Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-17


has made out of some old boxes She's
terror, that Fan is ~
"One must allow a good deal for her
surroundings and the influence she
has probably been under all her life,
said my mother
well, she needn't be 50 saucy,
anyhow. She just as good as told me
that she didn't thank me for coming
around, and I going there with the
kindest motives. And when | asked
her if she didn't have a broom to keep
the place clean with, she had the I'M
pudence to ask me if l couldn't lend
her mine, as l probably had no use
for it, or | wouldn't have so much
time to attend to other folks door
yards-the saucy thing
Did YOU see the little boy
Eyes, and he had better manners.
He sat back in a corner on a box and
kept as quiet as amouse. He's a pale,
sickly-looking little fellow, and he
walks little lame. I've seen him ont
in the timber picking up sticks to
burn. I've heard Of them borrowing
things all over the neighborhood, but
l haven't heard Of their paving any
thing back
However, the next day Fan came up
to our house and returned the sugar
she had borrowed the week before,
and asked for some more flour Ny
mother, who was frying doughnuts,
gave Fan three or four Of these, in adj
dition to the -four, to carry home to
her little brother
ooh, I'm ever so much obliged,
Mis- Harley" Fan exclaimed, with
tears in her eyes "Carey'll be 50
pleased was trying to make up my
mind to ask you for one Of them, but
| was ashamed. Dad don't earn
scarcely anything, but he's husking
corn now for a farmer. and | hope
he'll have steady work for awhile.
But the next evening we heard that
dad had been at Jim Fifer's saloon
all day, and we knew that Fans hopes
had come to naught. At ten o'clock
that same evening my father as he
was preparing to 90 TO bed, heard
what seemed to him a light, timid
knock on the front door
1t was a dark, cold and stormy
night; the wind blew with such force
that my father could not be sure that
what he heard was a knock at the
door. He listened, and when the
knock was repeated he opened the
door. Fan and Carey Tracy stood
there in the cold, bareheaded and
without wraps. They had been cry
ing, and Carey's lips were quivering
still.
"Will you let us come in ont of the
storm, Mr.. Harley" said Fan, with
bitterness in her voice. We've no
place to go, and wouldn't ask for
any place for myself-Td crawl into a
haystack or stay in the woods all
night; but I don't dare to with Carey.
He isn't strong, and wish you'd
please take him in, anyhow
Come in, both of YOU" replied my
father "Why are you out this time
of the night"
Fan hesitated.
I'll have to tell you the honest
truth, she said, presently. Father
came home from that Ferry saloon
about an hour ago and turned us out.
He never would have done it if he
shadn't been drinking. He isn't mean
to us when he's sober. It's the fault
Of the saloon that he acts so, and Ill
I'll tear down that saloon to the
ground! lust will !"
But that would be breaking the
law, and another saloon would proba-
bly, be built in its place, said father.
" Perhaps if YOU spoke to the saloon
keeper it might
Il have been to him, interrupted
Fan. I've coaxed and begged him
not to let father have drink, but what
| good did 1t do Not bit.
She put an arm around Carey pro
tectingly, and the little fellow clung
to her side. Ny mother rose anc
prepared bed for Fan and her little
brother. The next morning my fathel
went home with them to see if h
could not make some appeal to Trac,
in behalf of his helpless children.
The man was sober now and repent
ant. He promised earnestly that TIN
should be the last time that he woul'
drink rum.
But he's promised that so man,
times, said Fan, YEARLY, following
4