The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-04-21

event. One day they sent up lovely
crib for the baby, and Bessie was very
proud in showing him to her friends,
who called, as Jack could remember
doing himself, when each WAS their
own selves. But Bessie soon began to
stay out nights again, and oh! how
Jack longed for her presence, how
very weak indeed, he felt, even Jacks
weight fairly staggered him. but the
nurse must be sent home. for Bessie
hadFnot provided any funds to pay her
with, soon, one after another, all the
former burdens Of life were taken up
again, with the added care and work
for little Jack.
He was often obliged to sit and sew I
far into the night, for JACK took up 90
much of his time through the day Thleepp |
his eyes failed, and he was obliged to
take in washing for others What
would Bessie's mother have, thonghtt?EE
could she have seen her child eaFaing,t
her living at the wash tub, as he WASH
doing now surely, she would have
come and taken her back Go theSfafth.s r
Now he could feel that it was Bessie 81
pride that had kept her from doing so.
but what if the old folks should happen
in unawares? The thought fairly made
the chills run over him, how could he
have forgotten his vows, and his mans
hood so, and sunk so very low. T.f:a9I
How he used to curse Phil Bro WI
for doing just what he had been doing
How worrisome Jack was, the doctor;
said he was teething, and that he1
ought ty be taken out in the country.
How he longed to place him in the
arms of Bessie's mother.
Had Bessie felt so when she cared
for little JackP But he must work.
even mole now, to pay the doctor
bills. Mercy, if Bessie would only
come and take care of the baby while
he worked, it would not be quite so
hard. but so, that she left early in the
morning, and would not return till she
would be pretty sure the baby was
asleep. Oh sucn weary, dreary, life,
was there no way to escape it? Yes!
he would apply for divorce.
So the next day he went before
magistrate, and filled out the applica-
ton, and found himself before bar of
justice, pleading for a severance of the
bonds he had been so happy at max
ing. But how could he ever live to be
parted from Bessie and Jack, for,
cruel torture, the law allowed her to
keep him.
In vain he tried to make the Judge
know that he was Bessie, that wond-
erful genii had changed their places,
he was compelled to see Bessie carry
ing off his darling boy, oh the agony,
and in his struggles he awoke to find
little Jack fretting for the care his
mother could not give him, and Bes-
sic toiling over the wash tub. What
brute he felt himself,
He at once arose, and lettering
toward the baby, picked him up and
gently rocked and sung him to sleep.
an act he had never before performed
since the child was born. Tears filled
Bessies eyes, had he indeed gone so
far that he was becoming insaneP She
dare not take the child from him for
fear he had. When he came out into
the kitchen. oh wonderful he stirred
the fire, adding fresh coal, then going
up by his wife, he clasped her in his
arms, with the one agonized cry of
''forgive." The next day he began to
put his VOWS into execution. He as
sisted Bessie to finish what work she
had on hand. then he cleaned up his
yard, laughing, telling some of his old
chums who were passing, that he was
afraid DR.. Smith would be after him if
he did not.
But the greatest temptation in his
new life was when his most intimate
chum. Seth Gordon, called to him to
tcome on down to the Anchor" He
proudly Strengthened himself up and
made this answer: ''No Seth, may
safest anchor is at home, please tell
the fellows not to look for me, for L
am going to do the work and let nay
wife do the drinking awhile, which she
is willing to do, provided it is coffee
for breakfast, and water the rest OF the
day, with my useless self to share it. "
And this was how it happened that
Bessie Lee was enabled to take little
Jack to the farm, where he grew fat
and rosy, the pride of his grand par
ents, and the delight of his fond
father.
Some people in Goodland think a
reform next to impossible. but if they
could all have as vivid a dream as
Jack Lee did, they would count it
an,Ono the I1osSibilitieS