The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-09

them dld, SO sometimes we got awful
hungry while we were waiting for folks
to pay U.S."
"Why didn't your mother ask for
her money it was hers after she earned
it?"
s'She was afraid to, for sometimes
they would get mad and say she didn't
half wash their clothes, and then they
would hunt up II new wash 1t
was one of those weeks when nobody
had any change, it was Friday morning,
we had very little to eat on Thursday,
and on Friday morning there was only u
pint of corn-mcal and about two spoon
fuls of molasses. Mother baked the
meal into bread, and told me to feed the
baby when she woke, and to keep a
sharp lookout for father; he was in town
on a big spree; he was awful cross when
he was drinking; it was not safe for him
to get his hands on us, so we always hid
when we saw him coming, if mother
was not at home. Little Bess would
nearly go into fits when she saw him
coming home drunk. Don't let Bess
cryi if you can help it, Willie; I am afraid
won't get home until after dark tonight,
Mrs. Gray always has such large wash.
ings, but l will come as soon as l can. and
will bring home some provisions. for I
must have some money tonight, or we
starye.' She kissed Baby Bcss, us she
lay asleep and then kissed me at the
door. BE n good boy, Willie, and take
care of little sister, Bessie slept a long
time that morning, and I passed the
time in sitting by her and going to the
door to watch for father. When she
woke up she said the first thing, Baby
is so hungry, Willie, get something to
cat Get up, Bessie, and let me dress
you, and then we will have breakfast
l had not eaten u mouthful, nor had
mother tasted food before leaving
home, and was awful hungry myself.
She got up, and l dressed, washed and
combcd her; but when we sat down to
the table, Bessie looked at the food and
then she just dropped her curly head
right down on the table, and sobbed
out oh, Willie, 1 am so tired
of corn bread and molasscs, I can't eat
1t. want some meat and butter Don't
cry, Baby l said, stroking her curls,
mother will bring home something to-
night But it is SO long to wait-this
is Mrs. Gray's day and mother is always
late when she washes for her. TRY to
cat l said, and l put a :poonful of mo-
lasscs on her plate, and she did try; bu.
she only swallowed a few mouthfuls,
and hen she left the table. l ate a
small piece of dry bread, I thought
maybe she would cat the molasscs, so I
did not touch it. All day she kept say
ing she was hungry, but refused to eat
what we had. Il was u long day to
both of us. Father had not com. home,
and it was nearly dark; we were 9th
sitting on the door step, Bessie laid her
head against my arm, and began to cry,
I'm SO hungry, Willie. mother stays so
late tonight Don't CRY, Baby, mother
will soon be home OF course she WILL
exclaimed George Anderson: he lived a
mile beyond up, and as he spoke he
tossed a bunch of blue bells into Bessic's
lap: oh, how pretty! she exclaimed,
while the tears dropped from her sweet
blue eyes down on the pretty blue bells.
Come. Bessie 1 said, let me fastcn
them among your curls.' She got up
and stood on the door step with her face
towards the house. l stood behind
her and tied the bluc-bells in her golden
curls. had just fastened the last one
when some one jerkcd me off the bot
tom step. 1t was father; he was drunk,
and l knew by his looks that he was al
most crazy with drink. He pushed me
aside and stood between little Bessie
and me. Bessie turned to run, but he
caught her and said, you have been
crying; what did Willie do to you?'
She was so white and scared that I
thought she would faint. willie didn't
do anything she gasped out. Father
let her go and grasped me; he com
menccd to shake me awful. you rascal,
what did you do to Bessie Tell me, or
l will shake the breath out of you He
shook me so l could not answer. Then
little Bessie caught him by the arm,
please, father, don't hurt, Willie; I was
SO hungry it made me cry He looked
in at table and saw the bread and mo-
lasses. You little whitc-faced liar, YOU
are not hungry; look at that table, there
is plenty to cat and good enough, too,
for such a brat as YOU, and he shook
her roughly. She began to cry and
I tried to put my arm around her,
but my father pushed me away. IF
you can't cat anything, 1 will
give you something to drink and he
caught her up in his arms and started
down the path hat led to the pond
whese We got w~ash-watcr. It was not
IL frog mole, inc water was as clear as q
lake, and it was surrounded by green
grass and several large trees grew near
the bank. 1t was a lovely place in sum-
mer and a glorious place for skating in
the winter. 1t was only a short distance
from the house. Bessie hushed crying
but II looked so awful scared. l fol-
lowed close behind father. I'll give
you something to drink he exclaimed,
when he reached the edge of the water,
and he walked right into the water, and
followed, scarcely knowing what I was
doing, l was so frightened. He wadcd
in about knee deep, then he took Bessie
and putting her feet under one arm, he