The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-20
TEMPERANCE READING.
TRUE TO THE LAST.
Pathetic Story of Little Girl Who
Would Not Break Her Word.


make a little wreath of them round
the words. She were a sweet little
lass, Just like them, and it was her
name, too, like her mothers. She's
dead, too, poor gal, but we always
called the little one Little Truen and
the rough, shabby-looking man dashed
away the tears from his red eyes, and
his tones were broken with grief. The
stone-cutter promised to try his best to
make the design just as requested on
the tiny marble slab; and then the
poor old man went slowly and instead
lily down the street murmuring over
and over to himself: Little True, Lit
tie True! aye, she was true to the
last. Aye, so l did, my sweet
lamb; l did promise thee to follow-to
be true, too, and | aOiH so
help me, GodY' and the low tone was
firm and resolute, while he passed the
grog-shop on the corner without even
glance, though cords of iron strength,
it seemed, were drawing him thither-
ward.
Two others he must pass, but he
went on unfalteringly, until he reached
the florists, whose shop he entered.
A pretty girl who was petting a dove
in the back part of the store came for
ward to attend him.
"Ha' you any vi'lets, MissP' he
asked. Il want the purtiest you've
got"
She brought out some great dark
fragrant ones.
Yes, them's the kind | want" he
said and then as she was making
change for the bill he handed her. he
bent over the lovely things, still re-
peating softly:
Little True, Little True"
She caught the words and repeated;
"'True?' Yes, they are the enblems
Of truth and innocence.
$50 they be-thankee, Miss. But it
was my little gal 1 meant. They are
for her"
Indeed? Is she sick?'
'Ah, no, Miss Sh5'U never be sick
no more. But oh, l can never see her
again. and his face worked convul-
sively,
80, yes, you can if you ocjl," she
said gently, as she silently placed a
white rosebud and knot of ger
anium leaves with the violets for the
little grave.
"Ah, you don't know, Miss! If it
want for me she'd a been here now.
/ killed hern'
80, how sadr' was the shocked re-
ply. "Some dreadful accident, of
course. But you must not feel SO
badly"
"Ah, no, Miss! No accident, only the
drink made me do it. You see she went
with one of the neighbours little gals
to the Temperance school, and they
taught her of the curse of the drink;
though, to be sure, she knew it all be-
fore, and better than they could tell
her; and they told her that the Bible
and long O the rest she took the
pledge, and promise, Miss, my little
True never, never broke. Well,
as | was a saying, when she coined
home, that very night, l says to her,
says |: True, go down to Riley's and
get me some whisky Father, | can t,
says she, and says |: What's the rea-
son?' I've promised, father, says
! olo tT,,,o ,,,,r,nivo1 ,,ay-ar 70 +Oucb IL
never no more We'll, you'll have to
touch it, so therel' But l can't,
father, I've promised. Please, father,
I'll do any thing else you want, but l
can't do that, you know, for I've
PROMISED and nothing else would she
say.
well, you see, I'd had some
already, and l was ready mad, and |
just said she should GO though |
knew she'd never broke her word in
her life, and it want likely she would
then.
Get out O. my door, then, says L.
IN not have a child round me that
won't mind. And don't never show
yerself here again till you will mind
"She opened the door, and turned
and looked at me. l can see now,
Miss, just like a angel, with tears in
her blue eyes. Goodbye, father,
says she; but that steady frmness,
Miss, it just reused the old devil in my
heart, and | stepped over to her,
and gave her one hard push just
as she was a passing through the door
and threw the jug after her. Whether
it hit her / don't know, or whether il
was the push, but with the crash OF
the Jug on the other side of the hall,
heard the sound of heavy thump,
thump, thump, down the step, long
flight of stairs, that went down just
across from my door. They rushed
out O. the rooms below and picked her
up, and brought her and laid her on
her little bed. thought she was dead
then, but no, though the doctor said
her back was broken; after an hour or
two she opened her eyes and looked
up at me and whispered, Dear father,
| couldn't break my word. Then,
after little, Father. / wish y0U'd
promise, cause | know you'd keep it.
"By and by she looked up again,