San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-02
FIREMAN JEM.

Come in, sir; come in and welcome. What
weather it is, to be sure! Will you beso good
as to close the door and take a chair1 You
see can't get up to reach you one; and
maybe you'll take Off your coat and put it to
the fire to dry. I'm sorry there's no one to
dry it for you, but I'm all alone today. Bes-
sic and the little ones are gone out for the
day, which happens unluckily, for they very
seldom all leave me at once. One of the
children generally stays with me, and very
good they all are to me; but that's their
mothers doing. Bessie is always telling them
they must help her to take care of Uncle
Dick" However hard times may be and
Jem has a smart little family to see after
they never let me want for anything. Many
a time have known Jem stint himself to
get me a book or something or other he
thought might interest me, and when | tell
him he spoils me he says it's no more than he
ought to do.
No, sir; haven't been able to stand for
many long day, almost nine years, and |
got hurt in an accdent-leastways it wasn't
an acct dent exactly 1t was bad business
for me, but, after all, it was good thing for
some of us, so | mustn't complain, though it
did seem hard at first, as it wasn't any fault
Of mine Perhaps you would like to hear
about it, to pass away the time till this storm
is over
Dear me! it seems as though it were only
yesterday that used to drive between this
and London, and how fond | was of my en-
CINE, to be surel had no home or any one
belonging to me, except my half sister Bes-
sic, who was good many years younger,
and out in service, so gave all my heart to
my work, and my engine was quite like a
friend to me. There was not such another
on the line declaredl knew every crank
and valve of the old thing, and could almost
believe it was live creature and knew me,
so well did it answer to my touch, and go at
the exact pace chose. How enjoyed rush
ing along with the wind whistlng around
me, and the fields seeming to ay past us!
Well, well! | shall never do it again;
but, after ALL it was the saving of Jem, and,
if lost my engine, gained a great deal of
love, and that's much better
had been driving for some years when
Jem was put on to my engine as fireman,
which, to tell the truth, was rather sorry for.
Not that he and were not good friends, for
we had known each other all our lives, and
Jem wanted to be more than friends, for he'd
a laundering after Bessie She had a liking
lOi ullII' w. anu pei lo IL WIS 10 "OuuGE,
for he was Just the lad for any girl to fancy
tall and good looking, full Of fun, and as
good natured and kind hearted a fellow at
the bottom as need be-
In fact but for one thing should have
been willing enough for him to have married
Bessie. hut that one thing was just the thing
that brings certain ruin on so many, just the
one thing that makes a homo miserable and
r,i hot oh
one but the poor woman herself knows what
it makes a vie \, heard poor creature
say one night as She WIS trying to get along
the man s.e lad the misfortune to call nus
band: God Almighty help the poor woman
that marries drunkard, for no one else
cam
But | was thankful to SEQ that, though she
mado no secret OF being fond Of Jcm, Bessie
was a good, sensible girl, and wouldn't prom
tse to marry him if he would 60 on drinking
IF you don't care enough for me to give it
up, JeIn," she'd say to him, I'VE should never
be happy together. III never marry man
| should be ashamed Of let alone other reas-
ons, and till | can feel sure can trust YOU
I'll stay where am"
Jem would coax and implOre, and some
times turn rusty and VOW he'd have nothing
more to say to her, but Bessie held her own
HE might give her up, if he wouldn't give
up his drink" she said, and then Jem would
promise he'd not touch any more. But moth
ing came Of it. lie had always something to
say for wanting it.
Il shan't be able to stand it much longer, y
said to Bessie the next Sunday she vas out
with run. We were very fond Of each other
and enjoyed walk together Il can't 20 on
putting up with him, besides I'm not sure
that ought to let him 80 Oh lie this There,
you needn't fret over it, my girl, / wish you
would give him up; you'll not have him with
my consent as long as he goes on ike this"
Indeed, | shouldn't think of ii, Dick,
poor Bessie said; "IshOuld think it downright
wrong to marry him, but do have patience
with him | cant help hoping he'll give ii
up and do better some day"
well, hope he may" said, doubt lilly
hes been a long time thinking OF it. I've
lona my best with him, and can't do any
more but perhaps he'll get pulled UP soms
day It's a long lane that has no turning
they say, and maybe he'll come to the turn
ing che Of these days"
Little did I think that Jen's turning, anC
very sharp one, was TO be reached in a few
short hours.
strollcd back rather sadly after hac
parted from Bessie for she was in low spirit,
about Jem, agd J.. did not know hOZ to com