The Press., 1891-03-12
W. c. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
ONE AFTERNOON.

sweet scent of violets.
 Bess was going out to the weekly meet ing of the society she belonged to-the so- ciety whose members all wore white rib bon. How pretty hers had looked against the soft blue of her new gown She had not stopped to kiss the pathetic little face on the stairs-she was in such hurry for there stood Blanche Drescott waiting for her with her white ribbon on and the pret- tiest little bonnet in the world. Bess did not mean to be selfish to the little sister at think how pretty the little thing would her in her bright red dress and with those if she had, this story would never have been written.
 Bob came hurrying into the hall, gave a quick, comprehensive look into the mirror as he paused to fasten a bunch of helio- trope ln his buttonhole and settle his cravat with little jerk. He was bound for a special meeting of the Y. M. 0. A., of which he was an officer. A noted lecturer was in the city and was to give the young men talk that afternoon. Bob's father had looked at him kindly over his gold trimmed glasses.
 "That'll do today, my boy-Andrews, here, will finish up that account, and you may go,'-pleased and glad that his son should find such pleasure in the society of the good.
 So he hurrind out of the hall door with ont even seeing the little sister on the steps. Bernice sighed. How she would have liked to fix that bunch of heliotrope in Bob's buttonhole for him and settled his cravat and smoothed out his blonde young mustache with her dainty fingers. She could have done it all just right. Then came mamma, tying on her best bonnet. ''Im going out, dear," she said, stopping to kiss the child, ''you'l be good girl, won't you, Bernie It's the Ladies For eign Missionary meeting this afternoon, and lady from Japan is to lecture," and she was off.
 Bernice sat silent some time, then sud. denly reused herself.
 "I'm just going out tool" she declared to the little girl she saw in the tall mirror -'T just am Little girls ain't no good to home, an I'm going to do something my very own self r
 i She marched up stairs with 8 new dig nifty, went into Bess' blue-and- white room and surveyed the dainty dressing case thoughtfully. There lay Bess' little silver cross-her Kings Daughters cross. Ber- l nice calmly tied it round her neck by a small cord. "I'll be one, too," she said. Then she picked up knot of slightly soiled white ribbon and pinned that on her red flannel dress. Then she went into Bob's room. Bob's room was crimson and brown-a lovely room, Bernice thought. On his dressing case she found tiny silver pin.
 "That's O. and that's an E." she said, examining it. ''I'd like to b'iong to that, too, so I'll put it on.'' Then, donning her wide brimmed hat, she started out. Susan did not see her she was taking nap in her room Mary did not-she was entertaining friend in the kitchen-so Bernice slipped out unob- served.
 She met boy before she had proceeded far, not very clean boy, she thought, but maybe he was good. If he wasn't, so much the better for her, for had she not started out to christianize the world? She must be about it at once.
 find lots O other children an be s'ciety like what my big brother and sister b'long to-"
 The boy stared at her with eyes of engagement, but for want of something bet ter to do went with her. | They walked on, Bernice chatting pleas antly.
 "I'll be president of it, an you can be the scratchatary-that's what Bob IS P I A ragged little girl with pitiful look ing baby hung across one shoulder joined them next and went on with them Her hungry eyes were attracted by the bright ly- clad child who was decked out so queerly
 "Yon can be g Kings Daughter" Der. nice announced to the new conner. "I'm one; the King is the Lord. He'll have to be your father if you b'long; He is your father anyway; your father in heaven"
 The girl simply stared. She and the boy who was not very clean exchanged a puzzled glance. Gould this be some little lunatic escaped from an asylum? l On they went. Bernice had penetrated to the lowest streets and here her followers became abundant Ragged boys and slip. shod girls and scrawny dogs gathered about her, but there was 8 simple, sweet innocent goodness about the little maid that kept them at a respectful distance and prevented familiarity.
 s'Now let's slng?" she proposed, and I started the tune herself, "Hold the Fort
 some of the children joined in, and they sang it through, the child's clear, swee FOlC0, StIOuS duu btCnuJy CdIIJluS tuo Wc1 known melody.
 Then she took off her hat and bowed hel curly head and said little prayer-hel bed time prayer--she could think of noth ing better, and added g few words of he { own:
 ''Dear, good, lovely God. bless all thes. children and me, and let us all be good an never drink or smoke, Amen P T When she looked up one boy said boast ingly, "Hol swear pop. he swears, st does ma, n so does l, in oourse.'
 Bernice looked grieved but not shocked 'I "But you won't any more, will you and she looked so earnestly straight into his bold eyes, that he colored and shufiet about uneasily.
 e'Can't promise" saidhe mebbeI won n then again mebby will, jest as it hap pens. If pop fires the boot jack at me n 1t hits, it's likely I will, if it misses mebb, \ I won't"
 ! Another street Arab said, with swag ger, not to be ont-done by rival, II drinl ! n smoke too, got past swearin' long ago