Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-08-09
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S. Gorge and the 0rasl1
MARY A L~ATHBURT.


The mother and her boy stood
ron the opposite side OF the
street from a brilliantly lighted
plsce-all windows aud doors.
with masks aeroGs It vas
Christmas eve, and there we're
half a dozen such places all
ablIze with rows Of gas let's, tue
eOlOred globes and panels Of
stained glass throving a ruhdy
light far out into the street. In
a long dark space in the next
block a fine church stood
There was stained glass in the
xHadovs, but II could be seen
only once a week, on a Sunday
morning, from the inside. II
was almost DARK there in the
evening / have often wonder
ed why the great, beautiful
buIsdings that Christians place
on every street to save mems
souls should be put To so small
a Use, when the devils recep
ton rooms are never shut, and
throw their inviting light in ev
cry mans path.
The mother stopped down and
kissed her boy. and In a moment
he was sprIngings across the
street to the door with the
screen before it.
Three minutes Later, the boy
pushed open the screen and
Game out leading a mar who bad
neither a hat nor coat, and who
looked around him in a dazed
and helpless way The lady
joined them tue next moment.
snd they moved silgntIy down
the street HERE vas n roar of
coarse laughter behind the
screen, and IN a few minutes a
dozen rough meu timoIed out
into the street, and with much
Ineoherent, mautlfH talk. min
g'ed with oaths and sltercations.
followed she three up past the
dark space where the church
was, and around he corner.
A IttIe laser, and around the
door Of a small two story house.
crowded between two great
tenement houses, there was a
strange tunalt. The door was
opened slightly for . moment,
and a womans head was stretch
ell out toward the boy.
Mother. don't be afraid he
sail, they dare not touch me.
and | AN a going TO tell them a
thing or two Just pray on the
other side Of the door, and no
harm eau come To me
Thea turning 10 the mea who
we're crovdiug nes-er. aud evi
IDENTITY Preparing to throw their
weight against the door, be
called out. in his clear, ooyish
voice, which sounded Ike that
Of ayOung angel crying TO lost
souls
aeG, what do you want r"
Not you. youngster, nor your
mother we want Rand 2
Ali at 0nee the door dew OPP
en- and the mother stood beside
her boy. her head upon hi
shoulder, and the door closed
behind her With fall sight
Of that white face the men in
voluntarily Tell b1ek, and George
feeling that his moment had
come, called out with a quality
IN the 0oyish tone of his voice
that vas neg, even 20 his moth
Ter:
silence I'm only . Coy, but
I've got a word to say. aud I'm
going TO say it,
By this tine there we're lis
teaers hanging from almost ey
cry window OF the tenement
houses on both sides of the
street, passers by were gathering
and the policeman who had fol-
lowed the gang came up, and. as
curious AS any, waited to hear
what the boy had TO say
Il had n good father once
the best fsgher in the world
be had a good business and
plenty Of money, and We we're
very happy JEs5 as happy As
those people up the Avenue.
Tonight, with their Christmas
trees and nne suppersL There's
no Christmas in this house We
are too poor and unhappy. and
WHY Because such men as
Tom UBrieu have gIt up a gin
mill on every corner, and such
men as yeu have supported
them Some Of you are - bad
OF as We ale. and every one
of yea will be Your wives aud
children are crying at home.
when they ought TO be singing
Christmas carols, aud you ought
to BE- with them For shame ,
do yeu know what is going on
at Tom O'BrieH's h0usef There
Is a big Christmas tree there.
and a sound Of music and dane
ing. and 4 sneI Of roast turkey.
do you kaow whose money
bought all hose things for themf
foars. ours SHAME Shame,
Tom Obrien's beer and brandy
have made yaur hearts AZ hard
a. stone where are YOUR
homes your business. and your
eharseterf Nherear my fathers
and guere ~ the coat and haf he
were cut of this Il0Rse to dsy I,
BATTERED or gsmbled away in
that gin mill, and gone TO make
its owner rich aud prosperous
Do you want to know What l
am gcrng 10 dot I have prom>
ised my blessed mother, | have
promised God, and now | prom
ise yOu- that my life shall be
spent In fighting the xhiskey
business. I will never rest.
never, till | see the old dragon
dead so help me GOdr