The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-30
BRAVE LITTLE DENNIE.
A story Which Isn't Very Startling
Because It's True"
(C,opurf0ht1

| 0OA AASW WY bnC was CdtIou Den0te.
unless 10 was because that was net her
/ name.
She lived with her mother and the baby
In the great 3-story tenement house back of
he stores in CrAnesvllle, and played most
the time in the streets of the village. Some
Of the boys called her "Dennis," and to see
her come In, tired and yea-dirty sometimes.
you would have thought the name well
suited to her.
| Her mother, Mrs. Watson, WAS a pale.
| tired woman. who worked early and La q
Tor the support OF her fAtherleSs children.
She started for her work one morning in
early spring, saying to Donnie as she turned
to 90:
Take good care of the baby, Denuie, and
don't leave him alone"
"All right" said careless Dennie and az
her mothers footsteps died away on the sec
ond landing she shut the door OF tue one
room that served them for a home. and
| won't 20 work.
1t was not Dennie's way to be careful over
anything, and she made snort work Of wash
| ing the breakfast dishea aud tidyinR the
room. When she swept she did not mind
the corners, but whisked the broom with
great Wig through the center of the room.
| Consequently her round little arms made
| short work Of the sweeping AID busting
| hen she turned her attention to the haby
He lay on tue bed in one corner OK the room,
fast asleep. one chubby hand der his soft
chsek and rosy foot thrust out OF the bed
| clothes. 20, dear" she sighed, wish Baby
would wake up.
Baby's name was Willie, but to Dennie
and mother ne was Baby and probably
would be until he was old enough to feel
man y shame at the title.
Dsnnie went TO the window and looked
out.
Some children were playing In the street
below, aud the crisp March breeze waited
the sound Of merry laughter to her ears.
The room was 50 still thas shs uld plainly
hear Baby's soft. regul ar breathing.
20. DEAR" said DenRie again, ''Tm
lonesome; do wake up, Baby" and she
went to the bed and looked at the ably so
hard that he opened his eyes aud looked up
at her.
Then he laughed.
Dennie put both arms around him, and
while she lifted him from the bed she talked
to him 10 her half childish, half womanly
way.
baby to-day, cause mamma has ne of to
work all day, and Pn going to keep house.
Now hold still" as be tried to wriggle out
of the apron she was putting on him, "be q
good e. goodie boy, 90 please Dennie."
So the toilet was finished, aud the baby
was drawn up ia bis high chair TO eat toe
basin of milk that sat on the table.
Baby felt little miEchievous this morn
ing. and he played with his spoon. and
reached out with 1t to strike everything
nearby.
20, you bad. bad Baby" cried Donnie, as
he overturned glass OF water, and its con-
tehts ran all over his clean apron.
OF came the apron, and Baby, subdued
! y the mishap, finished bis breakfast in
silence.
Then he and Dennie played on the floor.
and his baby laughter mingled with her
shouts of merrime {.
But when she left him for e moment, t.
tracted by some noise in the street, she
came back to find him fast asleep Oh the
hard n0or &c tly she lifted him up, and
put him on the bed. Then she hung the wet
apron on a chair near the fire. Zip toeiuR
softly about the room. For few moment,
she was verT STILL but soon the same noises
under her window attracted her attention
aud. looking out, she saw that the children
were still gathered in the alley playing hide
and seek. They were all DeanIe's ptay-
mates. Dirty and ragged, some Of them,
yet wi D happiness enough in their hearts
to compensate them tor tbs lack Of clothing
on their backs.
For while Donnie watched them list
lessly en- ugh.
Then her excitement grew as the game
W6DU OIL, uubAA 6lS GONAh hoAhAs ACotA gaia
herself.
Suddenly they caught sight of the eager
face at the window.
Come down, Dennie," they cried.
Denuie sAook ser head.
Come on and have a game" they
shouted again, making all sorts of inviting
motions TO her with their hands.
Donnie looked wIstfully at them. ND
like to, she murmured.
One after another shouted her name, and
a wild chorus Of "Dennis, Donnie, Dem"
and other nicknames filed the air.
II may as well 60" she said. half aloud.
they'll wake baby W th their screaming"
She cast sidelong glance at Baby.
lie wa still sleeping. g apron by the
fire was steamlng, and evidently drying
fast. With half regretful sigh, over her
| diSobedience, perhaps, Donnie stole softly
out Of the room and joined the group be-
low. She was Welcomed eagerly, aud was
soon foremost In the noisy game they were
| playing.
In and out, among boxes and barrels. be~
| hind trees aud fences they chased each
otner. occasionally sending forth from their
strong, young lungs whoop that would do
| Justice to an Indian war ior. Every step
| in the exciting chase took them farther and
| farther away from the corner OF the alley
where they lived aud in the pleasure OF the
pursuit Denne entirely forgot the baby.
/
pang remorse.
Mother had left him with her and now
she had been away from him, az near as the
child could calculate. three or four hours.
He must be hungry and wac probably cry
ing. -,,
The little girl felt conscious stricken when
she ann unced to her playma that sne
must go home.
M. not yet, Dennie," they all shouted
| together "nsve one more game"
But Donnie turned resolutelY away.
Clangl clang = bell strikes TIE air and
startles echoes around the village.
Fire! hrem shouted Denuie's playmate5
| in a joyous GLORIOUS, and Immediately OH
they started on the ran.
Again the baby was forg otteu, as Den ie
raj along behind the others.
A lire was a rare seusa ion in GAINESVILLE,
and Dennie could lot 1850 this one. NO,
noU even for the baby.
There was rush Of hurrying feet, the
quick stamp OF horses aud the engine door