oily, come baby" and without word or
look at his companions, he passed out
into the street. It was a very silent
walk. Toddles' tears we're dried as soon
as the stranger, whose loud voice had
awakened his baby terror. was out OF
sight; but poor little Dilly's heart vas
sore with disappointment and fear. She
had failed in the scheme that she had
thought promised so fairly. No hood
nor shoes had she seen, after all her
bravery in venturing into that dreadful
store; and who could tell how angry her
father might be? She stole shy glances
ND under the old hat, but she saw only
sober, downcast face, and he said moth
ing, not even when they reached home.
He hunted up some fuel and made bet
ter fire, and then sat down before 1t,
with his head between his hands, and left
the children to their own devices.
But two weeks later Dilly completed
the story confidentially to Freddy Burr.
rSee here" she said, pushing the toes OF
pair of stout new SHOES through the
fence. "Where did you get emp asked
Freddy. Sand see here" continued Dill
ly bobbing up for an instant to show the
hood that covered her yellow hair, and
touching it significantly with her finger.
"Where did you get emp" repeated Fred
dy. "My pa worked and bought EN-, and
brought 'em home, and they didn't get
into nobody's barrel" explained Oily,
with great pride and little regard for
grammar. Then she pressed her small face
close against the fence for prolonged
interview. "You see the billennium has
come to our house." "The what?' ques-
toned bewildered Freddy. "The billen-
mum. It's pretty long word" said
Oily, complacently; "but it means good
times. Anyhow, that's what ma called it,
and I guess she knows. 1t was just this
way, Freddy Burr. When you told me
Mr.. Barney had all our nice things down
to his store in barrel, I just went right
down there and asked him for 'ena-me
and Toddles." "You didn'tP exclaimed
Mortified Freddy. "Did, too" declared
Oily, with an emphatic nod. "Well, he
wouldn't give me one OF 'em, and he
was just as cross as anything. So then
my pa got up from the stove and walked
home with us. He didn't scold bit but
ne just sat down before the fire, tnis way,
and thinked and thinked and thinked. At
last he put his hand in one pocket, but
there wasn't any thing there; and then be
put it in the other, and found ten cents
and he went out and bought some meat
for supper. Then when ma came home he
talked to her, and they both cried-I don't
know what for, less it was cause we
couldn't get the things out of that old bar
rel. And ma Rugged and kissed me most
to death that night, she did. Well, my pa
got some work the next day, and brought
home some money, and now he has found
place to work every day. He bought
all these things, and he says his little
boy and girl shall have things like other
folks. So now you'll know what the
billennium means; Freddy Burr, when
anybody asks you; and you can tell 'em
billy Keene splained it to you" -Evan-
gelist.